Lylah Hall....

is now Lylah Juan.....
My sweet dog, Lylah, has been transferred to the care of one, Ana Juan. Ana is a friend of mine from work. I happened upon Ana talking about wanting another dog as a companion for her current dog, but she didn't want the work of a puppy.
For real!? I was like, "Want mine!!?" Truly, God was easing my mind and giving me that peace. I've been extremely worried about what to do with Lylah. God answered my prayers! Ana is great and wonderful and I'm excited she's Lylah's momma now.
But I miss my Lylah. I haven't cried, which is weird... I'm guessing it will hit me soon. It kind of feels like I'm boarding her or something....

She's been a good dog. The sweet old grandma that she is.

Lylah Juan

So, that's done.

I had to say goodbye to my first friend today, too. My old roommate and friend, Morgan, and her husband, Ben, are moving to Ohio for Ben's medical school. Morgan's work is based in Las Colinas and she would come up here from College Station every few months and we would hang out.

It's weird. I still didn't cry, neither did she. We both think it's that it hasn't hit us yet. I guess that's true... but this needs to start becoming real.

I know some part of it will hit on the last days of school. I will be extra sad that my babies won't be able to come and see me after school when they're in middle school and I'm REALLY going to miss my friends at work.

God has blessed me so much with my Otis Brown family. I complain about work, it's true. But mostly it's about what I can't change due to law. STATE LAW! If you didn't know this already, Texas has some issues in education. Just an FYI.

Through all of this, though. Through giving my dog away, saying goodbye to friends, praying that the education system would turn it's focus on kids, I can feel that God is in control. Yes, even with the junk my kids and I have to deal with on a daily basis. He's there, working. His timing is perfect. My patience isn't.

As far as moving to Korea is concerned. What I'm most focused on right now is trying to get rid of a lot of clothes. But it makes it hard when I go SHOPPING FOR MORE CLOTHES because I want to make sure I have cold weather (REAL cold weather, not Texas "cold weather") gear.

God's hand is in everything. I just have to make sure to allow Him to guide me.



It's so sweet...

To trust in Jesus.
And to take Him at His Word.

So, I am moving to Seoul, South Korea on July 29th, 2012. I will be teaching 5th grade at Asia Pacific International School!
Though I am extremely excited, I am also terrified. I rest in the peace that God is in control. I felt him calling me to teach internationally, so I signed up for a search site. If I'm being honest, I was gung-ho about it for about a month and a half, then my interest waned. I focused all of my energy on one school in Nairobi, Kenya and was SO sure that it was where God wanted me. And, like always, what I thought was God's plan was not.
The principal of the Elementary school at APIS contacted me and within three days, I had a job offer! For real. That fast. God worked crazy, in my face, obvious and I still was like, "But.... I like Nairobi......" so I interviewed with the awesome school there.  So God got MORE obvious about South Korea and basically took hold of my heart during the interview with the Nairobi school and said, "No. I want you in Seoul." It was undeniably God. I've never felt something so obvious.
That night, I e-mailed the school in Nairobi and explained to them that I could tell God wanted me in South Korea, even though I wanted Kenya. I then excitedly emailed my school in Seoul and told them I was committed to being there for two years!  I was thrilled... for about a month.....
That's when the fear started seeping in.
What am I doing? I'm going by myself. I have to make NEW friends. What if I get lost? What if they don't like me!? What if I don't like Korean food!? Will anyone come visit for real? What will change at home while I'm gone? What if I hate it and want to go home? What if I love it and don't want to come home? Will my mom be mad? Will my family be sad? I'm going to miss out on so much! Am I giving up on my current school? What about my babies at Brown? Who will love my Otis Brown babies next year? Am I going to be good enough? Will they regret hiring me?
Those are the main fears that take over my heart.
But God..... is good. ALL THE TIME! No matter what, my fear subsides and there is peace. If I freak out on my friends, they give me a few minutes, and I'm peaceful about it again.
If you know me at all, that peace is not me. That is only God. My worry wartism doesn't have room for peace.... but God is in control.

This blog is being started for a few reasons:
1.) I would like to keep all whom I love and care about informed about my life in Seoul.
2.) I would like all who love and care about me to keep me accountable to living my life for the Lord... not partly, not fakely, for real.
3.) I would like this blog to show the awesomeness of God to those who don't know Him.

I know that ramblings will occur. I'm not a writer, nor am I particularly witty. Bear with me.

So, with God in control, I am preparing to move to the other side of the world. I'm preparing to teach other 5th graders not only in academics, but about God. (APIS is a Christian School). I'm preparing to be away from my family and friends. I'm preparing to do the scariest and most amazing thing I have done. Yet, it's not actually ME preparing... God has been preparing me, is preparing me, and will continue to prepare me for this journey.
God is writing my story. His timing, placement, and events are for His GLORY and my joy. Praise Him that He loves me THIS MUCH!

"Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News and fully carry out the ministry God has given you."
2 Timothy 4:2-5