Blessed by School Life

Occassionally...
working here drives me to the brink of insanity.
The same was true in the U.S.

Occassionally...
more frequently than insanity
I stare blessings straight in the face

Today, I was 'Blessed by School Life'
when the science teacher sent me this note:

I'll work here at Bongam by today. My contract finishes today.
I may come to this school again or move to another school.
I was very glad/happy getting to know you.
I tried , however, didn't make good friends with you since I can speak English a little. Anyway I was very happy when I met you on a bus. Take care of yourself. Let's keep in touch with each other.
And this song:



Friendship is a sweet, sweet gift.
And while the lyrics may be corny...
I love them and I love reflecting on the
Blessings
I have that are directly related to 'school' life

(Typed having just finished enjoying 'Chinese' lunch extravaganza with my co-workers and a cup of 3-in-1 coffee mix)

Needs

Today I'm realizing some 'needs'

I needed this and this.

I needed this
to further confirm my love and need
of Love

I need this
Because it doesn't feel an ounce
like Christmas -- and I need it to.



I needed a bus driver who dressed as
Santa Claus
and gave away candy.

I needed a Korean co-worker
to send me this song mid-morning


I needed to re-read these words from a friend
"I think thats my soul recognizing that your soul is extraordinary. I see something in you that many people don't have, which is an ability to love wholeheartedly. I want to thank you for that! I think a lot of people are scared to love with all parts of their heart, but yet you do it daily. That's pretty incredible."

I need to know that a good friend
will soon be arriving...
and that we will hug.

I need to let go of some things
to move on
get over it
have some conversations
bake some cookies
write some blogs
and breathe.

I need encouragement. love. joy. Christ.

I need to remember it's Christmas.

(Typed with nothing to drink but because I needed to. I needed to remember what has brought joy in the last few days and that even though today is tearing me down...I have all I need and more.)

Of Falling in Love...

Again.
and Again.
and Again.

Saturday morning

Awoken by sweet kisses

The voice of my love

"We're leaving in an hour,

I'll make French toast,

you shower and get ready -

make sure to look your best!"

Unaware, unsure, un-awake

I obeyed.

Out the door, boarding the metro

arriving at the train station

friends. Anticipating

a sweet day.

One hour by train takes us to

Seoul.

Tacos. Avocados. Taxis. and Subways.

Book Stores. Guesses. Posters. and Theaters.

The Nutcracker.
Sugar Plum Faries.
Symphonic pleasures.
Dancing. Leaping.

Watching. Smiling.
Next to the one I love.

Days not over

just beginning...

Find ourselves at the top of Namson Tower.

Here is where we lock our love

where others have come before us

Committing to love each other

until the end of time.

Tradition is:

Write a message of love

attach to the lock

throw away the key

My man has written our message

our vows

our promise

our committment

Tears of Joy

So often I am blessed by this man whom I wed. So often I realize just what an honor it is to participate in life with someone of his character and compatability. So often, I take it for granted and fail to give praise where praise is due. And yet, we are in love. Constantly falling even deeper into this relational adventure of marriage.

And he wins my heart, again and again.

He has committed to our vows in a way that astounds me. Keeping them as an ever present force in our marriage - something to know and obey, to cherish and honor. And I love it. For so many reasons. But particularly because we were so deliberate in what we chose to speak to one another on that September day of 2007.

(Typed while wishing I were warmer and drinking something warm in a classroom of a faraway land known as Korea)

For another account of this day with more details and more photos check out this article.

Happiness is ...

a Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Cake.

Especially when Baskin Robbins is celebrating winter
by giving away things.

Things that are pink.
warm.
and sport pom-poms.

Especially when a Husband chooses to
purchase the Baskin Robbins
Ice Cream Cake ...
which is the pre-requisite for recieving
the pink thing.

I am enamored by this man he said:
"I will"
Because, he does.
And if the ice cream cake doesn't impress
...
Just wait. The story gets better.
You'll have to check back later if you want to know,
the rest of the story ^^

(Typed while enjoying a mug of Apple Cider recently arrived from Wyoming to the home of our dear friends the Mullens from a blacker than night mug.)

PSA: It's Christmas Time

Living in Korea has me missing the Christmas atmosphere.
Perhaps I thought it was all
a little over the top...
in years past.

However, without it
I don't know that it's Christmas.

There is no snow.
There are not carols playing
24/7 on the radio.
There are not sweets on every
table, waiting to be consumed.
There's no 'holiday cheer'.
It's just another day here in Korea.

So, when I awoke this morning with a Christmas song in my head.
And was able to enjoy a cup of tea from a Christmas mug...
it felt like Christmas.

It's going to be a good day.

(Typed having finished off a perfect mug of Lady Earl Grey with sugar and milk out of a darling Christmas Plaid Mug).

Eustace

We watched Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader a couple of nights ago.
I love the Chronicles of Narnia.
In a deep, reckless manner.
If I could go anywhere,
anywhere...
I'd go to Narnia, in a heartbeat

As the movie began, I remembered why the Dawn Treader
is one of my favorites.
Because of this passage.

"But the lion told me I must undress first. Mind you, I don't know if he said any words out loud or not.


I was just going to say that I couldn't undress because I hadn't any clothes on when I suddenly thought that dragons are snaky sort of things and snakes can cast their skins. Oh, of course, thought I, that's what the lion means. So I started scratching myself and my scales began coming off all over the place. And then I scratched a little deeper and, instead of just scales coming off here and there, my whole skin started peeling off beautifully, like it does after an illness, or as if I was a banana. In a minute or two I just stepped out of it. I could see it lying there beside me, looking rather nasty. It was a most lovely feeling. So I started to go down into the well for my bathe.

But just as I was going to put my feet into the water I looked down and saw that they were all hard and rough and wrinkled and scaly just as they had been before. Oh, that's all right, said I, it only means I had another smaller suit on underneath the first one, and I'll have to get out of it too. So I scratched and tore again and this underskin peeled off beautifully and out I stepped and left it lying beside the other one and went down to the well for my bathe.

Well, exactly the same thing happened again. And I thought to myself, oh dear, how ever many skins have I got to take off? For I was longing to bathe my leg. So I scratched away for the third time and got off a third skin, just like the two others, and stepped out of it. But as soon as I looked at myself in the water I knew it had been no good.

Then the lion said - but I don't know if it spoke – ‘You will have to let me undress you.’ I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it.

The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off. You know - if you've ever picked the scab off a sore place. It hurts like billy-oh but it is such fun to see it coming away...

Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off - just as I thought I'd done it myself the other three times, only they hadn't hurt - and there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobbly-looking than the others had been. And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. Then he caught hold of me - I didn't like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I'd no skin on - and threw me into the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and splashing I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I saw why. I'd turned into a boy again."
 



Pain is so. hard.
The pain I've experienced
has been. hard.
Yet somehow. has been
made. beautiful.
More so than I could have ever imagined.

(Typed while enjoying a luke warm thermos of Lady Earl Grey tea)

Hugs

I miss them



If you live in Daejeon,
can we hug next time we meet?

If you come visit me,
can we hug multiple times
each day you're here?

If you see me back at home,
can we embrace often?

If you have someone you love,
can you hug them now?

Because I'll be hugging my love soon.

(Typed with only a bottle of water to keep me company...)

Valley of Shadows

I know some beautiful souls
beautiful souls
that are hurting


Each has lovingly
invited me into the depths
of their souls

When I hear their story
I share their pain
My heart is aching for them

I hope everyone has such deep and meaningful relationships

that pain is shared regardless of

experience, miles, age, etc.

This is for my friends, the beautiful souls that are hurting

This is my prayer for you.

May you each know
that you are not alone.

(Typed while enjoying a darling brown, bone-china mug filled with Earl Grey, a bit of milk and sugar)

Meditation:IV

I've been mulling over these verses:

Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord,
and abhor those who rise uup against you?


I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

Psalm 139:19-22

Initially, my thoughts leaned on
"I should not hate,
therefore, I do not hate."

But then I began to notice

that when passion is stirred

in my heart

sometimes, I feel angry

I begin seeing things I hate

I hate

the injustices

which my eyes are opened to

I hate

the misrepresentation

of Jesus which is zealously offered to the world

I hate

the great divide

of rich and poor. and sometimes

I hate

that I'm the wealthy one

I don't feel entirely comfortable sharing this

I feel vulnerable

I feel hypocritical

However, these are my reflections

these are things I'll continue to mull over

everytime my passion is ignited

because I'm not often passionate

about what is working 'well'

I'm often passionate

about what I believe needs change.

“I hate all your show and pretense --
the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.

 I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.

I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.

Away with your noisy hymns of praise!

I will not listen to the music of your harps.

Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,

an endless river of righteous living."

Amos 5: 21-24

(Reflections put to computer screen while enjoying a brown mug filled with LDT Bamboo Sprouts Green Tea)