From Where I Stand

As I am coming down from my day, listening to Bruno Mars' new song,  Treasure  thinking of the treasures (college housemates) I find a cock roach crawling on the adjacent wall... You have GOT to be freaking kidding me. You have got to be kidding me. You have got to be kidding me. Pacing Music on full blast I grab the flimsy broom- the only thing I have as a tool to do the deed first swing I missed ear piecing scream WHERE DID IT GOOO?! reacted by pulling the collar of my t-shirt over my head (I have an irrational fear of insects ambiguously flying around my head and worst, going in my ears) do cock roaches fly???? WHERE IS IT?!  I spot it on the floor. broom raised high, curdling screammmmm          WACK. "you are my treasha, you are my treasha "  is still on full blast playing in the background I cover my mouth ashamed of how loud I screamed and started laughing...  with out a doubt I just woke up the entire apartment complex.

Happy Hump Day!  - I am in a good mood. -I am stinky, sweaty and dirty and sitting on my clean bed. -I feel nourished, I am gaining weight, I feel healthy, I am eating on a schedule. -just got back from a run with the other english teacher, Arsenio. -we ran 2 miles and walked 2 miles back. -A thai couple smiled at us so big on our run. it was AWESOME. -listened to kid kudi's "Up Up and Away" that janks was on repeeeeat. -I still got the run in me. Can I just say, for a lanky white girl I can run damn well. Arsenio is black and he had to take a break. I out ran a black maaaan. chica chica yeaaaaa. - I'll say it again, I still got the run in meeeeeeeee. I could've run the entire four miles- cake, cake, cake. -Arsenio and I have formed a great, supportive and respectful kinship. Dude you're awesome. We lift each others spirits up to get through our days. TEACHING: -Today was another great day at school. Less crying involved. Bee, Cee and I are the

School started this past Thursday. Let's just say, I came home and had no idea what just happened. It was a whirlwind. I didn't know my place.  It included lots of observing and helping the other teachers and playing with the kids. Day by day the pieces of the puzzle will come together- adaptation is messy. I work with wonderful Thai teachers. It truly is a team effort at this school to create the best learning environment. For the most part I will be in MEP 1 (Mini Education Program 1; 2 1/2-3 year olds) but may teach other levels in the months to come. Perspective change: Imagine being a 3 year old and going to school for the very first time with 19 other peers.  You might only have to interact with one or two siblings at home or none and all of sudden you are placed in an enclosed area to some how get along with 19 others, follow directions, pay attention and establish routine. All of this at once. Without a doubt that has to be daunting and overwhelming. Lots of

Today, I drove a motor cyc all by myself! It was not the first time (I've been practicing) but for the first time on the main road which is six lanes of traffic. I went to the tesco and to the park! Complete and utter joy ride. Since I don't have a radio, I make my own music which includes singing the same chorus of one song over and over again. Belt it through the wind. I need to create music som e how for a substitution!  Mental notes while driving: -don't look back. (metaphor for my lyfe!) use and trust your rear view mirrors. adjust them if you have to. -when you get scared ease off the accelerator the opposite way. simple terms LET GO of handle. a little twirk goes a longggg way. -it helps to dangle my legs like a bird when accelerating, then huddle them on deck. 

My stomach was churning all day. Arsenio, the other english teacher and I had been eating food from markets, restaurants and venders for the past few days with Bee- our friend, fellow Thai teacher and the only Thai person I know who speaks english. My stomach was finally having a say in the matter... I needed to eat desperately. I was caught between the feeling of starving and no appetite...? The last time I ate was lunch time and it was 8pm. Both Arsenio and I needed something substantial other than food we could not recognize or put a name too. FRUIT is what we were after. Your basic shoppers-food-warehouse apples and bananas. We hopped on the motor cyc and zipped down the main road. You can tell when someone is getting more comfortable driving a motor bike while riding on the back of it. you just can. the combination of their speed, turning, merging, braking, space between other vehicles and flow of timing of motions are happening naturally. All the person can do on the back

When you experience the presence of the Holy Spirit, nothing nothing can take that away from you. Romans 5:5 says hope does not put us to shame for God's love is poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Any condemnation is not of Christ. Read Romans 8- life in the spirit.

At the airport, I locked my hands around his waist closed my eyes and held on.... and held on to the person who has established right relationship in my life. Words cannot express- gosh I can't even write right now... words cannot express how much I value our friendship.  I can remember the first time I met you. I was six? seven? I had just woken up from a nap in the front seat of the car, turned to my right and there you were nervously smiling and waiving through the window. I wanted nothing to do with you, really.  At an early age, the fairytale mindset was proven unlikely. I didn't know it at the time, but my parental circumstances were not as similar to Cinderella's like I thought they were. My Mirror Mirror on the wall reflected the 'evil' step parent to be, kind, respectful, charismatic, compassionate, funny (understatement), Godly, giving, intuitive, selfless, warm, strong in spirit and a straight up honest human being. With each kiss-and-ride,

First day of work at Satit School of Rambhai Bani Rajhabhat teaching 20, 3-4 year olds through movement, song and art. Prayers upon these 20 little sponges who are taking everything in at such an important age. I do not know what I am getting myself into....   Morning song to start the day "Getting Into You" by Relient K.

I was sitting uncomfortably on the charter bus, like the Hunch Back himself, as we plow down the road back to Bangkok. We were at a rest stop. I looked out the window at a vacant concrete parking lot. My mind was wandering. What's new? isolated. angry. fireworks of accusation. disorder of thought. pointing fingers. not understanding. the enemy of my soul emphasizing imperfections running around teasing the healed parts. How many times do I have to put situations on the Altar for me to understand it is not my battle to fight? How many prayers does it take to realize His higher ways?! From behind me, hands press on the sore spots of my shoulder blades. Fingers move in pulsed circles. It was Carol, the 'cool mom'/teacher/massager/yoga instructor/friend who started giving me a thai massage. Instantly she could read my body language by how I held my upper body . As she lengthen my (already 'giraffe') neck and opened my shoulders to their healthy place of w

Got this email from a dear friend this morning but could not read it because I did not allow myself enough time before I had to rush out the front door.  I just read it this evening while listening to "Give me Jesus" by Jeremy Camp; the dear friend who emailed it to me loves this album. When she was living abroad in australia it got her through a lot of struggles. He is near at our lowest. I felt connected to your heart, especially the last sentence. It struck a chord or waterworks. Miss you Beki. Glory be to Him, ALL Him for our blessed relationship. He gets all the glory for orchestrating our divine appointment. Began and ended my day with Jeremy Camp.  Praying He takes flight in your heart in some way, shape or form after reading.  - - - - - - -  "The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out." Proverbs 20:5 (NIV) There are two kinds of young women who live in my house. One speaks her mind freely; you

      I arrived at my studio apartment later friday night with all that I needed on my back, around my shoulders and in my hands. The apartment is located on the university grounds. To all my fellow Dukes, I've finally figured out the characteristics of where I am living. It's like James Madison University during the summer mixed with a ghost town. School starts thursday. It is not as gorgeous as JMU's campus but nonetheless when I took a walk tonight it reminded me of a typical college campus. There are lots of side streets, concrete tables and chairs, out door dining halls and a lot of vacant buildings. Instead of bikes there are motor cycles. Also, stray dogs are EVERYWHERE. I crossed paths with ten tonight. Some are friendlier than others, some will walk beside you, some come up behind you and scare the CRAP out of you. Anyways I digress.      It is inevitable to be anything other than sticky, oily, hot and/or sweaty.... all the time.  There are no towels in the apa

Once all the teachers checked into the hotel a few of us went to explore the city.    Leaving dock, headed to Asia Tique. (typical touristy shot, had to get one with a monk in it)  When ever you wave at others on boats, they all wave back. Smile, they smile.   Miss Kayla Pam, Kayla and Allie :) Such a great evening/night.  Spontaneous Fish Spa. SUCH an experience and yes I would do it again. Imagine dozens and dozens of fish mouths sucking all the dead skin off your feet.  Highlight of my night: watching Allison fight the urge to keep her feet in the water. SHE DID IT! Love this candid by the way, captures this lady's spirit.  Clean feet, new skin is breathing. Such a sucker for sunsets. This shot is one of several.... of the same thing. As the sunset meets the horizon, the colors reflect off of the buildings, clouds and water... it is constantly changing as it falls... breathtaking.  The area is similar to an

I'm not in the best mood and it is way past my bed time.  What better way to go to sleep posting these smiles that are beautiful and one of a kind. This is my way of not going to bed upset or moody. After all, I live in the land of smiles now.  Katy  She went by Miss Pancake...  Pam (nice photo bomb kid)  Shawna   Erng  Mary  Dog at market close to Grand Palace  "Can't touch this... duuuh nuh nuh nuh" 

spontaneous 'side note' blog entry This  is my song. Demons Imagine Dragons listen. My personal twist- I imagine battling it out with God and talking to Him through these lyrics... It is real. - - - - - I promise I will blog about first few days of Thailand and update soon, pictures included! I am falling behind already... Orientation is a lot to take in but trying my best to be a sponge and enjoy it by making connections. After our community dinner with OEG teachers and staff, some of us hung out and chatted around one of the circle tables. Later, some of us played spoons in the hotel lobby and Fiat (yes, like the car.) talked to us about the process of being ordained as a monk; it's quite interesting actually.'Interesting' doesn't do his explanation justice. As time goes by, I am growing closer to my fellow teachers more and more. In just a few days it will be an entirely different dynamic to transition into, once we leave... New Favor

Who knows what just dropped on my Mom's toe. She just came up from the garage in pain.  I followed her to the kitchen, lifted her leg, propping foot on kitchen counter to see the wound matched with her pain. It was bleeding. "I've been having trouble with this big toe of mine" Mom winced quietly. "Mom, your toes look so nice!" I replied. They were painted a 'Granna' color, a soft mauve color, trimmed nails. Holding back her pain, with tears and a smile on her face she utters, "I'm going to miss those nice comments..." While holding her calf in my hands I started crying with a smile. I put my forehead down on her shin and cried some more, then laughed. We both started a tearful laughing spell. It was in that moment where God spoke clearer between the words than ever before. We don't have words when the Holy Spirit enters. We just receive and know and let it pass through our hearts. As the exchange of light laughter and tear

I cut my hair. Why?... Why not? stream line of thoughts. go: -I am moving to a foreign country -short hair is low maintenance- cha ching! -ALL is exposed- even my giraffe neck. Parts of my hair/head have not seen light in quite some time. -The wind feels tingly against my little hairs now. -For the first few hours it felt like I had a something glued to my head....? explain that one. -I had complete trust in my hair dresser- although I closed my eyes half the time and felt the excess fall. I asked her to keep cutting. keep pruning! -I will save water (and 'shower together' haa haa not that kind of saving) and save dabbles of shampoo and conditioner. cha-ching! -Hair takes 30 seconds to style. cha-ching! -As it grows out it will take different forms! super pumped about this aspect. -My Papaw said I look like Julie Andrews. SO OKAY with that! I will have kids to sing-a-long with, soon.. -I needed immediate change...God has been doing a lot of cutting back