Back to the Routine...

To say that Ben and I had the best vacation of our lives in Prague, Czech Republic, is an understatement. We had the time of our lives. My absolute favorite had to have been the Charles Bridge, but I also enjoyed Old Town and the Castle. Photos uploaded soon will help give you some of an idea of how it was, but it really is hard to put into words what a great time we had. The first few days I had blisters on my toes and my legs were severely sore from walking on the uneven cobblestone, but the pain didn't keep me from walking each day. We even met a couple from Toronto, Ontario, and travelled with them outside of Prague for a day to go see the Bone Church in Kutna Hora. Part way through out vacation in Prague, a family from our church - the Sherrards who were also going to Ukraine, arrived and we spent some time with them. It's amazing how you can be in a church for 4 years and not really know someone until you get to share a neat experience with them. We really bonded with that family, and we're grateful that the Lord enabled us to do so.

Odessa, Ukraine was a completely different but equally rewarding experience. Once again, it's hard to put everything into words. I'd just have to say that I wasn't as sad when I said my good-byes, because I know that I'll be going back again someday - whether it be on another short term trip or long term, only the Lord knows, but Ben and I definitely want to go back. Our missions team not only worked at Hope House doing construction, but we connected with the children there, interacted with street kids from First Step, and spent time with the young ladies of Shepherd's home. Our team was challenged in a variety of ways. When I finally post some pictures I will go into more detail and explain some of what we experienced.

Now I am trying to get into a routine with my new job. I don't have my own classroom this year as I am a Literacy teacher. I am definitely just as busy as before, but in a different way. I really enjoy working with small groups of children. This position definitely has its challenges. Not only am I the youngest Literacy teacher on the district, I am the least experienced. I remember looking around the room at the other Literacy teachers on the district and thinking, "Lord? What am I doing here? Remind me how I got this position again?" I figure God has a reason for me being in the position I am in. I absolutely love it thus far, but when I think of the task that is laid out before me, sometimes I feel small and inadequate. I know God will give me the strength to do the work that He has placed me in.

I am currently battling a cold, and I just got over the flu. You can imagine how frustrated I was to have to take a day off of school this early in the year because of the stomach flu, only to return to school to know that discussion in the staff room the day before was, "Maybe she's pregnant." The first two people I saw when I walked to my office that day mentioned it to me in a joking manner. I'm tired of the jokes folks. I know you mean well, but it's been two years, and so, as politely as I can, I tell people that Ben and I have wanted children for two years but it hasn't happened, and so we are trusting the Lord and His timing, but we also have plans to look into adoption. When they say, "Maybe you're thinking about it too much," I want to say, "I wouldn't have to think about it if I wasn't reminded by people who ask me about it, joke to me about it, or try to give me unwanted advice about it," but instead I politely say, "I've made my peace with the Lord." And I have. In the meantime, it's the comments that I continually have to hand over to Him, because I've accepted the possibility that I could be barren. Just last week someone (not from work) said to me, "You need to suck in that belly unless you have a reason to let it hang out like that!" I just said, "No. I'm just fat, that's all." They gave me a side hug as they were teasing me, but was it really necessary? As for my "belly" you'll see pictures of me and wonder what in the world they were taking about. Perhaps it's my open personality that makes me so prone to such things. I really don't know. But I do know that the Lord has a child for me, and if that child be on the other side of the world, He will lead me to that child.

I really am a blessed person. This past summer reminded me of how blessed I truly am. I look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for me in the days to come.