Autumnal Update

Happy Fall, ya'll! 

(normally, it would be weird for a California girl to be caught saying "ya'll", but I blame my southern greeting on my dear friend, Jordan, who has influenced my life--and my speech, it turns out. Jordan is from Arkansas and has the southern belle-est drawl of them all)

I digress. 

I wanted to pop in and give ya'll an update on what the Trams have been up to lately. 

We are completely loving this cooler, fall weather--and all of the seasonal scents, to boot. 

Not to mention, boots + sweaters + scarves, oh my. 

A dear friend of ours had a birthday recently, and we celebrated by going out for nomlicious Korean food, and then going for Korean karaoke! Korean karaoke is the same as any other kind of "Asian" karaoke, in that it's not like a karaoke bar where you sing to the entire room. You rent out a private room and just sing with your friends! IT'S SO FUN.

And, it felt like we were home. We are SO homesick for Korea sometimes.

The hubs and I have had the privilege of leading a Young Adults small group through our church. We are so enjoying the small group setting and we have such a great group of people! Our church's Young Adult Ministry is called YAM (^^), and so when we created the small group we decided to name it "Small Potatoes". We are so pleased with ourselves.

Our small group is going through the book Jesus + Nothing = Everything and I am really enjoying it so far. I can tell that this book is really going to stretch me, and it has already brought on some great discussions within our group, as well as some great quotes to meditate on. 

I've also had the best time being a part of the worship team at our church. I've always loved leading worship, and there is something so humbling and wonderful about playing with such a talented and passionate group of musicians. I'm so grateful.

There's also been a few new designs in my shop. I'm loving having the creative outlet, and I've had the privilege of working on some beautiful custom projects lately--specifically some Save the Dates for some dear friends (I'm so excited for their wedding!).

And for those of you who made it all the way through this loooong update, 

I'd like to bestow upon you a reward. ^^

How about BUY 1 GET 1 FREE in the shop?

Head over to Ferial-Shmerial Designs, add one print of your choice to your cart, mention the words "AUTUMN YEAH" in the note to seller box along with the title of a second print of your choice, and I'll send you both prints for the price of one. Early Christmas shopping, anyone?

I'll be honoring this deal until midnight on OCTOBER 21, 2013.

Happy Fall, ya'll.

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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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Soaking it up

These are our last days in Korea and I want to soak it all up as much as possible. 

These are the days we will probably remember most vividly in the future, 

so I'm hoping to make them good ones. 

Two weekends ago we visited a beautiful east coast beach with some dear friends. 

We have always wanted to make the trip to this specific area, 

and we were finally able to go. 

It was a super relaxing weekend, filled with walks on the beach, good food, 

and great conversations. 

Other things we've been up to these days:

Teaching the last month of our ESL classes. 

I can't believe that after 4 years of this, we're almost done. 

Enjoying the bright, long summer nights, 

and trying to stay cool in the humid heat. 

I bought a new day planner, and I love it. 

It's full of all sorts of wonderful Konglish. :) 

(Konglish = Korean + not so good English) 

We've been doing a lot of driving these days, which is unusual for us. 

We don't drive our car that much, because Korean public transportation is so great. 

But these days, we're driving a lot; driving to see dear friends and familiar places. 

Driving to save time and stay out of the heat. 

Here's one of those dear friends that we often drive to see. 

He's the cutest. 

I've also been working on something secret and exciting! 

I'll let you know when the time is right. ;) 

I even found some time to sew recently! 

It's been such a long time since I've been able to sit down and sew something pretty. 

What do you think of my new shirt? 

That's all for now, friends. 

Stay tuned for more posts as I try my best to chronicle our last month in Korea. 

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Oh, hi!

Long time no see! 
It's been awhile since I've seen you, so let's catch up. 
First of all, did you see the big announcement that I made the last time we talked? No? Take a looksie over here. 
Did I tell you about my best baby friend's first birthday party last month? 

The party was a "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" themed party. I helped his mama with some of the design work and we had some snacky fun! 
Speaking of fun, I am currently obsessed with this music group.
Ever heard of the 30 Day Shred? Well, what they don't tell you is that Level 2 is kick-your-butt-pinch-a-nerve-in-your-back hard. 

Oh, and did I mention that I updated my blog design recently? Trying to explore this amazing world of graphic designing more and more. 

Korea celebrated Children's Day this past Saturday.  The hubs and I make it a strong point to stay away from the large crowds of little people every year. 

We celebrated the life of my very best friend here in Korea

this past weekend as well. 

A ladies' night out featuring dinner, cupcakes, and noraebang 

was the perfect celebration! 

And I don't know about where you live, but spring has just been absolutely GORGEOUS here in Korea. I can't help but sing when I'm outside and praise our amazing Creator for his marvelous works. I encourage you to step outside today and be thankful for beauty, for breath, and for His faithfulness. 

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We kindly interrupt this blog for a special digital announcement...

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No 'Poo Update

A few months ago I wrote a post about ditching shampoo

and joining the no 'poo movement.
The basic idea is to discontinue using shampoo & conditioner
and wash your hair with natural things instead:
baking soda as shampoo and vinegar as conditioner.


Sounds pretty crazy, eh?
If you have no idea what I'm talking about
and want to learn more about the no 'poo movement,
start here.


Anywhoo, since it's been a few months, I thought it would be
a good time do an update on how my no 'poo experience is going.
The verdict is:

It's true!
I've been shampoo-free for nearly 6 months now,
and there's no going back for me.


What I love about no 'poo:
- it's SO much cheaper than buying regular shampoo & conditioner
*
- my hair is much less oily and greasy
*
- my hair (formerly stick straight and flat) has gained
so much natural volume and wave
*
- my hair is much easier to manage and style; hairstyles hold all-day long
*
- no-heat curls stay put and last all day
*
- my hair air dries super fast; I'm using my blow-dyer so much less
*
- absolutely NO dandruff ever!


Tips & Tricks:
- the baking soda and vinegar (apple cider vinegar is the type I use),
as a weak alkaline and mild acid, combine in this process
to provide you with a pH-balancing, gentle, and clarifying hair wash
*
- the vinegar may "stink" at first as you rinse your hair,
but I guarantee that as your hair dries the vinegar smell will disappear completely
*
- you will find after the first few weeks of going no 'poo 
that you need to wash your hair less, but you can still shower everyday, 
just "wash" your hair with water on the in between days
* 
-I've found that during these dry winter months my hair needs
more of a moisturizer than the vinegar provides, 
so, every once in a while (once a week, maybe) 
I use a very small amount (nickel to quarter size for longer hair)
of conditioner and rub it through my hair after the vinegar rinse. 
This adds a kick of moisture and helps prevent static and dry split ends. 
*
- if you have an oilier scalp you may need to use more baking soda 
in your shampoo mix, if you have a drier scalp more vinegar may be needed; 
experiment with the different ratios until you find your perfect mix
*the basic "recipe" is 1 tablespoon of baking soda to one cup of water, 
and 1 tablespoon of vinegar to one cup of water

And that, in a nutshell, is my no 'poo experience!
I really hope you give it a try and don't hesitate to drop me an email
or a comment if you have any questions.

Happy hair care-ing! 

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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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The Jet-Lag Mash-Up

This, my friends, is what jet-lag looks like: 

- due to a plane problem and a missed connection, 

the hubs and I were given a one-night stay in a nice hotel

 and our long flight from Chicago to Tokyo

was upgraded to a better airline! 

- arrived home about midnight this past Sunday night, 

but didn't have to work until Monday afternoon, 

thank you manager and thank you Jesus. 

- have been really enjoying wearing my new clothes

purchased from Amurrica, 

especially this red trench coat. 

- so happy to be reunited with my Moto-cat! 

- miss my TN family so much already,

and really wish that I could get my CA family

and my TN family all in one place

and join them there forever. 

- almost finished unpacking! 

That's a big deal for this un-packing hater. 

- glad to be away from all that country music. ^^ 

- so happy to be sleeping in my own bed, 

wish I could be there right now. 

- TN is really dark at night. 

- Korea is never dark. 

- can't believe it's December! 

- I hope Christmas doesn't come and go too fast. 

Being a teacher in Korea = not having any time off for Christmas :(

- I must go hunt down some caffeine. 

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Greetings from Amurrica!

Hello friends! 
After a very long day of traveling, and three different flights, we made it safely to Amurrica last Saturday. Thank you so much for your prayers! 
We have been having such a wonderful and relaxing time here with family, eating and laughing and catching up. 
I haven't been taking many pictures because I wanted this to be a real vacation. ^^ But here are a few shots of the last week: 

Some of the highlights from the last week:
- receiving my new GUITAR (!!!!!) - reading on my new Kindle (gosh, I love that thing) - visiting Target ^^ - laughing (so much laughing!) with my family, especially while playing Apples to Apples- Thanksgiving dinner! 
Some of the culture shocks from the last week: 
- seeing huuuuge pick-up trucks everywhere- the low prices of produce! - all the different southern accents- big portions! - so, so, so much variety in stores and restaurants! - country music 

Happy Belated Thanksgivingfrom Toone! 

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Pre-Flight Jitters

In just over 24 hours the hubs and I will be

departing on our long-awaited trip Stateside. 

Three take-offs and landings later, 

we will be home. 

I say "home" and I mean it. 

"Home" has become a very fluid word for me 

in the last few years. 

I think all my expat friends will be able to relate. 

Home is where the love is. 

And there is so much love waiting for us in Tennessee. 

I'm not really looking forward to 

saying bye-bye to my Moto-cat tonight

or to the 2 layovers that we have in

store for us tomorrow, 

BUT,

here's what I am looking forward to for our trip: 

*FAMILY! 

*hearing and speaking English everywhere

*TARGET! 

*REAL Thanksgiving food!!! 

*just. relaxing. 

*catching up and sharing laughs

with people I love

*Red Robin

*pumpkin pie

*TARGET!! 

*visiting my very first Hobby Lobby

*autumn in pretty TN

*not working

*people-watching in airports

*my neck pillow

*reading through an exciting new series

and 

*TARGET!!! 

I covet your prayers for the hubs and I as we travel, dear friends. 

Please pray for safety for us and please pray against spiritual attack. 

Pray that John and I would operate  in great love 

towards one another in the midst of the chaos of traveling. 

And please also pray that God would grant us 

wisdom and clarity on how to spend our time and money

during this trip. 

God-willing, my next post will be from the States! 

LOVE! 

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He's back

The hubs spent the weekend hospitalized...

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The Hubdate

Last week I posted about the hubs being sick and us not knowing what was wrong and being worried about it.

Well, now we know...

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Discipline

John & I are currently going through a season of purposeful waiting on the Lord. We are waiting for Him to give us direction about this next season of our life. For the first time ever I feel good about the waiting, too...

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Blessings

I've been blogging about this little blessing a lot lately. ^^ I've completely forgotten to mention another fantastic blessing that we've recently acquired, however...

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New Life

My dearest friend here in Korea has just undergone the glorious experience of childbirth. After months and months of waiting, praying and preparing the little man has finally arrived, and a week early to boot! I am so so proud of my dear friend who opted for a water birth, and she did the whole thing all natural! 


Thank you Jesus for the safe arrival of this precious new life. May You bless Mommy, Daddy & Baby greatly as they embark on this wonderful journey! 


So here's to you, my dear Gail, and your beautiful little family! 

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Timeline

Since it's been a little while since I've been in the blogosphere, I thought I would share a bit of what I've been up to...

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