• Faith

    Lyrics

    Tweet I will never harm you. Open your heart, I have loved you from the start. (Song for You by Jenny and Tyler) Those words hit me today. I was listening to the song they came from and that line is repeated ten times. I think the songwriters knew I needed to hear that. Lately, I have sorta felt like life is falling apart and I don’t know which way is up. As I try to muddle through big decisions with little information, I am coming to the realization that the core of my struggle is an inability to trust. I don’t trust God or myself. I don’t trust that…

  • Faith

    One Semester Down

    Tweet Its official! I have finished my first semester of teaching. It seriously seems like just yesterday I was getting off the plane for the very first time, and yet before I know it I will be getting back on that plane. It has been a crazy few months and I never thought this is where I would be right now. I can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that its Christmastime as it is 85 and sunny outside. Nor can I believe that I am almost halfway through my year here in Saipan. Teaching teaches you a lot. I think it goes for most careers working with students-they…

  • Life Adventures

    A Birthday Abroad

    Tweet 24. That’s how old I am. I celebrated my 24th birthday 7000 miles from home on my small island. It made me realize how truly blessed I am. Anna made cupcakes yesterday to bring to school. Something in me just couldn’t handle making my own birthday treats so we made a deal that she would make cupcakes for my birthday and then I would do the same for hers in February. They were wonderful. This morning, I woke up to a present on my door. I had found this ring at the street market that I loved, but didn’t have any cash with me that night so I couldn’t…

  • Life Inspiration

    Repost: http://lothblogs.wordpress.com/

    Tweet I needed to hear this today so maybe someone else does too. Sometimes I get so caught up in my own life and I forget that I may be making an impact on those around me without even noticing. I have been following Baby Samuel’s story and it has touched my life. Today it reminded me that our impact is eternal and may never be revealed to us. But read on.. …But, amidst this routine, there are literally thousands praying. Hundreds are retweeting and reposting. People from all over the world are praying for Samuel, and this is due only to the Holy Spirit placing it upon believers’ hearts…

  • Life Inspiration

    Just a Piece of Paper

    Tweet Letter of Intent. It sat staring at me in the face this morning when I got to our morning meeting. A simple piece of paper with so much attached to it. All I have to do is check one line. That’s it. And yet, as I walked back to my classroom, my head was spinning and my stomach churning at the thought of having to make that decision. So much rides on those lines. I have some time to consider the choice and I plan on taking every minute of it. I am almost 24 and still have no clue what I want to do with my life. I…

  • Life Inspiration

    Happy Birthday

    Tweet To me:) My birthday is on Wednesday, but some of my best friends here in Saipan will be gone by then so we had an early celebration today. Andrea, Chris, Joyce, Kayla, Anna, and I went out to dinner and to see The Nutcracker. We went out to eat at this Italian restaurant here on island. As much as I love trying all the new foods, I really wanted Italian for my birthday. The food was wonderful-I had a crab spaghetti and I got a piece of pumpkin pie with a candle in it because we told them we were celebrating my birthday! The Nutcracker was amazing. It was…

  • Life Inspiration

    Baby Samuel

    Tweet I have no idea who this family is. I have never met them and I am not even sure where they live. But I have been following their story on their blog and it has captured my heart. This precious baby is hanging on for dear life and it is going to take a miracle for him to survive. But we serve a God that is still in the business of working miracles so I am praying my heart out for this little guy and I am asking my blog readers to do the same. Visit their blog, read their story, and pray hard for Baby Samuel. May his…

  • Conquering Fears

    Check That Off My List!

    Tweet Hell of the Marianas-Toughest Bike Race in Micronesia. Done and Done! Andrea and I finished the race in five hours and 20 minutes. 62 miles total, 31 miles each up and down almost every hill on my small island. We made our first cutoff time with 30 minutes to spare. Andrea finished the first leg in a little over an hour and I finished my second leg in under two hours. I was so excited! I had a very tough leg and rode it faster than I had at any point during training. At that point, it was all smooth sailing. Andrea finished the third leg in under two…

  • Social Justice

    If You Had Unlimited Resources, What Would You Give This Christmas?

    Tweet If You Had Unlimited Resources, What Would You Give This Christmas? I posed this question to my 6th-8th grade computer classes and thought I would post their answers as well as ask for yours. -Toys for kids that can’t afford them -Money to a person in Saipan whose house just burned down -Houses and food for homeless people -Money for moneyless -Peace for North and South Korea -Money to the poor in Saipan -Snow for N. Africa -Food for Africa -Ice to the North Pole -Water to Africa -World Peace -Joy -I will start green factories -A mansion -To everyone who doesn’t have a house, a big house -A…

  • Life Inspiration

    Edgar

    Tweet God works in mysterious ways and so often when we are at our lowest He steps in to show us His greatness. This happened today. I left school frustrated and overwhelmed. I was already nervous about my big race Saturday and it has just been an emotional few days. I wanted to get in one final ride before I start tapering off to get my legs rested up for the big day. So I headed out towards the airport, unsure of where my ride would take me, but knowing that I just needed to ride. I am almost to the airport and as I am climbing a hill in…