Asia - Really??? Seriously????

One word - flippin amazing!!!! Ok Ok - I know, that's two (I am a math teacher and can count) but seriously, the flippin just adds so much to it! ;)

This by far was one of the hardest trips I've ever been on, yet definitley one of the best. I was pushed and pulled in so many directions, yet the Lord was so great and revealed himself to me in some new way every day. He opened my eyes to how much I depend on me and other people to make it through the day - when really, all I need is Him. Yes I know, I should have been aware of this before, but honestly, this was the first time that I truly lived it. He is so good! I can't find the words to explain just what He showed me, but I will say, I am truly amazed at how great our God is.

Anyways - I met some amazing poeple on this trip. The Chinese students are so friendly and so eager to meet with Americans that they will do anything for you. We had some of the best tour guides because they wanted to show us their city and make sure we were taken care of. When you think about it, how many of us would take a complete stranger to some big Dallas tour attraction just because they were visiting our city and didn't know what all to do? Honestly, most of us wouldn't. But the Chinese are so hospitible and excited to have American friends, that they take such good care of you.

You know - I'm really afraid that I'm on the post trip 'high' and I don't want to lose it. I really have never felt as dependent on God as I did there, and now that I'm back and I'm back in the comforts of my own home, its hard to not just fall back into my old ways. But I can't - not this time. Our God is so big that He is moving all over a dirty, smelly lost country, so why can't I depend on Him when I'm in the comforts of my own home? All I know is that I love Him more than I ever have. Things aren't how I thought they would be when I got home. In a sense, I feel like its the enemy trying to distract me - but you know, as I said earlier, this trip taught me how to rely solely on the Lord, and that's what I'm going to do. :-)

I'm so glad to be back - I truly did miss all of my friends and just being here - but now I'm in a weird place - I miss Asia now too. I miss my friends there. So, I think I may be making a return trip next summer...anyone in?



My team on our first morning in front of the coffee shop -


Sweet girls that we met on our first day -


View from the City Wall


One of the cutest little Chinese boys that we ran into. Isn't he just so cute?!!

View from the City Center


Really & Jessica, Me & Liz in front of the Big Goose Pagoda - love these friends!


Liz & Me at Tang Paradise - its not overcast - its that smoggy!


Me & Joni at the Coffee Shop


SOme new friends heading to see the Big Goose Pagoda


Me & Kevin on the flight home -

Are You Serious?!!!

I can't believe that in 2 days I will be boarding a jet plane on my way to Asia!!! Serioulsy - where has the time gone?!

I am feeling a gazillion emotions - excitement, fear, anxiety, joy, hesitation, you name it - I'm probably feeling it. I know that this is where the Lord is guiding me right now, I just don't feel as prepared as I need to be. I am emotionally & physically exhausted. Not bad emotionally - just feel drained in a sense. Over the past 6 weeks I have felt more emotions than I thought possible. I've got from the the pit to a hang glider - you know - where you feel like you're just floating and enjoying the view - I like that one - remind me to stay away from the pit - not a fan of those feelings.

ANYWAYS - if you think about it - pray for me over the next few weeks - its going to be such an adventure and I'm excited! God can do such great things, I just have to open my eyes and let go of me.

Ok - love you all - will miss you!

Here are fun photos to remember me by! :)

Me & Corrie so excited because we got free blankets! Doesn't take much to make us happy!


Me & sweet Shane. I'm going to miss him when he moves to NY!


Me & Josh - seriously girls - this guy is AMAZING! The girl that he ends up with is one of the luckiest girls - I'm so blessed to have him as a friend!


Hot Date Night with 2 of the studdliest middles schoolers - and coolest leaders, Amanda!


Me & Hanna - LOVE HER!


Maddie & I are so much alike we even use the same lip gloss!

Good girls go to Heaven, Bad Girls go to Cancun!!!! --Eddie (our tour guide in Cancun)

So yeah, Eddie really doesn't know me and Melissa. But I will say - Cancun is a little piece of heaven - Not kidding - put me on a white sanded beach with turquoise water and I am in heaven!

Melissa and I had the best time...and the most relaxing. Nothing too crazy - I know I know, that doesn't sound like me at all, but this was the most relaxing vacation I think I've ever been on. Nothing like rolling out of bed and rolling on to a pool chair and laying in the sun. Loved it! Our typical day - set the alarm for 8 - read a little of the Word by the beach, roll onto a pool chair till about 12:30, then eat a little lunch, move to the beach from 1 - 4:30 - and then head on in to the room to relax (hey - it was an exhausting day). Dinner followed by a great nights reste in preparation for another rough day in the sun.

Here are some pics - now remember - when you travel with just 2 people, you end up taking a LOT of solo shots. No, Melissa and I are not models - we just take really good pictures. :)