Change

This year feels like a big year to me. And no, I don't think the world is going to end. 
2012 feels big. It feels like a lot is going to happen. My best-baby-friend (new term, folks) is celebrating his first birthday, my brother is getting married, my sister is starting her senior year in highschool, so many dear friends are bringing new littles into the world, and more friends are moving and leaving and traveling. Change is happening, growth is taking place, and the hands on the clock of life never cease to move. 
The hubs and I are also in the process of seeking direction and guidance from the Lord as we plan for 2012. This could be a monumental year for us. 
We've been in Korea for 3 and a half years now. Our teaching contracts are finished at the end of August. We will be debt free. PRAISE THE LORD! The goal that we came to fulfill is complete. We are tired, homesick, and jaded. We have family and friends waiting for us in the States. In a big way, it feels like it is time. Time to go home. 
But what does that even mean? In the last 3 and half years, Korea has become home. Pyeongtaek has become home. This tiny little apartment has become home. God has provided family for us here: friends that have done life with usso much so that the lines of regular friendship have been crossed, life-long familial relationships have been achieved. We have overcome unique cross-cultural situations and work difficulties. We have nested. We have a cuddly cat. We have a Christian community. We have learned the language. We know this place, from the coziest coffee shops to the best samgyeopsal to the train schedule to the open markets. This is home. 
To leave would be life-altering. We have put down such deep roots in this place, to transplant now and pull up those roots would be both painful and scary. And yet, there is a decision to be made. There is no easy answer, either way we are leaving someone. I hope that our closest family and friends know how we wrestle with this decision, how important you all are to us. 
Oh the possibilities. We have so many plans, but we are seeking the right one. 

Needless to say, we need prayer. We don't know what we are going to do or where we are going to go. We don't know how to plan or what to be excited or scared about. We are waiting. And we are praying. Will you pray for us? 

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Choose Love: Health

At the beginning of this year, I committed to choosing love.
Part of this commitment is a choice to love my body. 
This is a hard commitment. And not just because I'm a woman. I believe that every single person struggles with body image and self-confidence in one way or another.
Personally, I've always struggled with balance. I love good food and I'm not a huge fan of hard exercise. But as I've gotten older, I'm realizing that I can't just eat whatever I want and get away with it. My body is keeping its records, and the records aren't looking too good right now. 
So, I have committed to loving my body. 
What does that look like? 
Well, firstly, I believe what the Bible says in Psalm 139, that I am created by God. 

  And because I know that I am so wonderfully made, it makes sense to me that I take care of this body that God has given me. 
So, down to the practical stuffs: I have been exercising, and plan on staying committed to exercising, with the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels.  So far, I am loving this workout. Jillian is tough and concise, giving me a fantastic, full body workout in 30 minutes a day. I asked the hubs to join me for a workoutand here's what he said about it. I've also been working on choosing GOOD foods to put in my body. And as gooooood as cheesecake tastes,  it's not the good kind of food that I'm thinking about. 
I'm trying to view my food as fuel these days. Put the good stuff in, and I'll be able to perform at my best. But, like I said earlier, I love good food, so I'm looking for healthy AND delicious options here! 
Here are some recipes that I've found on Pinterest that I have already tried or am really looking forward to trying: 

Source: multiplydelicious.com via Ferial on Pinterest

Source: chocolatecoveredkatie.com via Ferial on Pinterest

Source: skinnytaste.com via Ferial on Pinterest

Source: chocolatecoveredkatie.com via Ferial on Pinterest

And, yes, those chocolate recipes are HEALTHY.  Go, check 'em out. You're welcome. 

 

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InstaFriday {6}

Geek chic with the hubs / My very first Korean film with no subtitles / a cupcakery / Every Monday morning I get together with a dear friendand her adorable son for our weekly non-coffee date, it's a highlight of my week! /Ho Lee Chow American-Chinese food in Seoul / date night with the hubs / Teacher views / Monday blues / Teacher Ferial, Student Sam / I sewed my first bag using this tutorial and this tutorial / Mesmerized by the iTunes visualiser / 설날 잘보내세요! (Happy Lunar New Year!) 

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Lyrical: With Every Breath

Hallelujah from the heavens
Hallelujah in the heights above the earth
Hallelujah all His angels
Hallelujah for the last will be first
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord

Hallelujah in the morning
Hallelujah for the beauty of His scars
Hallelujah in the twilight
Hallelujah sun and moon and shining stars
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord

When the night seems so long (throw your hands to the sky)
You can sing a new song (wipe the tears from your eyes)
When you're weak, He is strong
He can heal your wounded soul
And calm the storm inside

For all your times of laughter
In every hopeful prayer
When the world weighs on your shoulders
Through sorrow and your despair
With everything, with every breath, praise the Lord
Let everything, let every breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything, let every breath praise the Lord

When the night seems so long (throw your hands to the sky)
You can sing a new song (wipe the tears from your eyes)
When you're weak, He is strong
He can heal your wounded soul
And calm the storm inside 

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Dear Dad,

I've been missing you a lot these days. 

I miss your hugs. 

I miss drinking tea together. 

I miss driving and listening to Enya in the car.

I miss hearing you whistling through the house. 

I even miss your cheesy jokes. =) 

I miss you, Dad. 

I'm sorry that I couldn't be home

to celebrate your birthday with you this year. 

But I'll be thinking of you all day. 

Love, your

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Work

I dread Mondays. 

It's a sad reality of my life right now. 

My work situation is very difficult

and frustrating at the moment. 

As most of you know, 

I am an ESL teacher at a Korean community center. 

And as the resident specialist in young children, 

my days generally consist of the ABC's, 

storytelling time, and lots of hand sanitizer. 

Doesn't sound that bad, right? 

And to be perfectly honest, it's not. 

It's not that bad. 

But, 

it's been not that bad 

for a long time now. 

It would be very hard for me to explain

how exactly my job sucks, 

and I really don't want this post to turn into complaining, 

even though I'm really good at complaining about my job. 

I just wanted to be able to document this part of my life, 

for remembrance's sake and also in light of 

the commitment I made at the beginning of this year 

to choose love. 

While reading through my Google Reader this morning

I came across a quote that my dear friend posted on her blog. 

The quote is from a man named Steven Furtick 

and it was exactly what I needed to hear today: 

“The situation around you may look nothing 

like the vision God has put inside you.

But by the power of faith,

you can turn your small beginning into a grand finale.

Here’s the way Jesus put it in Matthew 17:20:

‘I tell you the truth,

if you have faith as small as a mustard seed,

you can say to this mountain,

“Move from here to there”

and it will move.

Nothing will be impossible for you.’”

In this frustrating, cross-cultural, unfulfilling, mundane, ever-shifting, and unstable jobI want to choose faith. I want to choose love. 
 O LORD, help. 

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New Year's Resolution

That's what I want to do this year. 

And every year, for that matter, 

but let's take it one step at a time. 

This year I want to choose love. 

In EVERY situation. 

LOVE God. 

LOVE my husband. 

LOVE my family and friends. 

LOVE my students. 

LOVE my co-workers. 

LOVE my body and my health. 

What will "choosing love" look like? 

I'm not entirely sure. 

I'm excited and scared of the prospects.

What does it look like to choose love
when I'm on the brink of an argument with my husband?
What does it mean to choose love
in a classroom of rambunctious ESL students?
What does choosing love look like
with my Bible-reading, my prayer time,
my eating habits, my money-spending, and my time schedule?

I intend to find out.
And I hope to be able to document
my experiences here at Ferial-Shmerial.

I'm also asking for your help.
Would you keep me accountable?
Ask me how my choices to love are going.
And won't you join me?
Let's make the choice to love.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, 
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience...
 And over all these virtues put on love, 
which binds them all together in perfect unity."

-  Colossians 3:12,14

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