What's New Pussycat?

Yes, I am still here.  It was touch-and-go there for a while, but I think I'm ok and almost back to my former self.  We've been in the States now for four incredibly full, exhausting months.  Here are a few updates....

1. We now have a cat. 

My friend at work told us about this kitty that needed a home. Her previous family had to move back to the U.K. somewhat suddenly and were looking to either give her away or take her to the pound.  Well, we hemmed and hawed for about...oh...a few hours, before we decided to take her.  We renamed her Bonnie Blue and we are having a lot of fun living with a quirky, kitty diversion.

2. We now both have two jobs.  

Daniel is an audio visual technician now for both Nickelodeon Resort and Leu Gardens!  

I picked up an additional gig teaching adult English classes twice a week to parents of students at my school.  

3. We now have fall decor.

Ok, so this isn't really a new event or anything, but I wanted to share the pictures.  I made a wreath. :) And, Mallory sent me some lovely fall leaves from Tennessee

4. We joined a lifegroup with our church. 

Well, we attended twice.  But, we like it and it's nice to be hanging out in Christian community again. 

5. Daniel carved his first pumpkin.

This isn't it...(I couldn't find a picture...), but this is what we brought to share at the party. 

6. We seem to be smiling more lately. 

7. {just one more thing}

I spiced up my classroom wall with pictures of previous classes.  (I'm just missing a picture of last year's class... I didn't have one printed out).  It makes me very happy, which is something I need help with some days.

I heart libraries

This afternoon we took a quick trip to the public library.
Sometimes I forget that I'm back in the trusting country where free book-lending is available!  I can't even begin to tell you how happy a public library makes me.

Here's the book I can't wait to crack open:

Christopher Paul Curtis is right up there with Jerry Spinelli on my list of life-changing-I'll-read-anything-you-put-on-paper authors.

I'm going to go get started.

<3  Happy Tuesday.

Unexpected

Motivational thought of the day: Good things can come from the seemingly not-so-great.

Paint Truck Spill
(image from grist.com)

My Power is Made Perfect in Weakness

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul starts talking about boasting, and then how he was given a "thorn in [his] flesh" to torment him.  He said,

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Do you remember chain e-mails? They were so popular back when I was in high school it seems.  It's when you get an e-mail from someone you know, asking you to send something to someone at the top of the list of e-mail addresses, and then move the order of the names around and forward it on to a bunch of people you know.
Well I got a chain email, asking me to send my favorite verse to the person on the list.  If I had gotten the e-mail from anyone else but one of my very best friends, I would have probably deleted it and felt no remorse; what overworked teacher has time for chain emails?  But, I did get it from my bff, so I sent on a verse, and the instructions to ten friends and, yay!, got a verse in return.  It was the verse above.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
It came to me from a friend's mom.  She doesn't know me.
She doesn't know that the past four weeks of teaching has been more stressful than anything else I can remember facing.
She doesn't know that I lost 5 pounds after the school year started.
Or that stress gives me so much tension in my back that sometimes I can't sleep.
Or that many days I just come home and cry of exhaustion.
Or that weakness is basically all I seem to feel lately.  I am physically, emotionally, and spiritually weak.

So today I'm grateful for the times God works like invisible strings connecting the whole world together, bringing me exactly the right words from a mom who's not mine and who doesn't know what I'm doing.
I'm grateful for a friend who blogs about joy, and asks how often we've walked past opportunities for joy. (I wonder...)
I'm grateful for a list of ways to fight for joy, and for renewed strength to do so.
I'm grateful for friends who don't live too far away, who find the time to keep me sane.

States Survival Kit

Today, after working in my classroom (more on that later), and lunch with dad (he gave me a huge TV--!!!), and a trip to IKEA (needed something to put the TV on), I had the added surprise of three packages sitting in my mailbox. 

Thank you Caroline,  Mal, and Mom!

Let me tell you a bit about this girl, Caroline.  She was my roommate my second year in Honduras, she writes a pretty amazing blog [ here ] , and she lives out the gospel--loving people and God--like no one I know.
Take a look at the States Survival Kit she made me, and you'll understand just how special she is.

A Care package from my friend, Care.

This is what she wrote:

States Survival Kit

• Party Snacks Recipes - I know it's hard, but press in to new community--your life depends on it! (So HOST PARTIES!)

•  Heart Bracelets - for those moments you miss your hondy students and want to dress like them.  

:)

• Celebration Candles - notice these are NOT birthday candles.  Find something to celebrate and then light these babies! 

• Razzles - for you to smile when you're 30 :)

• Batman Roller Stamps -  So you'll be a hit with new students.

•  Thank You Cards - being grateful does wonders for your soul!

• Love Cards - to keep and give as reminders

Now, Stay Alive!

Thank you, Caroline!