Back-2-Cali & a Mug Swap

We made it! 

Here we are in California, with a lovely evening breeze blowing through my window and absolutely NO humidity to be felt! It is truly wonderful, and I had nearly forgotten what perfect weather feels like. 

The hubs and flew in on Thursday, and it could have been the worst trip of our lives. 

Firstly, we were being uprooted from our home for the last four years; leaving dear friends, our creatively put together nest, our jobs, our schedules and routines and all familiarities.

Secondly, we were flying home with our cat. 

30,000 feet in the air, for over 12 hours (including a layover in Vancouver), with our dear fur-baby. 

Thirdly, we had to pack and clean and pack and clean and train new teachers and pack and clean and move out of our little and loved apartment. 

Needless to say, it's been a crazy couple of weeks. 

And here is where I report that despite all of the obstacles in front of us, 

GOD WAS FAITHFUL TO US. So faithful! 

And even if the trip had been horrible, He would have still being faithful because He just can't stop being faithful, but the trip (all things considered) was FANTASTIC!
What could have been the worst 26-ish hours of our lives, turned out to be great! 

So, God was faithful and MERCIFUL! 

Our dearest and bestest friends in Korea drove us to the airport. 

That was not an easy goodbye. I mean, how in the world do you say goodbye to folks that you just love with your whole heart and then some? It was so hard, there were many tears, but I wouldn't have traded that time for anything. I was so glad to have them there, supporting us, praying with and for us, loving us, and sending us off. 

Moto, our dear fur-baby, did exceptionally well with the traveling, praise the Lord! 

This was the aspect of the trip that I was most worried about. Our dear cat is such a lovey thing, but he's also very vocal. I didn't want to be those people on the plane who had the cat who didn't shut up for the 10 hour flight and kept everyone awake. 

BUT, he did so great! He was meowy and uncomfortable, but once we were on the plane and in the air, I covered his travel bag with my blanket and he kept quiet. We were also sitting next to a dear old lady who loved animals and didn't mind the cat at all! 

OK, before this gets too long, I'll sum up the rest of our trip: 

We flew through Vancouver (Canadians are SO NICE!) and on to San Francisco, picked up rental car, drove down to my brother's place (he and his new wife are kitty-caring for Moto for the time being until we get our own place), spent a few days with the cute newlyweds and let Moto adjust, drove back up to the airport, got picked up by one of my best friends, and arrived at my parents house yesterday evening! Wooo! 

Aaaaand, when I got here, there was a wonderful package waiting for me! 

Thank you, CuppaKim, for a wonderful Mug Swap! 

And thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, sweet Cindy, for such adorable mugs!! 

I've wanted these mugs for a looong time, they're the kind where you can stash your tea bag on the side pocket when it's steeped long enough--so nifty! 

And that, my friends, is how the last couple of days have been.
We are missing our Korea-home and Korea-family whilst still being excited and happy with Cali-family and Cali-friends. It's very strange to be feeling both emotions at the same time.
And since we gained a whole day when flying from Korea to California,
we're also adjusting to a different time zone and trying to figure out what day it really is.

But for now, I'm just going to relax with a cup of tea in my new cute mug.
Here's to being unemployed! 

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This is not the end.

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Twenty-seven.

27 years of life. 

14 years walking with Jesus. 

5 years with an amazing husband. 

4 years adventuring in South Korea. 

8 more days until California. 

An uncountable amount of people who love me. 

I am so thankful. 

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Whirlwind Wedding Weekend

John and I are now back in Korea after our whirlwind trip home to California for my brother's wedding. It was SO beautiful! We had such a wonderful time seeing family and friends, and celebrating my brother and his new wife. 

Here are some photos of the beautiful day: 

Getting ready with the seester & my big girl shoes. 

From top left, clockwise: brother, dad, mom, husband

Here comes the beeeeautiful bride! 

The handoff. 

CUTE decorations! 

Dancing in to the reception. 

Table 12--I helped make the wedding favors! 

Speeches & songs. 

Dancing & cake. 

The getaway car. 

Congratulations SO much, Mr. & Mrs. Majzoub! 

I love you both dearly! 

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Today I'm Thankful for Korean Health Insurance.

Today the hubs and I ran some errands around town. 

One of the places we stopped was at the doctor's office. 

John needed to see his doctor and refill a prescription.

I waited for him in the waiting room and played Angry Birds as he talked with his doctor. 

After he was finished he walked into the lobby to pay his bill. 

I was ready with pricked up ears and our open EEBA app, 

ready to input the total amount into our budget. 

$3.25. 

That's how much his doctor's visit cost. 

We walked downstairs to the pharmacy to pick up his prescription 

and dropped a whopping $4.25 on multiple medicines. 

As we walked out the pharmacy doors and I input the amount into our budget app

I exclaimed, "$7.50 for a doctor's visit and meds! Why are we leaving this country again??" 

Our life is much cheaper here, much more secure. 

When we go back to California in the fall, there won't be much security waiting for us.

We will be DEBT-FREE, praise the Lord!!!, but that'll be it.  

No jobs lined up, no immediate health insurance, no real savings. 

It is easy for me to be tempted to stay here--where it's cheap, 

secure, safe, and comfortable. 

It's easy for me to worry about our tomorrow.

And then that old Sunday School verse will creep back into my head, 

slowly it will creep from where I've hidden it my heart all those years ago. 

So, today I will try not to worry about my tomorrows. 

And today I am thankful for Korean health insurance. 

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Spring, spring, spring, spring

"For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come." - Song of Solomon 2:11-12

As I walked down the street todaythe sun felt warm and the breeze was cool and fragrant. The cherry blossoms were out and blooming fiercely, because that's the job that God gave them to do in this season. The birds were out playing and singing; the sky was an endless blue. 
Truly, ''the time of singing has come." 

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy." - Psalm 92:1-4

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Ferial-topia

Last week I was teaching "city" vocabulary in a few of my ESL classes. 

I like to do supplemental activities on top of my curriculum, 

so I hopped on over to Google and searched for some city-creating projects. 

One of the first results was citycreator.com and I'm so glad I found it. 

It's a simple, Sims-like program where you can design and build your own city. 

My students loved it. 

We spent the bulk of our time last week thinking up our cities 

and implementing our designs. 

As the hubs and I were driving home the other night, I was reflecting on these city-creating experiences. We were coming from the home of some dear friends who had filled our eveningwith delicious food and wonderful fellowship. Just the night before we had also spent the evening with some other dear friends who had shown us equal hospitality. AND the day after all this reflecting we were planning onspending time with yet another two families in celebration and fellowship. Needless to say, we were on the receiving end of a lot great hospitality. 
Getting back to the scene of my passenger-seat-reflections, I was thinking about all of the dear friends that God has put into our life in the last four years spent in Korea. And all of the dear friends waiting for us at home. Not to mention our beloved family andthose dear to us who are living all over the world. And I considered my city-creation lesson plans. 
 Wouldn't it just be WONDERFULif I really could create my own cityand populate it with all of those dear ones? We could all live and work together for the glory of our God and the benefit of the entire community. Living together, working, eating, creating, singing, playing, building, laughing, crying, and bearing each other's burdens. True community. Doesn't that just sound marvelous? 
And as I continued to think about my utopiaI realized that my city dreams will one day come true, but thank God, it won't be my city, but His. 

And if that isn't something to look forward to, I don't know what is. 

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Perfect Peace

I've been pretty quiet around here lately. 
Remember how I committed to choosing love this year? Remember that big post I wrote on change? 
Change + choosing love = difficult. Therefore, I've been quiet around here lately. 
The hubs and I are getting closer and closer to making some firm decisions about all of our options that I mentioned in my "Change" post. As I said in that post, the decisions that we have ahead of us are not easy, and it turns out I was right. 
In the last few weeks I have jumped from one emotional breakdown to another; and in between, my days seem to consist of busyness and stress, with sprinkles of marital arguments to top off this depressing sundae.  
In the few moments of truth and clarity that I have enjoyed in these last weeksI've been able to recognize that all of these compounding sins and stresses all stem from one source: fear. 
What the heck are we doing with our lives? Is my husband strong enough to lead us? What if we don't have enough money saved up? What if we leave? What if we don't leave? What will happen to my lovable cat? What about our family and friends, what will they think? ARE WE DOING THE RIGHT THING? 
I'm afraid. I'm afraid of leaving. I'm afraid of staying. I'm afraid of losing my cat. I'm afraid of losing touch with my friends. I'm afraid of falling right back into our old materialistic lifestyle. I'm afraid of moving across the world. Again. I'm afraid that we won't be able to afford having children. I'm afraid that we won't be able to have children. I'm afraid of taking risks. I'm afraid because I don't know what's coming. I'm afraid of not being in control. I'm afraid of change. 
It's in these overwhelming seasons of life that I must choose to  cling to the promises of God. I don't feel like He's working all things out for my good. I don't feel loved and justified. I don't feel His perfect peace. 
But it's there. 

He will keep me in PERFECT PEACE, and oh boy could I really use some. But, I have to do my part too. His peace comes in partnership with my trust. Not that I could ever do anything to gain anything from God, He gives freely and I am so undeserving of his blessings! But, nevertheless, He asks me to trust Him. How can I choose to trust Him, every moment, every day, even when I don't feel like it? Even when I don't feel Him near? Even when the benefits of His peace don't come right away? 
O Lord, help me trust You! Give me Your perfect peace. And may I be like Jesus. 

PS: I created that Isaiah 26:3 photo above as a reminder of God's promise of perfect peace; if you like the photo you can click on it and it will redirect  you to a bigger versionthat you can save to your computer and print out as a reminder for yourself as well. 

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Created

(photo source, edit mine)

"Perhaps the most important thing Genesis teaches us is that God created everything. 

Life is no cosmic accident, and of all the things God created, 

none is more meaningful than you. 

In Genesis 1:27 we read, 

'God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; 

male and female He created them.' 

Here we learn that women and men 

were designed to reflect

God's image over the rest of creation." 

- Robert Lewis, The New Eve

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InstaFriday {7}

Panda hoodie / inspiration board make-over / hott drummer hubs / brekkie / cold temperatures / crunchy snow / honey BBQ meatloaf, pan-fryed broccoli, & sweet potato-carrot mash / hubs & pies / berry spritzer w/honey whipped cream /  #bangs / cute Sam / Easy-Peasy Heart Banner /crockpot cookin' / hoarfrost / love bug / necklace

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Happy Valentine's Day

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Lyrical: I Am Set Free

You broke my chains of sin and shame and you covered me with grace.You mend my life with your holy fire
You cover me with grace.
You are the hand that reaches out to save

I am set free oh oh oh oh 
It is for freedom that I am set free.

You broke my chains of sin and shame and you covered me with grace.
You mend my life with your holy fire
You cover me with grace.
You are the hand that reaches out to save

I am set free oh oh oh oh 
It is for freedom that I am set free.

I am set free oh oh oh oh
It is for freedom that I am set free.

And yes Lord, we are grateful for Your Grace and for Your Love. 

You are the hand that reaches out to save.

I am set free oh oh oh oh 
It is for freedom that I am set free.

I am set free oh oh oh oh 
It is for freedom that I am set free

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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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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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