We Survived!

We're back!! I can't believe it, but we are already back from Brazil. The 12 day trip absolutely flew by, and was really fun and full of adventures. There is so much to tell, but I will just share a few of the highlights for now. As a leader, this trip was very different from my past two. Being the leader, everything becomes about my team. I wasn't as worried about whether or not I was engaging in ministry with the kids as I was about my team members engaging. And I wasn't as worried about my safety and comfort as I was about my teams'. It was a truly rewarding experience though. I was worried that I was going to be really anxious during the trip and constantly nagging my team members, but the Lord provided His Peace abundantly! I didn't even get anxious at the airport in customs as I ususally do! My team members kept telling me over and over that they were shocked at how laid back I was, and how encouraging it was for them. So your prayers were answered ten fold...thank you so much!

We were constantly busy during the 12 days we were gone. We got there on Friday, late morning, and went directly to camp. We spent the weekend with 45 11-14 year olds (that's right, middle schoolers!) and taught them about the life of Jesus, and the true meaning of Christmas. On Sunday, we came back into the city of Sao Paulo (which has now reached the staggering population of 20 million people) for our first church service. It was so great to be back with my second family. I truly feel as if I have life long friends there now...I can honestly call them family! Monday through Friday we spent half the day working for the ministry, getting things ready for a really busy weekend. In the afternoons we traveled to different favellas doing our VBS program, which again entailed a skit about the true meaning of Christmas (this was a very common theme throughout our time in Brazil). In this skit, I got to play a busy housewife who has no time to think about the true meaning of Christmas...so fun! I even got to wear an apron! :) Wednesday night we helped to host a graduation ceremony for the English students at the ministry. They had asked us to help make it as "American" as possible, so we brought diplomas and graduation caps for the official tassle ceremony. It was such a fun night of celebration and dancing! On Friday and Saturday nights we were able to help with a live nativity event. It was so awesome...over 700 people came through over the 2 nights. On the first night I was part of the crucifixion scene, as Mary. The second night I was the angel who told Mary she was to bear a child and name him Jesus. It was so fun to dress up in costumes and be a part of great witnessing. I know the Lord will bear fruit from this adventure! Also on Saturday, we threw a Christmas Lunch for 500 kids. It was barely controlled chaos, but so much fun nonetheless. We played games with them and presented another skit on the true meaning of Christmas (haha!), fed them a great Christmas lunch, then passed out Christmas presents and candy. It was such a great time! So as you can see, we were so busy, but loving every minute of it. Trust me...we were spent for the Lord! I just pray that in our tiredness, He was glorified.

I will post more about the trip later, after I have had more time to process all the spiritual growth that happened while we were there. We are having our mission report on Sunday, January 4, so hopefully I will have more to say by then! Thank you again for your prayers...they were felt thousands of miles away. And God used you in a way to be a part of a ministry that is so glorifying to God! Love you all and Merry Christmas (Feliz Natal)!

Worn Out

We had some fun at Thanksgiving, as you can see! :)

So back when I thought I was graduating for good in the Spring, I was really looking forward to being done with school. It has been said that college is the most "free" time of your life...which makes sense. There is no family responsibility, no mortgage payments, a day's schedule may only include 2 hours of class...but it's harder then it seems! Maybe now I sound like a naive young person, but I'm just sayin' what I feel :) Never truly being "finished" with a day of work because homework or studying always comes home with you gets to be draining. I am looking forward to the days when I can leave work at work and come home for the evening. So I'm not really sure sometimes why I signed up for another year of school! :) Don't get me wrong, School of Ministry has been awesome, challenging, super fun and so worth it, but right about now...that's right, finals time...I am wondering if I had a serious head injury right before I decided to sign up for another year. I seem to have completly lost all motivation, which really isn't me at all. I don't like this new side of me that I am discovering. It all started about 4 weeks ago when getting up at 6am got much harder to do. Now this is strange, I am a total morning person (after I've had my shower). But I was having to DRAG myself out of bed every morning. One day I just didn't even feel like going to school, so I didn't! I took a "Mental Health Day" which I actually have done for several years now (once a term, I took a day of for no real reason other than a day of rest, and I tried to choose the most busy day on my schedule as well). I couldn't figure out what my problem was. Then last week I had an epiphany. I was shutting down. Every day I get a firehose of information and wisdom shot at me. I count it a good day if I can catch onto a few droplets and tuck them away in my heart. Now I know that's the idea in a one year Bible program like I'm in, but seriously! I was not expecting it to this degree! I was hoping that Thanksgiving break (we were given the whole week off) would help this situation, but it seems to have only compounded the problem. Uh oh! As long as I make it through finals and get my Old Testament reading finished, I will be in a good place to leave for Brazil. I would love your prayers for this issue, and for a restful and refreshing Christmas break.

Speaking of prayers, here are a few ways you can pray for me and the team as we go to:
1. There are SO many details to finish before we leave, I'm trying to use all my time efficiently.
2. This is the first year I am leading the trip alone. Pray for boldness in authority and clarity in decision making.
3. That we would experience unity as a team and learn how to put each other above ourselves.
4. This trip is going to be a very busy one. Pray for effectiveness in our ministry opportunities as well as good times of rest.
Thank you so much for interceding for our team! I can't wait to share all the amazing things God will do on this trip when we return. Blessings as you enter the thick of the holiday season!

4 Weeks!

I can't hardly believe it...but we leave for Brazil in 4 weeks from today! No lie, that puts a little fear (the good kind) in my heart :) It seems like there is still so much to do before we leave...and our schedule seems to be changing daily. But that is so ok...we are learning flexibility. In my years of mission trips, I have learned that a spirit of flexibility is most important. It seems that no matter how well you think you have planned a schedule, something will come up that will force you to readjust...especially when you are in a foreign country, where the stakes always seem to be higher. But this is something I would love to impart to my team...a willingness to be flexible to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I would love our team to be in a place where we are sensitive to His promptings, and willing to act on those even if they seem "out of place" or "out of the schedule". We have found out that we are going to be in Brazil during the busiest week in the history of Restoration Ministries, which is awesome. We get the chance to be a part of some really neat events like a live nativity walk-through, an english class graduation and a christmas lunch for over 300 kids. This is all in addition to our regular VBS and camp activities. It sounds overwhelming and crazy, but I don't think we would have it any other way. Please pray for a continued spirit of flexibility within our team, even as we continue to prepare to leave. The real countdown begins today!

My favorite time of year!

Unfortunately, I can't take the credit for this photo...but it is really close to Corvallis! Fall in Corvallis is amazing...definitely my favorite time of year here. I am so blessed to be able to spend another fall here! Lately, I have been hiking to the top of a butte in town, Chip Ross Park, to enjoy the fall colors. We do this as a school sometimes, as the entrance to the park is literally at the entrance to the church. But I have also gone it alone a few times to study or whatever at the top. Its a great hike, not too strenuous, only about 15 minutes, but it gets your blood pumping enough that you are warm for awhile at the top. I think for me, God's beauty of creation is the most overtly evident in the fall. Seeing the magnificent colors change lets me know that our Creator God is all the more magnificent in His Glory! I also like the month of October for the plethora of costumes to be worn (I am so excited for Friday!), the pumpkins to be carved, the yummy spiced things to be eaten and drank, and the signal of the coming of the Holiday season. This year, I am going to dress as "Susie Homemaker" for Halloween, although only during the day. Friday night, I am working at a childrens Harvest Carnival at the fairgrounds for school. My classmates and I are responsible for "Bible Land" where we get to dress up as Bible characters and tell our stories to the kids as they walk through...so cool! That means two costumes in one day...I'm so happy! :) I am not sure yet who I will be playing, but pictures will follow soon!

School has been going well...although we have midterms this week. I may change my opinion after this week. :) I thought I could give you a little taste of what we have been learning. In my prayer class two weeks ago, we had to write devotionals based off of a passage of scripture about prayer. The boys did one passage (Luke 11:5-13) and the girls did another (Luke 18:1-8). Both are great passages about praying with persistence, or boldness. Here is the devotional I wrote:

In the parable of the persistent widow, Jesus is contrasting himself/God with the unjust judge. The judge responded to the woman's pleas because he became frustrated and impatient. But God is giving the woman what she asks for because she was persistent, not relenting in her request. She was also asking for something good, something that would be in line with God's will, by asking for justice. We know God is a just God; therefore he wants to grant justice to his children as well. He is choosing to give the widow something that is in line with his character.
The application I take from this passage is two-fold. First, I see the value of praying persistently. This is something that challenges me, because a lot of times I become like the unjust judge, and get impatient with God's timing. But I know that if I am praying in line with God's will, he will give me the things I ask for. The tricky part is the timing, which is my second application. Verse 8 is a promise from God, that he will answer prayers, and quickly. But what does quickly mean to God? In my experience, it is much different than my definition of quickly! This is encouraging and discouraging at the same time. It is encouraging to remember that he is hearing my prayers, and he wants me to continue praying for them. But it is discouraging because I have to keep going! But I have faith in his timing, even if I don't understand it sometimes (ok...most of the time) and I will continue to boldly approach his throne to ask for things that are good, that are in line with his character, and are according to his will.

What's new?

The annual family feud football weekend happened last weekend as OSU stomped on WSU...sorry dad! We were given tickets, and got to enjoy the game from really great seats. What a blessing! We also had a sweet tailgater before the game, as you can see in the picture. Complete with a cardboard box table! So innovative! :) Maybe next year we will have to take our feud on the road and travel to the game in Pulman.

This weekend another friend is getting married, Mikaela. Ashley and I were asked to do the flowers for the wedding, which is kinda fun. I see a new career "budding" on the horizon! :) Actually, doing your own flowers is pretty easy...except for the wrist corsages. That took a little figuring out, but I think they turned out ok. So this is my last wedding for the season, and boy am I glad. At the end of every wedding season, I get really tired of going to them. So that's a clue if you are getting married in the future. Plan your wedding early in the season and people won't be wedding-ed out yet. :) Its funny to think that before college I could count on probably one hand the number of weddings I had been to. Now I think I would need about five hands and five feet! I guess it's a life stage thing.

Not much else new is happening...just schooling away. I am really loving my classes...it is such a blessing to be able to take this year and kind of set it apart for the Lord. It is amazing though how much work their is. It is definitely an ego check for me, because I thought since I got through my Master's program, I could do anything academic-wise. But this is really challenging, for two reasons. One, I am having to think about my beliefs, and the Bible I have read my whole life in a really different way. Sometimes it is all I can do to wrap my head around the concepts we are learning. Second, I am always trying to make sure I am not only learning with my head (which comes really naturally for me) but also with my heart. This is proving to be much more challenging than I ever would have thought! But it is a challenge that I am loving to embrace. And I know spiritual growth will result.

End of September

Some of the old gang was back together at Joey and Jill's wedding last weekend. What fun it was to catch up with people, some who I haven't seen in years! Its amazing to me how easy it is to fall back into old relationships like that...as if time never has passed. What a gift from God! I was so impressed with Joey and Jill's bravery...their wedding was outside, on the Oregon Coast at the end of September. But it was an absolutely stunning sunset, and not very windy at all. They had cute fleece blankets with their names embroidered into them for people to use. Nice touch!

School is going really well. I am loving my classes and my classmates. There are about 20 of us full-timers, and several who come in and out for one or two classes during the week. It is going to be an awesome group to get to know better, and to learn and grow with. If I am allowed to have a favorite class, it is Old Testament so far. It is so cool to learn cultural context and things that are apparent in the original Hebrew text that we lose in our English translations. I'm sure my favorite class will change week to week though, because they are all so good.

Job-wise, I have now officially finished my run as Children's Ministry Director. I am training the new temporary replacement they have for me though, so I will still be around off and on for at least the next two weeks. I have also officially started my run as the college mission's intern. We had our first 2fortytwo (college group) Wednesday night...and it was great to see the turnout. We have moved to a building much closer to the OSU campus, and I think we are going to really see the benefit of that. I am really excited to be able to take what I am learning in class and apply it to my life in ministry. I think that is when we are most useful to God...when we are not allowing knowledge to pump us up, but when we are constantly being poured into on one side, and constantly pouring out on the other side. In Psalm 23 David writes "You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows". I think that is a picture of my life now. The blessing is abounding because I am taking in as well as pouring out. So there is my plug for getting involved in ministry :) And on an exciting side note: we will be arriving in Brazil 10 weeks from today!! Praise God!!

Change is a-coming!

I can't believe that September is already at its halfway point! It seems as if time has flown by. I have only two Sundays left as the Children's Ministry Director, and I start school on Monday! It seems weird, but I start a week earlier than OSU, which I didn't realize until about 2 weeks ago. :) Monday is my orientation, then classes begin on Tuesday. For fall term I will be taking 16 credits: Bible Doctrine I (this is a course I will take all year), Hermeneutics I (which is the study of Bible interpretation and application), a course on prayer, Acts and the Pauline Epistiles, Old Testament Survey (Genesis-Esther, this quarter), and pastoral discipleship. I'm not totally sure what pastoral discipleship entails, other than the obvious being discipled by a pastor :) I am truly looking forward to getting started. I don't know what school is really going to be like this year. I can't imagine that it will be anything like the schooling I have had in the past. It may be a real challenge this year to maintain my academic focus while also trying to learn spiritually. This is definitely a prayer request for this school year.


There is definitely still need for prayer for the position of Children's Ministry Director as well. As I said earlier, I only have two more Sunday's of work, through September 28. At this point, there is no one who will take my place when I am finished. Part of me is ready to be finished with this job, and part of me knows it will be really hard to leave with this position still unfilled. This job has provided a lot of opportunities to learn lessons as well as several challenges. I know now the huge challenge staffing Sunday schools can be. Recruiting volunteers is pretty much my most dreaded part of every week. If I work in full-time ministry at some point, I will definitely not want recruiting to be a part of it, if at all possible. There are things I have really enjoyed as well. The volunteers I do have are amazing with what they are willing to do, how dedicated and passionate they are about these children. I would love to be a worker like this in the future. I think I will definitely come back to teaching Sunday school at some point in my life. What an opportunity I have been given this summer to get a quick, but very real taste of what life in full-time ministry is like. While this experience has been hard and discouraging at some points, it is also a blessing just to have been able to have this opportunity.


In other exciting news, we have also purchased our tickets for Brazil this week. It's official...we are going back!! I can't wait to see how God is going to use the team on our trip this year. And I can't wait to get back to Sao Paulo and hug all my friends! What a blessing to be able to take a third trip!!

Labor Day Weekend

It seems like life is getting busier every week...with school drawing nearer, and everyone gearing back up for fall. I'm sad I can't call myself a busy beaver anymore :( But once a beaver always a beaver right? This past holiday weekend was filled with fun times and sad times. First, I took Danielle to Portland so she could fly out for her training in California. It was the last time I will see her until next July. We had a good last night in Oregon with Missy and Kelsey, and the boys too of course...just watching the football game, and playing games. Nice and relaxing, just the way we like it! While in Portland, I was able to try on the bridesmaids dress I will be wearing next summer in my cousin's wedding. Its really cute...and was fun to get another picture of what the wedding will be like. I am excited to stand by her side and support her as she marries Mr. Right!

On Monday, Britnie and I took a sweet adventure and hiked Silver Falls. Its a 9 mile trail, and it took us about 3.5 hours. Even getting there was an adventure of sorts, so we knew it was going to be a fun day. It was great to get out of Corvallis and spend time in the beauty of God's creation. Sometimes it seems easier to feel more connected to God while in nature, maybe for the lack of distraction. It was a great respite from normal life.

Work at the church is really amping up right now. This coming Sunday is our Fall Ministry Launch, where all kids are promoted to their new classrooms and the regular teachers and new teachers start back to their regular schedules. I have been super busy recruiting help as I still have teachers telling me this week that they will not be coming back in the fall. :( There are also 100 little details that need to happen. Its kinda scary, because it is only my third month on the job, so I don't know if I am forgetting super important things, or if I am doing something incorrectly. It has been a week of long days and staying late at work, but I know it will all get done. God is faithful and He knows what I need for Sunday, and I trust that He will provide! Please pray for me this week as I need 4 more teachers to step up before Sunday. And on that note...this busy beaver needs to get to work! :)

Still Here!

Hello! I am still here...still blogging, it has just been a crazy month! I have moved into my new apartment, which I am loving, been working about 45 hours a week between both jobs, and gone to a few weddings. Phew! It makes me tired just writing it out :) I wanted to post new pictures of my place...but its not totally set up yet. I will post some soon though! I was a little worried about living alone, and whether I would be lonely or not. But so far it has been really enjoyable. I have been able to be social when I want, and also to have some true down time when I want that as well. I loved all my roommates I lived with, and truly enjoyed that time of life. But I feel that being alone right now is just what I need in the midst of my whirlwind schedule. God is so wise!

Work has been really busy, but still good. I am learning so much doing this Children's Ministry job! Last night we had a team training where all my volunteers got together to do some training before the fall kickoff. It was a really fun time...and I feel like I was able to encourage my staff to keep going, keep working for God's glory through this weird transition time. That was my goal for the meeting. Before we started I was a little nervous because some of these volunteers have been doing Children's Ministry longer than I have been alive...but everyone was so encouraging...I think we had a great time. I am still praying every day that God would bring the new permanent director sometime during the month of August so that we may have the month of September together. But I know His timing is so much better than mine. It will be hard for me to leave the ministry at the end of September if I am not able to hand it off to someone. But at the same time I have really received confirmation that I am finished with Children's Ministry after September. I am so excited about starting School of Ministry...I got my book list last week and felt the same new school year excitement I have felt my whole life, I wanted to go out and buy all my books even though it's only August :) I have always been a sucker for school supplies :) I am also really excited to be back on staff with the college group. We are going to have such a great year! I am learning the value of saying "no" to something good, in order to have God's best.

This has also been wedding season. I have been to two weddings in the last month. I still have two in September, one in October, and one in February! 'Tis the time of life to get married I guess! Sheena and Jeremy's wedding was beautiful...a really great time with old friends. The coordinating went well...I don't think Sheena thought once about any of the details on her wedding day, which was my goal. She was gorgeous, the day was beautiful, and a good time was had by all! What more could you ask for? :) Two weeks ago I traveled to Seattle with friends to attend another wedding, Evan and Jackie. Evan and I lived in the co-ops at the same time, and were both involved in the college group together. Their wedding was really fun as well. We stayed with friends at the McChord Air Force Base...such a cool experience! I learned that bases are kinda like resorts, just minus the fanciness. This one reminded me a lot of Sunriver. The picture above is us playing with some planes in a little outdoor museum on the base. I think the wedding was so fun because it was a great mix of old friends and current friends. There were several people there from the co-op days that I haven't seen in a long time. There were also plenty of friends from the college group who I see more often. There was great dancing, a beautiful couple, and some tasty margaritas! Adds up to a really fun time.

Thats the latest update...although more fun is still to come in the five weeks left of summer!

What's New

Not a whole lot exciting has been going on lately. I have just been working a lot still and trying to keep up with my crazy schedule. We are starting to move forward with plans for our next Brazil trip in December which is really exciting. We have picked our team...we will be taking 12 students this year. I think our team is awesome, God totally is creating a great group of people to go this year. I am excited to be going back with some who went last year, but also to get to know the new people going this year. We are taking back 5 (including me) who went last year, and 7 are new to the Brazil trips. I think we have a great balance of experience and newness. It's crazy to think that it is already time to be planning another trip, but I am excited. This year I am officially leading the trip...Tom may not be able to get his travel visa because of all the trouble he had to go through last year. So I am the boss-lady! :) But planning Brazil is something I love doing, so its not too scary.

This weekend one of my best friends Sheena is getting married. The picture is of Sheena, her sister Karissa and I earlier this summer in Seattle. We went on a tour of a chocolate factory...so fun! Thus, the adorable hair nets :) I am so excited for this wedding. I am coordinating it which will be really fun. I am glad to be a part of everything going on. So we have a bachelorette-type overnighter Thursday, the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner Friday and the wedding Saturday. It will be a busy but fun weekend. I am going to get to see a lot of friends I haven't really kept in close contact with since I have been in Corvallis so it will be really fun. I am so thrilled that Sheena and Jeremy found each other. And I feel blessed to be included in their beautiful day. I only hope the same will happen for me someday!

I am also moving in two weeks into my own apartment! I am really looking forward to living alone...which still surprises me! :) Unfortunately, I haven't started the long process of packing yet...ugh. Thats on the list for today...so I should probably get to it! Happy end of July...take some time to stop and enjoy where life has you right now!

Juggling School

If I ever thought this summer would be boring, I was so wrong! The month of July has already been packed full and its only the first week!! I thought I used to know how to juggle many responsibilities, but I feel as if that was just the basics. This summer feels like I entered juggling school...and I can't drop anything if I want to survive. First, I started my summer job at the church as the interim Children's Ministry director. Its been a lot of shadowing the current director and taking furious notes so I don't forget anything once I have to do this all on my own. The first day was really overwhelming, but since then, I've calmed down a little and realized that I have a month to learn everything, and once I am on my own, I can only do what I can do...if that makes sense :) This last Sunday was my first Sunday back in the classroom, and it was really fun to remember why we are doing all this. So even when it seems stressful, or like I could never have enough volunteers, its going to be worth it.

Along with this job, I still am trying to maintain my hours at the coffee shop on campus. Its been a challenge so far this month, because my schedule was already set at Java, and I am having to juggle things around in order to be at the church whenever the children's ministry director is. Its a little bit challenging too because she only sets her schedule for the week the week before, so I have to scramble a bit. But all my other co-workers at Java are being great, and quite honestly need the hours, so they have taken a lot of shifts for me. Once August rolls around and I am able to set my own hours at the church, it will be a lot easier to balance the two I think.

The holiday weekend was packed full of adventure as well. A group of friends went up to the Portland area to celebrate birthdays (I have a good friend whose birthday is the 4th, as well as mine on the 5th) and the 4th of July. We got to watch the fireworks over Lake Oswego, which is a ridiculously rich gated community, sitting on the dock of a friends' Grandfather's house, with the huge show only about 200 yards away. It was pretty amazing. And a great way to kick of my birthday celebration. My actual birthday was really relaxing, doing the usual Saturday farmer's market routine, getting a pedicure, and having dinner with friends. Sunday was also fun with a big family BBQ in Salem. All in all, it was a great weekend spent with friends and family, the kind of holiday weekend that is in the movies, but no one thinks could actually be real. :)

Seattle Trip

The past few days I have been in Seattle. Its been a really fun trip to take with my friend from high school, Sheena. She and I came up together to visit her sister Karissa, who is living right downtown as a travel nurse. I also had the chance to meet with a professor at Seattle Pacific University who runs a merchandising management program there. It has been such a restful time...I am really grateful to have a few days off. The professor, Jaeil Lee, was so nice. She really encouraged me to keep thinking about what I want to do with my life. It was so neat, and kind of surreal, to talk with a professor who shares the same faith as me. It gave me a whole new perspective on teaching, being able to incorporate faith into the curriculum. Dr. Lee said she plays more of an advisor type role in her student's life as well as being their teacher. She is able to talk with her students about God's direction for their life in a way that would be totally illegal in a public school. I think it could be a really great challenge to not only convey information to students but to spur on my students in their relationships with God as well. While Jaeil didn't have a job for me now, she was very encouraging about future prospects, whether part time or more at Seattle Pacific. It was a great connection to make, and a neat possibility for the future. The rest of the trip was just relaxing, shopping, game playing and chocolate tasting. What fun!!

A few things have changed in my life since my last post. I finally have a life plan...well at least for the next year or so. It is such a relief for me to know what I am doing!! It is such a challenge to go without a plan or direction. This summer, I will keep working at Java 2, the coffee shop on campus. I am also going to serve as the interim children's ministry director at my church for 3 months (through the end of September). The current director is leaving at the end of July, and I will take over for a few months while the church continues to search for a permanent replacement. At the end of July I will be moving into my own apartment, living alone for the first time. I am really excited and a little intimidated at the same time. But it will be really nice to kind of grow up in this way. In September, I will take on another job at the church, going back on staff with the college group as the missions intern, where I will keep planning this year's Brazil trip as well as add on some other responsibilities. I will also (hopefully, I am still in the process of applying) be attending a 9 month Bible school at Calvary Chapel Corvallis, called Cornerstone School of Ministry. This school is a certificate program where I will be in a cohort of students taking classes in both the Old and New Testaments, Hermeneutics, and other elective classes. I am really excited about all these new changes and decisions. It is totally a testament to God working in my life in a way I could have never imagined. What a blessing!

Summertime and the Livin's Easy

Summer is finally here!! I think that summer in Corvallis is one of my favorite things. It is much less crowded with all the students gone, and there are plenty of fun, adventurous things to do. One of my all-time favorites is to go to the Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings. Danielle and I always have a great time sampling scones, buying flowers and fresh produce, picking up a loaf of bread at Great Harvest (and a free sample too...), and leisurely shopping the quaint stores downtown. It is truly one of the highlights for me.

I also love the freedom of hanging out and not feeling guilty for not doing homework. I am almost finished with all the work I need to do for school, so I have really been taking advantage of all the free time. I dropped off my theses to be bound, which was so exciting. Having the tangible bound book in my hand is what really makes this whole thing feel real!

This last weekend was Father's Day which was really nice. The family was all together in Eugene, we had dinner and played putt-putt golf. I made my first cheesecake, ugly, but tasty! I used an actual Cheesecake factory recipie - Key Lime Cheesecake. I would HIGHLY recommend it...just make it look prettier than I did! :) Thanks, Dad for being so great!!

A Period of Waiting

This picture makes me laugh. It was taken at a Passover dinner I attended at a Christian guys house this year. It is my best Virgin Mary impression :) If you have never attended an authentic Passover or seder dinner, I would highly recommend it. It is so rich in tradition and culture, and a true learning opportunity into a little bit of the heritage of Christian beliefs. But I digress.

It has been a while since I last posted. A lot has been going on in the last two weeks, but I didn't feel like I was ready to talk about it yet. But I am going to attempt to shed a little light on what has been happening lately. I have really been wrestling with the job decision and whether to go to Salt Lake or not. The job is such an amazing opportunity, but I couldn't feel peace about it. I didn't want to just be a chicken and not go because I was scared, so I spent about a week in serious prayer and seeking God's will to make sure that this restlessness was from Him. So this past Saturday I went to Eugene to hang out with my parents and go to a bridal shower and I decided for sure that I will not be taking the job in Salt Lake. This was huge for me to finally admit to myself that it is not the direction I want my life to go. The things I am passionate about, my ministry, teaching, and helping college students are all not a part of that job. So why then would I take it? I am such a people pleaser that it is hard for me to turn down such a great opportunity, I know a lot of people won't understand my decision. But I am ok with that. I am waiting on the Lord to provide a job for me, hopefully in Corvallis, and that is where I am feeling a peace that transcends all understanding. Last week I memorized Psalm 25 and the verse that stuck out to me the most was v.9 "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way." This experience is so very humbling for me because I have always been such a planner. I take it as a poor reflection on myself if I don't know what is coming next in my life. So it is hard for me to admit that I HAVE NO IDEA what I will be doing after this summer. But that is ok, because I am humbled, and God promises to guide me and teach me. I take such solace in that.

All I know for now is that I have a part time job at the coffee shop on campus I have been working at all year for the summer, and I can stay in my apartment through the end of July. But God is so good, I am not worried about that. I know I need to be proactive in my job search, but I am confident that He will provide when there seems to be no way. I know I am not finished yet, and this trying time is not over, but if I keep my focus on Christ, it will all be ok.

Thank you all for your prayers over the past few weeks...I have felt them so strongly. Having your prayer support means the world to me.

Home Away From Home

In recent news, I passed my defense yesterday!!! Yippee! It feels so good to be finished. Well, not totally finished, I still have some corrections to make to my thesis before I get the final approvals and turn in the final copies, but I am mostly there. Yesterday was such a good day. Afterwards, my family and Katy's (my grad school partner in crime, who also defended yesterday) family went to dinner with our mentor professor. It was a really fun time to celebrate and relax. I tried to post some photos, but it didn't work, sorry!

I read a blog by two of my favorite authors, Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt. A recent by May post inspired the real reason for this post. She wrote "I think everybody has a spot in the world that just speaks to them". This totally made sense to me, as I feel that Brazil is my Home Away from Home. It is the place in the world that just speaks to me. After I came home the first time, I felt like I was supposed to be born Brazilian (sorry Mom!) because I just fit in there! Personality characteristics of mine that are weird here (read: close-talking, how much I touch people when I am talking to them, spontaneous dancing, etc) are totally normal part of Brazilian culture! I was actually normal there!! :) Before my first trip, I was worried about the cultural and language barriers, but it really was surprising how instantly I felt comfortable in a completely foreign place. I'm sure if I were to move there it would be a challenge for sure, but both of my visits have been true blessings. I feel like my time in Brazil (and hopefully future times there as well) have really become a part of my identity, and helped me to learn a little more who God has designed me to be. Through my experiences in Brazil I have discovered passions and talents I didn't know I possessed (like mimicking ship sounds for example...) and I am forever changed because of this. Until I read this other blog post, I didn't really know how to put this feeling into words, but Brazil speaks to me. There is no other way to say it! We have begun planning this years' college trip in December. I am not sure I will be able to go, depending on where I am working, but I pray that I will return someday soon. What is your spot in the world that speaks to you?

Hooray!

This week was an exciting one. I finished writing my thesis, which somewhere in my mind I never thought I would be able to. But I did it! It is such a relief, I don't even know how to begin to describe it. Thanks to everyone who supported me during the last few weeks with encouraging phone calls or emails. I really appreciate it, and sorry if I haven't gotten back to you. I now have the time to being returning those calls. The process isn't completely over yet. I still have my defense next Thursday, the 22nd. Please be praying for this. I am not really nervous yet, but I know I will be. After my defense I will have some corrections to make to my thesis before it can be completely bound and finished for good. But the large part of the work is behind me!

I celebrated by taking this weekend off from school work. Last night I had the opportunity to walk in the Relay for Life with my college group from church. It was a really neat event to be part of. My walking shift was from 2-3am, which was a stretch for me, but it was fun. So needless to say, after staying up all night, I am taking it easy for the rest of the weekend. What fun to be able to do that without feeling guilty for not doing school work! I have been truly blessed!

A Lot to Pray About

No! I am not getting married :) I wanted to show you all the gorgeous gowns that I could be working with in the near future however. Amazing! I have an update of how my interview went, and some other news as well.

Tuesday was my interview with the bridal company in Salt Lake. I went up to Portland the night before and stayed with some friends, which was really fun. My flight left PDX at about 10:30, so it wasn't too early of a morning. When I arrived at the airport in SLC, I was picked up by the President and Vice President of the company and taken on a driving tour of the city. They showed me some things I had seen on my last trip (including The Gateway, or as I like to call it, the Mecca of outdoor shopping!) and some new, hip areas of town as well. It was definitely a "you could be living this life" experience! We spent the car ride talking and stopped for some iced tea at one point, which is where I finally realized that this was the interview! Ah! I had thought we were just chatting away, so I freaked out for a bit and tried to play back everything in my head making sure I was sounding professional and knowledgeable. Haha, typical me, no? Didn't even realize I was being interviewed :) After our drive, we went to the offices and took a tour where I met the other employees, and sat down with a few of them. It was fun to be back a second time, and really realizing that this would be a fun job. That evening we went to a nice dinner with one of the girls who has the same job as I would, which was nice for me to be able to pick her brain. Then back to the airport to fly home. I spent a whopping 6 hours in SLC! What a jet-setter, right?

After being home for a few days, I have had a lot to think about. I didn't leave Tuesday with a job offer, but as it stands now, basically if I want the job I can have it. This is so exciting and intimidating at the same time. This job would be using my degree to the fullest, which is awesome. I would get to travel around the world, be working both with customers as well as designers and manufacturers, and commentating fashion shows at markets. It is basically all my separate dream jobs rolled into one big one. And that is what makes it intimidating, it is a big job! I'm sure a lot of college graduates feel this same way, but am I really ready for this? I know I have the education, but I lack in experience. Most of the other people working at this level in the company are 27 or older. I will be 24. Eek! So I have a lot to pray about.

Coincidentally, or not so coincidentally perhaps, the advising position here at OSU was finally posted when I got back. So I have now applied for that job as well and am waiting to hear back about an interview. Everything seems to be happening all at once! So I covet your prayers as I have to really start thinking about what I want to do with my life after school. I also have only two weeks until my thesis defense, so things are a little stressful at the moment. Stressful, but exciting, and I wouldn't have it any other way, because I know who's driving this ship!

Day Trip

I am going to see a man about a job. Some exciting news...tomorrow (May 6th) I am going to Salt Lake City for the day to interview for a job at the bridal company I spent some time with last summer! They are flying me down for the day, which makes me feel like a total jet setter :) I am leaving from Portland tomorrow at 10:30 am and get back in around 9:30 pm. I will only be in SLC for about 6 hours, which is so weird to me! I just wanted to let you all know how you can be praying for me while I am gone.
A) Safe travels, and that my flights would be on time and everything
B) Presence of mind: I am going into this interview without knowing what specific job I am interviewing for, so I think I will have to be quick on my feet. Also, I am starting to stress about my thesis, so I need to be able to put that behind me for a day and focus on this interview.
C) God's will: I am constantly tying to discern whether moving to SLC is the right choice for me. I am a little nervous about the prospect of moving away from Oregon, but I also want to be fearless in my faith and trust that God will provide for me no matter where I am.
D) The hearts of those at the company: Many of the employees of the bridal company are Mormon, so I am trying to use every interaction with them as an opportunity to witness, and to differentiate myself. This could be a huge challenge working with so many Mormons, but it could also be a huge ministry. I pray that God would be moving in their hearts and causing a sense of unrest with their current faith.

Thanks for your prayer support...I will update the blog sometime after my trip and let you know how it went!

On The Hunt

I am looking for a job! Anyone? Anyone? I can't believe I am already to this point, of having to grow up and be done with school and get a real job! Its funny to think that just over 2 years ago I was looking at this situation with anxiety and fear because I knew that I wasn't ready to be done with school. The summer before my senior year of college, I was an intern at Nordstrom in downtown Portland. It was a great experience and I am thankful I did it, even if it did show me that store management was not where I wanted to spend my life. And being a buyer seemed even more impossible than ever. It was quite the wake up call to realize that the major I had spent 3 years at OSU studying was not what I was really interested in doing! So I started my senior year at the foot of God's throne, begging for direction that was not of my own doing. I swore I would give up making plans for myself after that incident, and if I say so myself, I think I have done pretty well since then. :) Well the Lord did not disappoint, and paved the way for me to begin graduate school (for free! amazing!) and continue on in my education.

And now that road has come to an end, and I need to make some decisions about where I want to go now. I can't put it off any more...I need to grow up :( But I am actually really excited about becoming a young professional. I joke with my friends that I have about 7 different careers that I could see myself doing after graduation, but its kinda true. There is not one job that is "calling" me more than any other. So, I'll let you in on the current front runners, (and I am using letters and not numbers so as not to indicate any sort of rank order...man I sound like a grad student!)

A. Academic Advising: There are several positions open at Oregon State for academic advising, which is really appealing to me. My advisor when I was in undergrad was amazing. I loved going to see her at the end of each term, because not only did we get to plan things (one of my favorite pastimes, as you discovered above) but she likes musical theater and goes to NYC twice a year just to see Broadway shows! So jealous!! It was neat to see how she remembered me, and not just when I had an appointment with her, but if we ran into each other at lunch or something. I really respected her and was always interested in what it took to do her job. So I asked her a few weeks ago. We went to coffee and discussed the aspects of advising, truthfully, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And it was so encouraging! An advisor meets with students from specific majors to discuss their courses and other academic activities such as clubs, study abroad, internships, etc. In addition, the advisors in my college put on workshops for freshmen students called first year success classes where they teach basic college survival tips such as study skills, how to register for classes, where to get involved. So this job would be great for me because I would be getting to help people achieve their academic goals everyday, as well as keep teaching, just a different subject matter. This is a promising option!!

B. Bridal Company, Salt Lake City: Through a great family connection, I have been able to communicate with a bridal company based out of Salt Lake about job possibilities after my graduation. They are a great company, on the smaller side, but very reputable among bridal retailers (I actually used to sell their dresses!) Last summer they graciously had me down for a job shadow day, which was so informative of what industry jobs are really like. I spent a great day with the VP of sales and marketing learning how things I was learning in school really did apply to real life (ok..now I believe you Dr. Kim!) And SLC was cool too, surprisingly! The picture above is me at the Olympic fountain in the center of the most amazing outdoor mall I have ever seen. As long as there is good shopping, I know I can survive there! :) A new update...they are flying me back down in two weeks for an interview! So exciting! This opportunity just from who I know has been such a blessing.

C. Become a bum on my parents couch. Bet you didn't see that coming! Ha! Be on the lookout parents!

So I am feeling so blessed right now to be having options to consider. God is taking care of me so well! To reflect back on where I was two years ago compared to now is amazing. I never would have considered grad school, and even though its been hard, I have really learned a lot. And now I am looking at careers where having my Masters degree will really count for something...so awesome! I hope you are experiencing the same provision from above in your life!

Welcome!

So, I've started a blog! This has been something I have been considering for a while now, and since life has gotten crazy lately, I figured it would be a good way to keep all those I love updated on what is going on. Keeping this updates is going to be a challenge for me, but a good challenge. So...let's start at the very beginning. (Is the song from Sound of Music running through your head?)

I am almost finished with my second, and last, year of graduate school...praise God! It has been a lot tougher than I was expecting. Don't let anyone tell you graduate school is just a continuation of undergrad, because thats a lie! The most challenging part of school for me is how independent it is. I have really had to step up my self-motivation and learn how to be my own cheerleader as well. Its hard to not have an adviser telling you every step you need to take to get finished. But it has been worth it (since I am so close to the end I am now able to say that, but if you had asked me last September I probably would have strongly disagreed!) in the long run. I have learned lots of great life lessons, and a lot about myself as well.

So right now I am finishing up my thesis. I get lots of questions about this, so I thought I would create a FAQ list for you all. Hopefully I will hit all the high points.
1. How long is a thesis?
The university requires that all master's theses be no shorter than 60 pages. Mine however will more likely be around 100-130 pages.
2. So it's like you are writing a short book?
Yes, it is like writing a book, with chapters and everything.
3. What is your thesis about?
I am studying the consumer behavior of brides as they shop for their wedding gown. So basically, I am trying to figure out what is important to them as they shop and why they make the decisions they do. I can get a lot more technical if you like, but generally this results in many glazed over eyes and nodding like a bobble head, so I will spare you the gory details.
4. When does your thesis have to be finished?
I will have my defense by the end of June 2008.
5. What is a defense?
It is a presentation to my four committee members (2 professors within my major, 1 professor from the College of Business, and 1 university representative) in which I basically say "Look what I have done! Now please give me my degree!" They will then question me on what I did with my research and I will have to defend what I have done. See where the title comes from? They then send me from the room and talk about me behind my back, and decide my fate. They vote, then I get to find out if I pass or not.
6. So your whole degree comes down to this one meeting?
Yes. Scary isn't it!
7. Can people come to your defense?
Yes! People are allowed to sit in on the presentation part, but then have to leave for the questioning and voting portions. I would say that I would love to have you there, but I know you would be so bored. But if you are in to torturing yourself, you are more than welcome to come!
8. Should I get a graduate degree?
Only if you fall under the above discussed category of enjoying to torture yourself.

So that is my life right now...just writing away. That and church pretty much take up all my time. I am also trying to find a job somehow, but more on that later. I hope you enjoy my blog!