What's next?

Less than 100 days 'till I am home.

92, to be exact

Life here has gone by all too fast...and I don't want to think about leaving. Yes, I miss my Family and friends back in the States like crazy, but a large piece of my heart is going to stay here in Taiwan. The people I have met here and the Children who I get to see everyday have become so much a part of my life that I can't imagine life without them...

However, I am coming back.

To stay.

I was not OK with this decision.

I came to Taiwan. I fell in love with everything right away. My parents and I talked about coming back next year and everything seemed so perfect. I felt at so much peace about this whole thing and was looking forward to another year of teaching.

As of 5 weeks ago, this all changed.

I told the Lord to tell me for sure what to do next year through my parents - I did not want to be the one who decided whether I stayed home or came back.

He did.

My parents told me that they wanted me back home. They wanted (want) me to start on some college courses and spend time with the family while we are all together still.

I put my heel in the dirt and would not have my mind changed that easily!

I talked with several people here. Had someone call my mom and try to persuade her.

It didn't work. =(

Then came the TESOL retreat (a gathering of all the English teachers in Taiwan - from IBLP), at which God showed me some stuff that didn't make totally sense until a week later when our girls Bible study group was talking about TRUSTING God.

I know honestly admit that I was wrong in not trusting my parents, but now, not only do I trust that they are listening to God - I AM LISTENING TO GOD TOO!

Some verses that have meant a lot to me are Daniel 3:13-30, Psalms 143:8, 37:4 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Oh, For The Love of Horses!!

Yeppers,
a wonderful Sunday turned into a perfectly wonderful Sunday.



Junes called me on Wed. and asked me to meet her on Sunday...she wouldn't say why.

I was totally delighted and surprised! =)

The horses were so cute!

We (Ede, Junes, and I) met up with Yvonne, a friend of Junes, who takes lessons at this Stable upon occasion. Yvonne called up Junes and wanted her to go ridding with her and Junes, knowing how much Ede and I love horses, invited us to tag along.

Yvonne and her family were so sweet and gracious to all three of us. Not only was it awesome to get back on a horse again, but it was also wonderful to get together with some other Christians who love the Lord with ALL their hearts!

Kaohsiung and KenTing...Here I come!!

This last weekend several friends and I left for a "vacation" down to Kaohsiung.



I had a blast - here is what our schedule was like:

DAY #1

5pm - bus leaves Taoyuan to Kaohsiung (5 hrs of absolute nothingness...)

10pm - get to Kaohsiung and, as soon as we stepped off the bus, walked 4+ miles to and around a Night market.

12am - walked around the "Love" river. It was an absolutely perfect way to end the evening!

2am - arrive at the hotel and put our bags down (finally). Then Charity, being in a really pic's-taking mood, decided that we should get some "way-late-for-bed" pictures...

(yes, I realize that I already look like I've been sleeping...)

DAY #2

8am - Wake up, meet up with everyone, get Starbucks and breakfast!

10am - Hook up with 4 other people and take a 2hr ride to Kenting

12pm - arrive at Kenting and feel like I am back in Florida...except most people in Florida know what the word "Grammar" is. =)

12:30pm - find an amazing beach!

12:40 - tee/shorts shopping R us!!

And no, we didn't go to the beach just to go swimming...

1pm - Jet Skiing (and after an hour or so we went swimming...)

4pm - Dinner at an absolutely incredible Mexican Restaurant!
The food was huge (!) and it was the best Mexican food I'd had in a while.

5pm - walk off all the food we just ate. =P

6pm - walk around the night market, get art done on our hands/arms, etc.

8pm - another 2hr bus ride back to Kaohsiung



1am - bed time at last!!

DAY #3

8am - wake up and smell the Starbucks!! =)

9:30am - take a ferry over to the coolest Island in the world.

12:00pm - Hike up a crazy mountain, enjoy scenery, laugh with friends =D

When we got to the top, the view was breathtaking.

I don't know how I am going to tear my heart away from here.

I don't know what I am doing next year.

I don't know why God gives us precious friendships, only to take them away all too soon.

I don't know everything.

I know that God knows, and that is all that matters.

Pictures are courtesy of Charity Sanders, Susanna Seal, and Lauren Little. Thanks Girlie's! =)