pray through

With all these pics of kids, the beach, out of town guests, the beach, Disneyland, the beach, and friends (and the beach), it kind of looks like I'm not budging from Southern California. But I'm here to assure that that's not the plan. I'm still heading west...to the far east.

Current Update:
(bullet point version)

-Renewed passport: CHECK.

-All debt paid off: CHECK.

-New swivel suitcase: CHECK.

-Place to live in Japan: CHECK.
Incredibly blessed by a special family out there willing to put up with me.

-Visa: IN PROGRESS.
Here's where I call on all you prayer ninja's out there. The plan is to go out on a Child of a Japanese National visa which is the same visa I had 12 years ago when I moved to Japan for the first time. Apparently, A LOT more paperwork is required now for that visa and mostly for my mom and grandparents. Once we get all that in (praying by end of September) and the ambassador here realizes that my family has the financial means to bail me out, pay for my medical expenses, and/or send me back to the States, then I will buy my ticket outta here. A major PRAISE insert here: it turns out my aunt (mom's sister) will be with my grandparents in September (visiting from Papua New Guinea) and will be able to help them out with the paperwork process for my visa! I am truly blessed by my family and their hearts to help out.

-Job: TO BE DETERMINED.
(Another request for you prayer ninja's.) The Lord has proven faithful in so many little (yet significant) areas of this process and that has shown me His provision isn't going anywhere no matter how much my faith wavers. I'm learning to have a firmer stance on His promise through all of this. I had communicated with a few different English tutoring businesses that are located in the city I'll be living in. One responded and would like to set up an interview once I'm out there. I'd gone back and forth on whether I should wait to get a job set up before going over or go out on faith and pray that a job will open up when I'm there. Obviously, like any normal human natured person, I would have liked the stability and assurance of having a job already established before moving, but apparently God has other plans. Something about trusting in Him and all that.... So after praying and talking with a couple people, I've decided to go out ON FAITH and trust/know that God will provide the right job for me once I'm out there. Eeeeek!

So, friends, that in a nutshell is where I'm at. I could go on about the discouragements and doubts that flooded my mind ("Did I do something stupid? Quit my job, moved back home, leave my community. What if this was a mistake?") and how overwhelming it was to hear what was required of my grandparents for the visa. But, God has held my hand through all of this and guided my steps. He's filled me with peace and assured me that this is what He wants for me right now.

Some may be wondering, "Why ARE you going out there if it's not a job taking you over?"

Answer: I don't know. Clarification: I KNOW that I'm supposed to be going. An opportunity of an available room came up, I prayed about it knowing I'd always wanted to move back to Japan (and I would be in the town where my grandparents live and I grew up visiting), and God confirmed. I don't know for how long or what's planned for me out there. I just know I'm supposed to go. I'm excited about God providing opportunities for me to serve somewhere and also finding community. A job's really secondary...it's not what's taking me to Japan.

The sign above "Pray Through" was given to me by my aunt. She has served as a missionary with Wycliffe Bible translators with her husband for the last 25+ years in Papua New Guinea, which is where the sign is from. I've had it hung up in my room ever since I got it and it's a great reminder that no matter what's going on (good or bad) to always pray through it. Usually that's our last resort, but I'm being reminded constantly that it needs to be the first thing we do in every circumstance. And it's now become my motto/mantra of this moving process.

So, pray through, kids,...it's good for the soul. :)

bobbin threadin' fiend

Apparently when you turn 30 you download coupon apps onto your phone, your eyes are shot to biscuits which results in you visiting the optometrist 4 times in 2 months, and you start quilting. In that order. Why didn't you guys warn me about this?? I was so unprepared.

In all honesty, the quilting part is actually super, stinkin' fun and I have finished 2 quilts in 3 weeks! 2 quilts!! Friends, I haven't touched a sewing machine since 7th grade home economics when I had to make a pillow of 2 peas in a pod. Obviously that pillow was something extraordinary as I haven't seen it in 18 years. I remember just sitting in front of the machine and stringing the thread in every crevice I could find. Needless to say I was not my teacher's favorite. Her hairdo didn't move a millimeter the entire year and nor did her frown. That was reason enough for me to never pay attention to a word she said...except for when we made cinnamon sugar biscuits. Definitely absorbed her instructions on that project. Pretty sure I aced that too. Yum.

All that to say, for me to make a quilt is pretty darn impressive. And I have my sweet, incredible, amazing friend Erin to thank! She's been making quilts for a couple years now and one weekend suggested I get into this business myself. Next thing I knew, we were picking out patterns at Joann's, cutting fabric, and threading bobbins. It just all happened so fast!

Mom fixing my boo-boo.

After posting these pictures I realized that this may be incredibly lame for a post, but, kids, I am elated that I could accomplish this. I have just come so far from my 2 peas in a pod days that I've blown my own socks off. Wish Mrs. C could see me now!

austin in cali

A couple weeks ago my heart just about burst from joy. 2 of my good friends from Austin came out to visit and Jamie came into town to celebrate her big 3-0 with family and friends.

We wasted no time...they came in on Wednesday night and we headed straight to the Happiest Place on Earth the next day.

As you can see we didn't have any fun at all. :) I'm pretty sure the girls thought I was a tad off-my-rocker as I tried to explain that those of us who grew up at Disneyland truly feel that there's something magical about that place. Maybe it's because it holds some of our most favorite and happy childhood memories when we let our imagination run free and believed our dreams could really come true. And as an adult we all need to be reminded of the child within sometimes and keep a little bit of the dreamer inside us. A job well done, Walt!

Next on the itinerary for the Austin gals:

This was pretty much our view for a couple days. And this scene can NEVER get old.

We also spent a day celebrating Jamie with her family as she turned 30! So much fun and soooo much good food. Being 3 days apart, we usually celebrate our birthdays together and it was kind of sad we didn't this year, but it was great being able to help her bring in 30 with her family and friends.

It really does mean the WORLD to me that Linda and Casey came out to visit. I can't say enough how much God showed His love for me by the people He brought into my life in Austin. These girls are stinkin' hilarious, completely and totally real, and love food. They're the best kind of people!

Thanks so much for giving up a few days to play in Cali, ladies! Love ya both!