Sumo Wrestling and a Silent Auction

Tough process internally. It's like fighting giants. But having had to go through it, it feels a bit safer on the other side. Stronger. There is a comfort in that. The stretching has opened my mind to greater discoveries. Things that I had been taught, I now know for myself. I go out having had the best preparation possible. I am grateful. Save the Date: April 7 12:30-3:30 Barbecue, Silent Auction, Caricature Artists, Handmade Cards

Welcome to our house in Malang

Here's what our house looks like. It's yellow like my house in Cali! Welcome to the grand tour! First, here is the front gate and the front side of our house. Our living and dining rooms.

Cook and Clean

The Kitchen, Washing Machine, Stove and Fridge

3 bdrm, 1 bth.

I'll choose my furniture and curtains when my arrival draws closer. This isn't my room, but it's something to look at in the mean time.

Stoaked!!!!

Jennifer has officially moved in! We have a house!!!! We have a dining table, fridge, oven, sofa, coffee table, washing machine, TV, DVD/VHS Player... I've never even had a VCR at home. And our current TV in Cali is 4 inches and black and white. And the picture is scrunched in about an inch on both sides! Hilarious! My class goes through the end of April, and my housemates have a 3 year lease. I leave as early as May and within the next 2 years. I can get my plane tickets when I have 90% of my support raised. We've passed the $6,000 mark! A ceiling fan, water heater, new curtains and my own room too! Totally exciting...

Celebrating People

It seems rare that i find 5 birthdays within 4 consecutive days on my calendar. And although i wasn't able to make it to all of the celebrations, it's fun to celebrate people - life. It's been a life changing year, and it's not even my birthday. From career changes, weddings, and new babies, some big, unfamiliar things have come up. I look back one year ago, we would have never known that this would be the year. For me, it's the third time to get sick since October. Today I'll visit the doctor again. Hopefully there's a better remedy for 'allergies'. I haven't coughed this hard in a while, and the breathing is getting more difficult. I thought all of the medicines would kick in, but maybe I'm just taking the wrong stuff!

Not Understanding

I officially decided that I would go for one year in October. I thought I would go home and spend the next month building relationships before my departure, working on my correspondence and preparing to move. Instead, I spent the following month and a half sick in bed. I did eventually get my first correspondence out in late November. I was better for the holidays. That was a precious time to enjoy. I'm so grateful to have been well through that time! When I began working on my January letter, I got sick for another week and a half. I did complete that letter! In three and a half weeks of being well, much has been accomplished. And much more accomplished without my help! As my friend Jane says, Peppermint Patty is starting to come back. I am sick again. Learning much about managing time, balancing the urgent with the important and all together preparing, there is so much that I *want* to do. For now, it looks like much rest will be most of what I *need* to do. I'm not sure how it will all come together, but it makes sense only with Someone else being in total control: paving the path before me, walking with me, and, for me, entrusting what is after me.