What A Year!

2011 has truly been a year to remember.  In all honestly, I feel like I was just sitting here recapping 2010!  This year has flown by, but has not been without event.  I have to say that it has been one of the most growing years for me spiritually.  God has grown me through the valleys as well as on top of the many mountains of 2011.  Looking back, I had no idea that this year would hold so much for me.  We never do predict these things well. :-) 

~Major Events of 2011~

**Started school at Skagit Valley College.  Big change for me after taking several years off after highschool.  I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge musically and academically. 

**Began new ministries, primarily that of working in our church print shop.  I absolutely LOVE this ministry! 

**Embarked on my first missions trip.  Staying in Thailand for three months was an experience I'll never forget.  I learned so much in that little amount of time. God opened my eyes to so many needs!  It didn't take long after being there for me to fall in love with the people and the culture.

**Saw a dear friend married and another close friend join the military.  Miss you guys!!! :-)  Meanwhile, God has provided given me new friends throughout the year and I'm so grateful for them. God is so good to me.

This really just scratches the surface.  Knowing what I do now about this past year makes me so curious about 2012.  What changes will ensue?  I know that whatever happens, God's plan is perfect. 

May your 2012 be filled with God's blessings!

Blessings ~ Friends

Can I just say that God is so good to me?! As I said in my last post, I've been a little lean with my blogging.  Part of it is just not feeling inspired to write.  But the truth is, I've been blessed with SO much!  I really do have a lot to write about. 

God has really blessed me in the area of friends.  Lately I've had several friends leave for various reasons (moving away, military, etc.) yet I still find myself surrounded by a group of Godly people with the same desire to serve Him.  There is nothing like a friendship that is grounded in God's Word and service to Him.  I feel abundantly blessed in this area with those who are close and those who are thousands of miles away. 

It's very easy to get our eyes focused on what we have lost or what we don't have.  Why not open our eyes to what's right in front of us?!  How has God blessed you today?

Slacker

Yes, I've been slacker of a blogger as of late.  I don't even really have a good excuse.  School is out. Life has slowed down.  I guess I just haven't felt like writing.  Not that things haven't been exciting.  :-)

Usually I convey my excitement for Christmas much sooner.  I have to say, being so busy with school, Christmas really snuck (sneaked?) up me! Usually I have nearly all my shopping done before Thanksgiving.  This year I hadn't remotely thought of gifts by Thanksgiving.  In fact, I just finished yesterday.  BUT....I finished. :-)  I guess it's a good thing that I'm starting to get excited about Christmas since it's in less than a week.  I have all sorts of goodies I plan to make this week and get this. I actually have time!! :-D I sincerely miss baking so I look forward to spending some quality time with my apron. haha

It's a relief to be done with school, but I have to say that was the most fun quarter so far!  It's so much fun to take classes that are actually practical.  I mean, ok, when I took Biology I will admit that I dumped all of it out of my brain the minute my final was over.  But the music classes, I soak it all up and can apply it to my playing and teaching.  I wish I could do MORE music classes. There's so much I want to do that SVC doesn't offer. Kind of disappointing but oh well.  I have quite the load this next quarter (17 credits but worth 21) but I think it will be equally fun.

On my break I've resumed my work in the print shop.  I have missed that place!  Every time I print a book I think about who will be reading it later and I pray for them.  I pray that God will use these books to strengthen their walk with Him.  I just love this ministry.

Last Friday, our SPG (Singles Pleasing God) group went to Seattle to see Handel's Messiah. It was incredible, as usual.  I don't know if Skagit has a part in this, but I enjoyed it much more this year.  I noticed more of the techniques and musicality that I hadn't noticed before.  Utterly delightful!

My list of things to accomplish on Christmas break is getting shorter.  There's nothing like crossing things off a list!  One of the things on my list is to read.  So which book should I read?

Our Mutual Friend  by Charles Dickens
Wives and Daughters   by Elizabeth Gaskell
North and South   by Elizabeth Gaskell
or any other suggestions?

Fall 2011 SVC Recital

A Day of Thanks

Today is one of my favorite days out of the year.  Not because school is on break.  Not because we can stuff ourselves in addition to the turkey and eat shameful amounts of pie. I L.O.V.E. this day because it is a time that is dedicated to giving thanks to our God.  And what an amazing God He is!  Granted, giving thanks is to be done daily.  But I love having it as a main focus. 

Now, can I just tell you that I serve a God who deserves more thanks than we give Him?!  How many of us sit down on a regular basis and give thanks to God for creating us. For even giving us existance.  And how often do we thank Him for giving us spiritual existance?  The opportunity to have a relationship with Him.  When I think of all that God is and what He does, it still baffles my mind that He would want to have a relationship with me.  I am soo grateful for it.

Because we don't have extended family living anywhere close by, we chose to spend Thanksgiving with our church family.  The house was packed and we had way more food than we knew what to do with.  The time was spent laughing and encouraging each other.  I love my church family SO much and nothing beats that bond we have in Christ.  Giving of thanks is not over.  It will continue through the rest of the night and throughout the rest of my days.


Food preparations last night started out right with Whidbey Coffeeeeeeeee :-)

Getting started on the pies. Pumpkin Pies...YES!

Dad was the Turkey Guardian

Awaiting guests

Trying to squeeze in for a group picture

I love these crazy girls. :-D

Food lined the whole kitchen!!

Student Recital

Yesterday I took my students to Regency Retirement Home to play for the residents as a sort of recital. It seemed to come really fast and, I have to say, came faster than I was ready for. :-) But all of my students worked really hard and pulled it off so well!

Originally we were going to have the recital in the large formal dining room immediately following dinner.  I thought it was perfect, only maybe a little intimidating for the students since it's such a large space.  When we got there, I saw they had moved the grand piano into one of the side social rooms! It was such a cozy space and just a lovely setup! I am not exaggerating when I say it was standing room only.  Not only were friends and family of the students there, but there were probably 30-40 residents! Most of the family stood in the back allowing room for the older folks to sit and listen. So kind of them. :-)

The folks at Regency just LOVED listening to the kids play!  After each piece there were loud exclamations of joy and ardent clapping. When it was over they all filed by giving their thanks and appreciation to the kids for their lovely playing.  After seeing what a blessing it was to these older folks and how it made their day, I just can't see myself going back to a formal recital like we've had before.  Why keep the music to ourselves?! I love the idea of sharing with others who can't get out to hear it.  Not to mention the encouragement it was to the students to have their music appreciated so much.

All in all, it was such a lovely experience.  Yes, I was nervous. I have discovered that I get more nervous as the teacher than as a student at my own recitals.  It's definitely a whole new perspective!  But this is not the last time I will experience this nervousness. I look forward to many more recitals in the future!!

Sad to see one of my students, Jazmyne, leaving. It's been so much fun to teach her!

Warming up beforehand.

A Beautiful Day

Today I had the honor of playing the piano and singing at the wedding of my two friends.  What a blessing to see the Lord work in their lives over the last few years and to finally see them united in marriage.  We certainly serve a mighty God who knows just what He's doing when he chooses life partners.  The weatherman forcasted a typical Whidbey day.  Rainy and gray.  But, praise God, the sun was out and it was even slightly warm.  You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful fall day for a wedding!  As far as the ceremony goes, it went smooth as silk. I love things that are simple and stress-free.  This fit the bill for sure!  While I am sad to see my good friend Anna move away, I am SO happy for the new stage of her life that she is moving into.  Now I have an excuse to go to the midwest. :-)

If you wish to see more pictures, let me know and I will email them to you.

The Strength of My Heart

I'm still here. Glad to have a moment to breathe and share with you some things that have been going on.  When I reflect back on the past month (ok....five weeks) I realize that I've pretty much been doing the same thing each week day: Go to school, come home, piano practice, teach piano (a couple days a week), do homework, go to bed.  Each day is a new start to this vicious cycle.  To say it's been stressful would be an understatement.

But I'm not writing this to tell you how crazy my life has been or how stressful things are.  I want to let you know that God has proven to me over and over again that He's in control of every situation in my life.  When I feel like my seams are coming loose and I'm about to fall apart, He shows me through his Word and through others in my life that it's ONLY with Him that I can accomplish all that's necessary.  There is NO way that I could make it through each day without Him holding me up to keep me from falling flat on my face.  Whoever says that God is not active in the lives of His children has never experienced what I have these past few weeks.

Psalm 73:26  My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Psalm 18:1,2  I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Home Again

As you may have noticed, I went a period of time where I did blog posts, blog posts, blog posts....SCREECH! The last time I wrote was in the airport in South Korea.  As not to leave you hanging (I'm sure you've all just been biting your nails wondering if I was kidnapped in Korea. :-p), I did make it home safe and sound.   Praise the Lord, jetlag was minimal.  I think going without sleep for a few days did it for me. Got some great REM sleep my first night back.  It was really great because I had a crazy weekend awaiting me then school started that monday.

All is well and I am fully loaded with school (8 classes!).  I am in the midst of organizing my desk (tossing junk papers, clearing off things I don't EVER use, etc.) Although I have quite the school schedule this quarter, I'm thoroughly enjoying my classes. My favorite and most practical class is Piano Pedagogy.  It is EXACTLY what I've needed during the few years I've been teaching.  Today I received in the mail my textbook for the course, and I am debating whether or not to read the whole thing in one week. So many of my questions will be answered! (Cue Hallelujah Chorus) :-D I'll have to restrain myself and remember that I DO have homework in my other classes.

There is so much I want to write, but I have to warn you that time for blogging is limited at the moment.  I will conclude by saying this.  God is good! Even when times are difficult. Even when we don't understand why things are happening, why He is allowing them to happen.  God is still good. He will ALWAYS be good. One of the many reasons why I love Him. :-)

Airport Musings

Here I sit at the Incheon Airport in Seoul, South Korea.  I am settling in for a 12 hour layover.  I'm thinking, this is going to be a LONG layover!  First stop, coffee of course.  I'm saving the delights of Mountain Dew until halfway through my layover. Gives me something to look forward to right? :-)  Here's my strategy.  Stay awake during the flight from Chiang Mai to Seoul (check!), stay awake during the long layover (oh boy), then sleep from Seoul to Seattle.  The time of flying from Seoul to Seattle is during night time in Seattle.  I am hoping that will help me to adjust better.  And after staying awake for about 35 hours should make me plenty tired, yes?  So that's the plan.

I am so glad that I got a window seat.  Granted, I am sitting directly above the wing which hinders some of the view.  But I find that watching lightening from above is most interesting.  Not to mention, I LOVE flying over the mountains into Seattle.  I hope that flying in from the West is a beautiful as flying in from the East.

One of my favorite things to do is watch people in the airport.  At this point in time and I am at the "Rest Area", a place filled with recliners as well as tables and a coffee shop.  I am surrounded by people as exhuasted as I am, yet they can indulge.  Must be nice!  I know I will be glad later that I didn't.  It's very interesting to watch the different positions that people can sleep in an airport.  Sprawled on a bench with a backpack as a pillow, laying straight out with mouth wide open, curled up in a ball, you name it. Most intriguing!

So now, I am trying to decide how to fill my time here.....Who knows, you may see another post in the future.  I do have to say that it's interesting to see Korean at the top of Blogger instead of Thai. :-)  Even though I couldn't understand Thai, it was a small comfort. haha. Well, signing off for now....

Tigers!

Yesterday the adventure continued with an outing to Tiger Kingdom.  I've been looking forward to this for a while now, so it was quite exciting.  You are given four options of sizes to visit: Smallest, Small, Medium, Large.  You can choose which to be in the cage with, then they allow you to walk around to see the others.  From the outside of course. :-)

Pookie and I chose the smallest tigers.  Adorable little babies!! They ranged from 2-3 months old and were just so cute! They were so fun to cuddle with.  Of course, they had their little tempers, but they're in training stage. 

David Martin is here visiting for two weeks and he came with us.  He decided to visit the small tigers, which happened to not be so small!  At 11 months old, they were over six feet when standing on their hind legs!

I've spent today preparing to leave, and that's been very hard yet exciting at the same time.  I'm very happy to see my family and church again, but a piece of my heart is here now and I find it difficult to leave.  Lord willing I'll be back. 

Pookie was disappointed that I would be missing Songkran Festival, which takes place earlier in the year.  Songkran Festival is the water festival where the entire country douses each other in water for several days.  Ahhh!!  Talk about a water fight!! Well, I was coming out of my room earlier only to be greeted with a very large cup of water being thrown on me! A few minutes later, again as I was coming into the house. Should have been prepared that time! So, I guess you could say that we had our own mini-Songkran Festival here in the house. :-D

Tonight consists of dinner out and then my last Thai massage.  Perfect before a looooong time of traveling.  So, my readers, this is my last blogpost from Thailand.  I hope you've enjoyed reading about my adventures and I can assure you, they're not over yet!

A Day to Remember

No, I'm not talking about what a fabulous day I had here in Chiang Mai, although it truly was a great day and one I will always remember.  But I am talking about a day ten years ago.  A day that each of us remember very clearly what we were doing, where we were.  At the time, I was too young to really be interested in politics or the happenings of the world.  But I do remember the devastation this event caused in our nation and around the world.  I think it affects me more now than it did back then.  It was at that time that our nation united and began to seek God's face.  My prayer is that once again we as a nation will recognize the Lord's presence here and do as He wills. Today, I am grateful for each person who laid their lives on the line to protect our nation.  I am grateful for those who continue to fight daily for our protection.  May the Lord always protect and bless our nation!

Buddhist Temple

We happened to visit this temple during their chanting. Very interesting and sad to watch.

Wat Chet Yot

Today I had the opportunity to see one of the ruined temples here in Chiang Mai, Wat Chet Yot.  It's still an active temple despite its age and condition.  It was built in 1453 during the reign of King Tilokkarat.  Bro. Tom made a great tour guide and explained many things to me about Buddhism and their beliefs. 

Aside from the religious aspect of the building, the architecture was very beautiful.  The artistry of the engravings must have been magnificent centuries ago!

Click to enlarge for more details.

Apple PIE?!

Yes.....that is Apple Pie.  Isn't it huge?!  A favorite restaurant of ours here in Chiang Mai is the Dukes.  They serve many delicious desserts but the one that caught my eye was this amazingly thick Apple Pie.  So, I ordered it.  It tastes as good as it looks!  You bet your bananas I'll be making (attempting?) this when I get home!

I wish you could see it more to scale.  It's larger than it looks in this picture. And yeah, those are giant cookies underneath!

Please leave comments! I love to know who is reading my blog and I have to say I've seen a lot of hits from Australia and the Netherlands. Hmm.....the mystery....



Let it begin!

And so....let the printing begin! :-)

Cafe Amazon.....always a nice addition to any job. :-)

Does this picture really need a subtitle??? :-p

Fruits

Ok.....so an interesting experience since I have been here is the fruits not available in the states.  Here are some that I've tried (Except Durian).

1. Durian.  Ick Ick Ick.  I am not brave enough to try it, but you can smell it a mile away.  It's a favorite of the locals (NOT by farang). 

2. Jackfruit.  Delicious!! The fruit is actually very large and looks like Durian on the outside.  The inside is quite different. :-)

3. Kong Thai

4. Lamyai.  This grows everywhere here in Chiang Mai!

4. Mangosteen.  YUM!!!  Soooo juicy!

5. Papaya.  A very popular dish here is Som Tum (Papaya Salad). It's more savory than it is sweet. I recommend ordering it with NO peppers....

6. Passionfruit

7. Rambutan.  Looks like it would be spiky but it's not.  Quite a unique and delicious fruit!

8. Pomelo

9. Rose Apple.  Tastes similar to an apple but not sweet.

10.  Ok....I don't know if this counts really but....the fried bananas here are just so good!!! :-D

11.  And I forgot to add Dragonfruit.  An interesting flavor and definitely an interesting look! The purple one is more sweet than the white.

Of course, there are many fruits I haven't tried yet and maybe I'll get the chance before I leave. (I hope!)