Surprisingly, I feel much less overwhelmed AFTER making the To-Do lists! Yesterday Chris and I went to Ames to get our passport pictures taken for our India Work Visas, and then we sat down at Panera and read the ENTIRE Woodstock New Employee Handbook out loud together. We wrote 6 pages of "To-Do Lists"...2 pages of "Stuff To Do", 2 pages of "Questions to Ask", and 2 pages of "Things to Pack". Here's some of our "Stuff To Do" list...
1. Find out how much weight we can bring on our airplane. Can we bring more since we're changing our residence?
2. Mail ahead of time: sleeping bags, seasonal clothing, sports equipment
3. Assign power of attorney to parents
4. Mail medical forms to Woodstock
5. Get a notarized copy of our marriage, birth, and teaching certificates
6. Decide: Travel insurance?
7. Think through China travel/expenses-how much to save? (this is a fun one...we're going to spend a couple of weeks with my cousins in Hong Kong over Christmas break, and hopefully see a good chunk of China!)
8. Get all medical history
9. Get work visas/fax copy to Woodstock
10. Prepare for teaching assignment...make copies of elementary material
That's obviously not the whole list, it is MUCH longer. But after yesterday, both Chris and I feel a beautiful peace and strong anticipation for this trip! It felt like we hadn't really connected about the direction we're going to take in making preparations, or who would do what. Processing out loud felt SO good, and really connected us.
And then, we had a GREAT church service this morning. Such a powerful body of believers, and we both felt a peace again that we are SUPPOSED to go to India. We already are feeling challenged and grown in ways we never could if we stayed here. So, today we are PRAISING Jesus, and smiling big smiles!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
The Gift of Time
Today was show choir auditions, the last day I had student interaction at school. I got to spend the whole day with the new choir director and his family, and feel VERY good about leaving the program and the kids in his hands. Praise Jesus!
At the end of the day one of the show choir girls brought me a present from the varsity show choir...they gave me a beautiful fossil watch and a fake baby chick that cheaps with a motion censor. They thanked me for giving them so much of my time, and wanted to give me the gift of time...and they got it engraved. Every time I look at the time, I'll get a Webster City hug.
At the end of the day one of the show choir girls brought me a present from the varsity show choir...they gave me a beautiful fossil watch and a fake baby chick that cheaps with a motion censor. They thanked me for giving them so much of my time, and wanted to give me the gift of time...and they got it engraved. Every time I look at the time, I'll get a Webster City hug.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Last Days
Today was my last day of regular school...All I have left now is semester tests, show choir auditions, and teacher work days. I did cry during my "good-bye" speech, but surprisingly did really well! Here are some pics we took today. Can we say goofy? These kids are so so dear to my heart...
Thank you all for a WONDERFUL first teaching experience. It's been an honor to work with you, and I will always keep the memories I've gained and lessons I've learned close to my heart.
Thank you all for a WONDERFUL first teaching experience. It's been an honor to work with you, and I will always keep the memories I've gained and lessons I've learned close to my heart.
Oops, official link
I've never tried to link to a web address before...let's try this!
Click here to see our skydiving video! I'm tandem 2, Amy's tandem 1.
Ah, the joys of experimentation.
Click here to see our skydiving video! I'm tandem 2, Amy's tandem 1.
Ah, the joys of experimentation.
Skydiving Link...
I just got the video link for our skydiving! Amy's Tandem 1, and I'm Tandem 2. Matthew's was really blurry so we didn't end up getting it. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/bobtomcrap
http://www.youtube.com/bobtomcrap
Monday, May 25, 2009
I feel SO blessed
This weekend was a beautiful example of how great things are when God is present in your life. It was a GREAT weekend filled with adventure, fun, communication, tears, and family love. I truly feel SO blessed.
The weekend started with a family sky-diving excursion! Because I've been sick we weren't sure it would work out, but it did and Friday night at 5:00 the siblings and I went falling from the sky. It was pretty nerve wracking until Matthew made it safely to the ground...after that, no nerves at all! Here are some of my favorite pics.
Then we had a GREAT weekend with the Farley's. Chris' brother Mike flew in from Kentucky, and his aunts Pam and Muriel flew in from Virginia to spend the weekend together. We all knew it was the last time we'd all be together for a long time (minus Mike's wife Lianne...SAD!), so every fun moment felt a little pre-nostalgic. Saturday the boys went golfing while the girls went shopping, then we had a GREAT Italian meal together, and came back/ate homemade ice cream/set up blogs for Chris' family. Great, great day!
Sunday we spent the day on a boat...grilled, laid out, just relaxed and had fun. It was a GREAT day. And then that night it was time to say good-bye to my brother and sister! Matthew and Amy are spending the summer in Florida at a summer training program, and unfortunately will be gone until after Chris and I leave for India! So, this was good-bye for a long time. LOTS of tears, a beautiful prayer time, and hugs galore. It was a great good-bye...very sad.
And today we slept in, played darts, and came home to SHOW OUR HOUSE! We had a showing at 3:30 and another at 5:30, and both are really interested! I'm realizing that I really struggle to trust God to take care of these types of things...selling our house, selling our cars, taking care of the details that are out of my control (which, of course are the things that need faith!). I'm asking Holy Spirit to grow my faith right now...kind of uncomfortable!
So basically, I love my families. God is good. And, I'm getting excited for India!
P.S. Today Yvonne told us she had decided to fly Chris and I home for Christmas! THANK YOU YVONNE! We wouldn't have been able to afford it, and it feels so much easier to say good-bye for 6 months, rather than 13. YAY!
The weekend started with a family sky-diving excursion! Because I've been sick we weren't sure it would work out, but it did and Friday night at 5:00 the siblings and I went falling from the sky. It was pretty nerve wracking until Matthew made it safely to the ground...after that, no nerves at all! Here are some of my favorite pics.
Then we had a GREAT weekend with the Farley's. Chris' brother Mike flew in from Kentucky, and his aunts Pam and Muriel flew in from Virginia to spend the weekend together. We all knew it was the last time we'd all be together for a long time (minus Mike's wife Lianne...SAD!), so every fun moment felt a little pre-nostalgic. Saturday the boys went golfing while the girls went shopping, then we had a GREAT Italian meal together, and came back/ate homemade ice cream/set up blogs for Chris' family. Great, great day!Sunday we spent the day on a boat...grilled, laid out, just relaxed and had fun. It was a GREAT day. And then that night it was time to say good-bye to my brother and sister! Matthew and Amy are spending the summer in Florida at a summer training program, and unfortunately will be gone until after Chris and I leave for India! So, this was good-bye for a long time. LOTS of tears, a beautiful prayer time, and hugs galore. It was a great good-bye...very sad.
And today we slept in, played darts, and came home to SHOW OUR HOUSE! We had a showing at 3:30 and another at 5:30, and both are really interested! I'm realizing that I really struggle to trust God to take care of these types of things...selling our house, selling our cars, taking care of the details that are out of my control (which, of course are the things that need faith!). I'm asking Holy Spirit to grow my faith right now...kind of uncomfortable!So basically, I love my families. God is good. And, I'm getting excited for India!
P.S. Today Yvonne told us she had decided to fly Chris and I home for Christmas! THANK YOU YVONNE! We wouldn't have been able to afford it, and it feels so much easier to say good-bye for 6 months, rather than 13. YAY!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
We LIVED!
It's official. WE WENT SKYDIVING! It ended up that the weather was perfect Friday night (and looked questionable for Saturday morning). SO, we switched the day at noon on Friday, I left school the SECOND the bell rang, and by 4:30 we were watching the "death video" and signing our lives away. It was pretty sweet!
Matthew went first, then Amy, then me (so Chris could make it in time from work to see me), and surprisingly none of us felt nervous at all! And thankfully, we all made it through alive. :)
The internet here is pretty slow (we're at Chris' parent's house), so pictures/video to come. But just in case you were wondering, I'm not dead.
Matthew went first, then Amy, then me (so Chris could make it in time from work to see me), and surprisingly none of us felt nervous at all! And thankfully, we all made it through alive. :)
The internet here is pretty slow (we're at Chris' parent's house), so pictures/video to come. But just in case you were wondering, I'm not dead.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Our finished house!
We spent all weekend getting our house ready to put on the market...and these are the Craig's List pictures we posted. It feels SO GOOD to be done. Now we get to sit back and relax!
Praises, Tears and Fears
PRAISES: I'm finally healthy! I've been out as long as I've not blogged...a LONG time, but I'm back, and feel very normal. God is really good, and I'm back to "regular" life.
TEARS: Unfortunately, I'm back just in time for life to stop being regular. I've got the rest of this week at school, then one day and finals and school's DONE. I really can't believe how emotional I've been this week. Yesterday one of my very favorite students gave me the book "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss.
He had everyone write in it, and gave me a picture of him and I taken at All-State. I guess because he initiated it and all the students I love had written in it...I sat in our store room reading the notes and just bawled like a baby for a full 30 minutes. I really didn't know it would be this hard!
I did have a moment of giddiness today when I isolated my thoughts and pictured living in the Himalayan Mountains, surrounded by that extreme beauty. I need to remember that as I'm working through these intense emotions, I also need to embrace the future.
So here ya go...this is my favorite quote from the book, and is a great reminder of the adventure God has just handed us.
________________________________________________________
TEARS: Unfortunately, I'm back just in time for life to stop being regular. I've got the rest of this week at school, then one day and finals and school's DONE. I really can't believe how emotional I've been this week. Yesterday one of my very favorite students gave me the book "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss.
He had everyone write in it, and gave me a picture of him and I taken at All-State. I guess because he initiated it and all the students I love had written in it...I sat in our store room reading the notes and just bawled like a baby for a full 30 minutes. I really didn't know it would be this hard!I did have a moment of giddiness today when I isolated my thoughts and pictured living in the Himalayan Mountains, surrounded by that extreme beauty. I need to remember that as I'm working through these intense emotions, I also need to embrace the future.
So here ya go...this is my favorite quote from the book, and is a great reminder of the adventure God has just handed us.
"Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away!
So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off to Great Places! Today is your day!"
Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!
_______________________________________________________
So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off to Great Places! Today is your day!"
Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!
_______________________________________________________
FEARS: And finally, Matthew, Amy and I are going SKYDIVING this Saturday! It's official...the deposit is in, and it's happening. I want to vomit a little as I write that, but ultimately I'm PUMPED!
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Starting to feel really sad :(
This weekend we spend all day Saturday getting our house "sell-ready"...not quite there, but we're working. And, I'm starting to feel really sad! It might just be because it's starting to be really nice outside and I LOVE summers at our house, but I will SERIOUSLY miss our house. Some of my favorite things about where we've been these last two years...
These are my favorite place to sit and read/be during the summer months.
And of course, with summer comes the grill!
We love spending the summer months riding our motorcycle. Kind of ancient, but it gets the job done!
And last but not least, I'm going to miss our puppies! They really feel like part of the family (Tom and Yvonne are going to keep them for us...what a gift!)
In all, I'm starting to really mourn the end of this time in our lives. And I guess that's important...let go of the past before we can fully embrace our future!
These are my favorite place to sit and read/be during the summer months.
And of course, with summer comes the grill!
We love spending the summer months riding our motorcycle. Kind of ancient, but it gets the job done!
And last but not least, I'm going to miss our puppies! They really feel like part of the family (Tom and Yvonne are going to keep them for us...what a gift!)
In all, I'm starting to really mourn the end of this time in our lives. And I guess that's important...let go of the past before we can fully embrace our future!
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