An Overdue Update

Since beginning seminary my blog has definitely fallen low on my priority list. I was a little unaware of just how demanding seminary would be and to add work on top of a full schedule of classes I had very little time to do anything but work and study. So let me briefly catch you up with what is new with me.

I have successfully completed my first semester of seminary. I took 10 hours of classes the minimum allowed for a full-time student. It was plenty!! I think one more class would have been too much. And not only did I just finish the semester, but I finished well. Not just passing grades, but good grades. I'm pleased. I think I'm a better student having taught for three years before returning to school. Next semester I'm registered for 13 hours hopefully that isn't too much. I picked my classes strategically trying to balance easy classes with harder ones.

When I took a break from my studies and work, I spent the time off catching up with friends that I hadn't seen in way too long. I have been blessed with great friends that will drive hours to come visit me for a day or a weekend, and some have come to see me twice! I love you guys - you know who you are!!

My first Thanksgiving home in two years was amazing. My mom and I flew up to Indianapolis to spend the holiday with my sister Lesli and brother-in-law Mark and the cutest kids in the world. I'm not lying they are the cutest see for yourself in the pictures below.


See how excited Zoey is that I came to visit her!


Cutie pie Owen making a silly smile.






Owen didn't want me to take his picture so I tried to convince him to pose with his bear Yomi. He still didn't really want to smile for the picture.

Besides spending Thanksgiving with family another wonderful part was that I didn't have to make mashed potatoes for 70+ people. The two previous Thanksgivings in Prague, I was given the assignment of bringing mashed potatoes to our missionary family's Thanksgiving dinner. I don't really like mashed potatoes and always had ton leftover to take home. This year my sister Lesli cooked the whole meal and it was awesome. I ate a bite or two of the mashed potatoes and was thankful that she made them this year.

I'm another year older! Not sure how I feel about that yet. I turned 27 on December 4th! Crazy how that age seems mature and grown-up, but I feel like I am just now learning what it is I want to be when I'm a grown-up. My mom took me shopping for my birthday and I was thankful I didn't have to buy boring work clothes, because right now I don't have a grown-up job. That is a plus.

Well, those are the highlights of the past few months. I'll try to be better next semester keeping my blog updated, but I can't make any promises. I don't see my work load going down any, but I'll try.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!!

Getting Closer

My first semester in seminary is getting closer to the end. I can't say that this has been an enjoyable first semester, but it hasn't been awful either. The Lord has been good to show me that He is faithful always. He has provided financially, with a job, new friends and keeping up with old friends, and a ministry. Though I would much rather serve him overseas or in a local missions ministry He has me here studying. So I am praying that I learn what it is He has for me to know.

So far this semester I have written 9 papers, taken 6 tests, and read too many books (and by read I really mean skim). I only have 4 papers left to write and 1 test left to take. And of course, a lot more reading left to do.



I received the following e-mail from one of professors with this as the subject line "OK – so where are those tests we took?" This is what he wrote:

I am reading through what I have received and am in the process of grading them. I am NOT using the following methods:
(1) Throw the papers up in the air--those that land first get an 'A," the next 'B,' etc.
(2) Longer answers get an 'A,' shorter answers a lower grade, etc.
(3) People who typed their answers get an 'A,' the others a 'B," and so forth.

The method I AM using is to go through the papers, read and assess them, and then try to apply the most reasonable grade possible. Even with two graders, that takes time.

It made me laugh. If longer answer don't get you an A then I spent way to much time on my written answers! :)

Drip, Drip, Drip!!

Drip, drip, drip! That was the wonderful sound I got to fall asleep to on Sunday night.

As I stepped out of the shower on a rainy Sunday night, I noticed it wasn't just raining outside, but it was raining inside as well. Drops of water were falling from the vent in my bathroom. This isn't the first time my roof has leaked since I have moved to Ft. Worth. The previous time was just a month ago. However, in September the leaked occurred conveniently over the bathtub. Thankfully I live in seminary housing and I call them up when problems like this occur.

Rain fell from here...

... down to to here!

The color of the water makes it look like something besides water. Doesn't help that it is sitting next to a toilet either.

In the end, this how much rain water found its way into my apartment!!

Hopefully the problem is fixed, but if not I am getting pretty good at knowing what to do in this situation. You call maintenance!!

Car Alarm + Conspicuous Man Sprinting Away = Criminal Activity

I got off work last night, from my on campus job, just before 10:30pm. As I am walking out to my car, while on the phone talking to my mom, I hear a car alarm go off. I look up and notice a pickup truck with its light flashing, and I think to myself, "Is that my truck? Did I park there? My truck doesn't have an alarm, does it?" As these thoughts are going through my head simultaneously, I notice a guy sprinting down the street away from the vehicle. Then, the cloud of confusion melts away and the light bulb clicks on in my head. Yes, that is my truck. And yes, that guy sprinting down the street into the darkness is responsible for the alarm.

I open the driver's side door and turn the alarm off, and not to my surprise, there is glass all over the front seats. My passenger side window had been smashed in, apparently that is not what set the alarm off. It seems the guy was trying to hot wire the truck and while attempting to do so he set off the alarm.

Some seminary students were outside talking in the parking lot after their class. They heard the noise from my window being broken, but didn't see anything so they kept talking. However, once the alarm went off they were on their phones with security and the police. They saw the guy much better than I did. They stayed while security came to check things out and the police department too. It was an hour and half later before I made home.

Though this was not a positive experience, I praise God it wasn't worse than it was. I am thankful I have an alarm on my truck, otherwise I would have walked up on the guy. Not a pleasant thought. I am thankful that the only real damage was a broken window. And, I am thankful that God provided people to be there to help me out. Who knew there could be so many things to be thankful for when your the victim of a crime!

The EVIDENCE!!

Sad broken window :(

So much glass!

The wires that that Mr. Criminal felt the need to play with.

I don't know if you can tell, but there is black dust all over my pickup from the finger print powder. I can't wear anything white until I clean that up.

Reunion

I returned to the International Learning Center, the same place I had my 8 week training before I left for the Czech Republic, last week for the J-Men debriefing conference. The conference is set up for IMB short term missionaries who have returned from the field to help with reentry into American culture. The sessions were a flash back to our 8 week training; long and cold. Coming from hot Texas I forgot to pack a jacket or sweater to wear during these cold sessions. Luckily I have good friends who took pity on me and shared.

The Journeyman!! There were 4 training groups present for debriefing. Most of the J-men were from my FPO group.

The best part of the debriefing conference, and the reason I really went, was to reconnect with friends who were serving in other parts of the world.

Hanging out with sweet friends = good times!!

My FPO training group J-men. We are such a fun group of people.

My fellow Europe M's!

My Prague colleagues. The cutest J-Girls in Prague!!!!

I had a great time getting to reconnect with friends and hear their stories. It was very encouraging being around friends who understood my experience. I can't say the sessions were very enlightening, but getting to spend time with friends playing games and chatting was fantastic.

A Little Bit of Czech in Texas

West, TX is a small town that is not located in west Texas, but rather in central Texas. This small town has a Czech community that is proud of their heritage.
Here at the Little Czech Bakery you can buy some Czech Pastries. Some of them look Czech and some of them look like Americanized Czech. They do use more sugar here in America than they do in the Czech Republic, which is a good thing.

At the Czech Stop, which next to the Czech bakery, they sell bumper stickers that say, "Jak se mas" (How are you) and "Got Pivo" (Got Beer). Two years ago that wouldn't have meant anything to me.

The symbol in the middle is the national symbol of the Czech Republic. It is printed on all the coins.

It warmed my heart seeing this small piece of Czech culture. Even though I am happy to be in Texas and around family and friends, I still miss being in Prague.

Cesky Krumlov vs. Karlovy Vary

With only a few days left here in the Czech Republic I thought it would be nice to share a few pictures of a few places I have been to this past month. July has been pretty busy traveling from one place to another.

Cesky Krumlov

The following pictures are of Cesky Krumlov one of my favorite places outside of Prague. Cesky Krumlov is a small town south of Prague that has been around since the mid 1200's. The city's historical buildings and atmosphere is protected by UNESCO.

A view of the city and river from the castle tower.

Hostel Merlin treated us well. We only stayed one night, and other than having to step over the drunken man past out in the middle of the hall on the way to the bathroom, it was really quite a pleasant place to stay.

Yipes! There's a bear!

The temperature was in the low fifties while we were there, which explains why we were dressed in sweatshirts and jackets.

The castle tower.

Beautiful! I could live in this cute little town.

Karlovy Vary

If you have seen the movie Last Holiday with Queen Latifah then you may remember that Karlovy Vary is where Queen Latifah's character goes on vacation. A friend and I took the bus out to the city one afternoon, but unfortunately for us it was not as magical an experience when we visited. The city was nice, but I honestly expected to see more while I was there. Plus, we missed our bus going back to Prague. We had to buy new tickets and left an hour later than we had planned. The city is a spa town; people come here to drink mineral water and get spa treatments and that is about it.

There are stands all over the city selling these fancy spa cups. The handle is a straw so you can sip the hot mineral water while you stroll down the city streets.

As you walk down the street there are various fountains to choose from, with various temperatures of mineral water to fill your cup up with. People believe that the water is good for your health. Many people bring along 2 liter bottles to fill up and take home with them. The only problem is the water is nasty!

The Grandhotel Pupp is the famous hotel in the movie Last Holiday.

We took a wrong turn when trying to find our way to the city center and found this church. I forget what kind of church it is.

A view of Karlovy Vary from the top of Diana Tower, a lookout point at the top the mountain.

If you find yourself traveling through the Czech Republic and only have time to visit one of these popular places, I would suggest Cesky Krumlov all the way. It is the best!

I saw the Acropolis and got a tan too!

I was in Greece last week for our missions yearly meeting.  When I left Prague, temperatures were in the low 60's high 50's and it had been raining most of the week. Greece, however, was sunny with temperature in the high 80's low 90's.  It wasn't as hot as it was last year, which many people were happy about.  I had to work some, helping with registration as M's came in from all of Europe for the conference and helping with some set up, but I did get some pool time too.  Living in Prague for the past two years, Greece has become my once a year tan spot.  Other than my one week in Greece I really do not see much sun.  Even in the summer.  You know you have lived away from the sun too long when you get a few freckles on your face and you think your face is dirty.  It happen to me.

I have been to Greece 3 times and to Athens twice, but I had never had an opportunity to tour the sights.  On our last day in Greece some of our travel companions very graciously agreed to watch our luggage at the airport so that we could go to the Acropolis before our 6:30pm flight.

The Parthenon!!

Standing on Mars Hill the Acropolis behind me.  I look a little wind blown!

The 5 Central and Eastern Europe Journey-girls I went trough training with for two months back in 2007.  This was probably the last time that all five of us would be together. :( Until heaven that is!

A foot in the mouth moment:  As I was sitting on the plane in Athens, Greece getting ready for take-off, two Journey-Girls and myself were talking about a fictional book that one of the girls was reading.  The book is about a college student at Texas Tech who had a bad experience pledging a Greek frat.  I have never cared for the Texas Tech Greek circle crowd and proceeded to share this with my fellow J-friends by saying, "I don't like Greeks."  My friend sitting next to me immediately puts her hand over my mouth and starts laughing.  It takes me all of a second and a half to realize where I am and what I just said. Oops!! 

Last Day

Yesterday was my last day of school at CISP.  I was both a good day and a sad day.  I feel like I have slowly been saying good-bye to my students and staff for about two weeks now, so it was nice to finally have reached the official end day.

This was my third year of teaching and definitely my favorite.  I had the best students in the world and I love them dearly.  It has been hard saying good-bye, but I hope to come back to visit CISP someday to see these awesome kids.  They have blessed me in so many ways.  I had a total of 22 ESL students with different gifts and challenges that kept me busy learning how to be a better teacher.

These two students were my first grade beginning English speaking students at the beginning of the year.  I had to use very basic English when I talked to them and still they didn't understand much of what I was saying.  Now they are speaking English all the time.  The one in the middle is one of the highest academically in her class.  She won't need ESL support next year.  She brags that she speaks English better than her dad.   It is amazing to see how much they have learned over one school year.

The 5th and 6th grade group. The three students to my left were my advance ESL group and my most hyper active group.  They all three exited this year which is very exciting.  I love the diverse personalities in this group of students.  They were a fun group to teach.

Here is a small group of girls that attend my Tuesday and Thursday ESL classes (I have a total of 10 students that attend on Tuesday and Thursday the others were either absent or in another class).  They love learning English grammar; I don't understand why.  Grammar was never my favorite thing to learn in school, but they will often ask me when they are going to learn other parts of speech or verb forms.

These two third grade boys were definitely my silliest group of students.  They loved to laugh and tell jokes.  Bathroom humor is of course their favorite.  

I have loved living in Prague not because it is a beautiful city with so much to do, but because I had the best job teaching and working with the students at CISP.  They have made the cold, long, and dark winter months worth it.

"I think Christ Jesus our Lord who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service." 

1 Timothy 1:12