Birthday of Memories

Each of my birthdays has been filled with memories.  It's fun to think about the well-kept secrets, special notes, and meaningful gifts that are tied to past birthdays.  As I celebrate with family and friends, I'm reminded of God's faithfulness throughout that past year of life.

This year, a beautifully simple birthday scavenger hunt took me to some of the places that have been special to me during my time in Germany.  I even got to do chalkboard lettering and mini photo shoots!  What a wonderful way to make new birthday memories - by revisiting the memories of the past.

Bonus points if you can correctly identify all of the places in this post!  :)

Two Months and Next Steps

Two months.

It's hard to believe, but I will be flying back to Pennsylvania in two short months!  Between now and then?  I'm sure there will be to-do lists, last-minute cleaning, packing and repacking, plenty of paperwork... But I'm also hoping for lots of memory-making and hugs and conversations and soaking it all in.

It's bittersweet to leave this place that I've called home for the past five years.  However, I'm very much looking forward to what lies ahead!

The where.  I will be living with my parents in PA for the summer - enjoying family time and reconnecting with friends.  In late August, I will officially move to the Washington, D.C. area!

The who.  I'll be living with Alyssa, a close college friend.  We haven't lived together since our suite-mate days of senior year, but we have kept in touch across the miles over the past five years.  It was also really fun to have Alyssa visit me in Germany last month to meet my friends and see my life here, and I'm looking forward to beginning this new season with Alyssa as my roommate.

The what.  After serving with TeachBeyond at BFA for the past five years, I will be transitioning into a new role with TeachBeyond: Mobilization Coach!  This position includes recruiting on college campuses, sharing TeachBeyond's vision with people interested in serving abroad, and encouraging candidates as they apply, fundraise, and prepare to move overseas.  As a Mobilization Coach, I get to walk alongside people who are in the place I was five years ago - preparing to go, willing to serve, facing the unknowns of the future.  I'm thrilled that this role combines my love for connecting with people and my passion for quality international education!

The what else.  I will also be pursuing an online master's degree in Educational Leadership.  I'm already praying that I would find a good balance between my mobilization role and grad school, especially without the built-in rhythm of a school schedule (which is what I've known since I began Kindergarten!).

There are many changes coming, and I appreciate the grace and encouragement that so many of you have already extended to me in this season.  May this new adventure bring glory to God, and may I continue to find joy in the journey.

"I know Who goes before me,

I know Who stands behind,

The God of angel armies is always by my side"

In my new role as Mobilization Coach, I will continue as a full-time support-based TeachBeyond member.  Click here to make a financial contribution.  Your gift will have multiplied impact as I interact with new TeachBeyond members joining the global work of transformational education.  Thanks for your generosity!

Blessings in Budapest

Somehow it seems more challenging to sit and focus and type these days.

Maybe it's the chaos of transition that already seems to swirl around me.  I'm living in two worlds - leaving and arriving, excitement and dread, known and unknown.

Or, maybe it's the wave of grief as my college friends and I mourn the tragic death of our dear friend, Erica, on Good Friday.  Sometimes it's in the forefront of my thoughts - as I look through old photos and read friends' emails full of memories - while other times, it's just lingering in the back of my mind.  I'm so grateful for the ways that Jesus has provided just what I have needed, even when I didn't know what to ask Him for.

One of those precious provisions was a life-giving trip to Hungary last week.  Just two days after learning of Erica's death, I found myself boarding a plane to Budapest.  I knew little of my plans for the week, but I felt a peace in the unknown, the Spirit's whisper reminding me of His promises.

The primary purpose for my visit to Budapest was to see the International Christian School of Budapest, one of TeachBeyond's partner schools.  I will be a TeachBeyond recruiter next year (more on that coming soon!), so I was excited to have this opportunity to experience another school.  I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the staff and students at ICSB.

Another blessing of this trip was the opportunity to reconnect with people I'd met in the past.  The first reconnection happened in the form of a surprise lunch visit during my day at ICSB.  This middle schooler had been a part of my TeachBeyond orientation group of "ten girls" this past summer, and it was a joy to see her again!  She introduced me to her classmates and gave me a tour of the middle school floor.  (I felt right at home!)  Dinner with their family was also a treat as we talked about transition and community and leadership.

The next day (after exploring Budapest on my own!), I met up with Erin, who is a friend of a friend (and now my friend!).  We met at my college friend's bridal shower a few years ago and have remained in touch since then via Instagram and periodic e-mail updates.  Erin and her husband teach at a school outside of Budapest, so we share some common experiences with teaching overseas.  Two hours easily passed, and there was so much more we could have said!  I'm grateful for God's presence in our conversation and His faithfulness evident in our stories of overseas service.

I knew I wanted to tour ICSB, see this middle school student and her family, explore the city, and meet up with Erin.  God orchestrated the schedule for all of that to happen!

What I didn't know was how He would work in the in-between moments at the house where I was staying.  My good friend at BFA was visiting her relatives in Budapest, so I was also able to stay with them for my brief Hungarian adventure.  I was overwhelmed by the ways that Jesus showed me His care and provision through these generous hosts.  They lovingly asked about what Erica had been like and listened as I contemplated heaven.  They invited me into intentional conversation around the dinner table and treated me as part of the family in their daily routines.  Their authentic faith in Christ inspired me to want to grow and know Him more (Hebrews 10:24).

I wasn't the only one who benefited from this family's gracious hospitality.  They were hosting eight overnight guests - no big deal! - including four of their daughter's friends from Capernwray Bible School.  I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations with these young women as we toured the area and relaxed in the living room at our home away from home.  It was clear that this, too, was part of God's plan for my week in Hungary.

Although blogging through the fog of transition and grief is challenging, it's worth it.  God is good, no matter what my circumstances, and I want to have my eyes wide open to praise Him for His provision.  Like unexpected blessings in Budapest.

Month at a Glance: April 2015

April 5:  Happy Easter!
April 6-9:  Trip to Hungary to visit the International Christian School of Budapest
April 13:  Staff Breakfast
April 14:  Classes resume (and my 27th birthday!)
April 15:  Cohorts begin (I'm leading professional development about literacy)
April 24:  BFA's Got Talent
April 25:  Home track and soccer
April 26:  High school service trip reports
April 27-30:  Music festival week

Month at a Glance: March 2015

They say that March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb...  I'm hope that our 50-degree temperatures and rain showers in these first few days of March don't indicate a "lion" ending to the month!

March 5-10:  Standardized testing
March 6:  Walking Together Movie Night
March 11-18:  Visit from a college friend!
March 14:  Home soccer games
March 17:  Frühjahrsmarkt (last time for the traveling market in Kandern!)
March 20:  End of the Third Quarter
March 21:  Walking Together Coffee House
March 23:  The Gathering shared meal for young adults
March 27:  Spring break begins!

A Different Day!

In the past, this weekend has usually looked like this... surrounded by the beautiful snow-covered Alps, singing and laughing and making memories as a small group on High School Retreat.

Again, the high schoolers and their leaders headed to Switzerland on Friday.  Instead of joining them, my Friday looked like this:  Middle School Activity Day!

Although it was strange to see the retreat buses pull up and not head off with my small group, I had a blast bowling and playing games at Activity Day instead!  It was a different day - and a great one at that!  

The 6th grade boys got creative!

What a joy to spend the day with the 6th grade girls!

Walking Together Events

Back in October, over sixty ladies gathered at Elemenz Cafe for an opportunity to connect and begin to build intentional relationships.  Gathered around tables covered with coffee cups and crumbs, huddled in conversations punctuated by laughter, faces illuminated by candlelight... we knew that was only the beginning of the vision for Walking Together.

It's not easy planning events when the calendar is already packed full with a dizzying amount of worthwhile activities!  But over the past month, we've had two different events - a Movie Night and a Coffee (and Tea!) House.  It has been delightful to relax with other women in the community in these different settings.

I hosted "Moms' Night Out" movie night at my apartment, while four other women showed different movies in their homes. 

The Coffee (and Tea!) House was held in a large classroom at the school, which we transformed into a cozy, relaxing space.

There was a beautiful spread of desserts!

Determined to provide quality tea for avid tea drinkers, Ellen found these fun loose-leaf teas!

My Pinterest project for the evening!  I made decorative garland from old book pages.

This cozy corner in the library was soon claimed for reading, journaling, and conversation.

As I've been dreaming about these events, setting up and cleaning up, meeting new people and going deeper with close friends, I've been struck by why I'm so passionate about making it all happen.  It's not about how many women attend an event, where we end up meeting, or how good the food tastes (okay, that matters a little bit!).  Ultimately, what matters is that Christ is glorified.  May Walking Together continue to connect women to the glory of God.

Thank You, Jesus, that You care about relationships and desire relationship with us.  It's all for You!

Month at a Glance: February 2015

The new month began with flurries today and just a thin blanket of snow on the ground.  Things I love about this season: snow-dusted rooftops, candlelight, warm blankets, and the hush of the gentle snow fall.

February 1:  Skype with GCC students interested in serving overseas
February 4:  Laura's "Better Than a Super Bowl" birthday
February 6:  6th Grade First Semester Writing Portfolio Share
February 6-7:  Home basketball games
February 7:  Walking Together Coffee House
February 13:  Middle School basketball game  
February 16:  No school!
February 27:  Middle School Activity Day (bowling and games)

"For All That You Have Done"

Just before Christmas break, I listened all the way through Rend Collective Experiment's latest album, Campfire Christmas.  As much as I enjoyed the folk-infused Christmas carols, it was the last track that caught my attention.  I recognized the tune as "Auld Lang Syne," but I was captured by Rend Collective's new lyrics.

Your grace will never be forgot
Your mercy all my life
Will be my source forever song
My story and my light

From mountain top to valley low
Through laughter and through tears
Surely the goodness of my God
Will follow all the years

You know our failures and regrets
You've always led us home
Redemption's arm has raised us up 
Our triumph in the storm

In unity we'll stand as one
As family we'll go
Shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand
Into the great unknown

For all that You have done for us
For every battle won
We'll raise a song to bless Your heart
For all that You have done

As I've listened to this song on repeat over the last few weeks, it has quickly become my self-proclaimed "song for the year."  These words are a heartfelt offering of thanks to God "for all that He has done" in the past, a reminder of His work in the world in this very moment, and a declaration of my trust in Him for the future.

I shared this song with the middle schoolers at chapel on Friday, and I'm hopeful that it will remind us of truth as it comes to mind.  God is good, and I will continue to raise a song to testify to His faithfulness!

(I'm hiding behind the piano in the picture above!

I loved getting to lead chapel worship with some of my friends this week!)

Seek.

It's a new year, and we are once again surrounded by goals and resolutions.  My experience with setting New Year's Resolutions in 2011 has led me to focus less on the goal-setting and more on the lesson-learning.  I want to begin each year - and live the whole year! - with more of an awareness of how God is at work in my heart and in the world around me.

Rather than having a check-list of must-dos, I gravitated towards the idea of having "one word" for 2015.  I asked God to help me discern His word for my year - a year that will bring lots of change and transition, bittersweet goodbyes and new beginnings.  So, it's not a surprise that I first thought of the word "trust."  Trust?  Really?  It seemed a bit trite.  I even told a friend that it was too obvious - of course, trust will be a big part of this year and should be every year!  I wondered if this was the word I was supposed to settle on.

A few days later, the Lord brought the word "seek" to mind.  Immediately, I began to think about how this word connects to my current situation.

I am seeking His leading and guidance for this fall (where to live, which grad school program to choose, how to connect with people), as well as the months and years to come.
I want to be intentional about seeking out meaningful conversations with others, both in this community and wherever I live next.
Most of all, my heart's desire is to seek Christ and know Him more, but I want to learn more of how to seek Him.

Yes, "seek"!  I did a quick Scripture search and found this:

God wants me to seek...
His face (Psalm 27:4 and 8, 105:4)
His strength (1 Chronicles 16:11)
His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)
His will (Proverbs 3:6 NLT)
The Kingdom (Matthew 6:33)
Justice (Isaiah 1:17)
Peace (Proverbs 34:14)
With all my heart (Psalm 119:10, Jeremiah 29:13)

There is no mention of seeking answers, solutions, or shortcuts.  Seeking isn't a means to an end, but a valuable process in and of itself.  I pray that this year will be one of actively pursuing Him - not just to figure out what He wants me to do, but to truly know Him more.

Taken from: http://tinyurl.com/mx3fm9v

As I "seek" this year, I'm claiming these promises...
God rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)
I will lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10)
All my needs will be met (Matthew 6:33)
The Lord is good to me (Lamentations 3:25)
I will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 7:7)
He will answer and deliver me from my fears (Psalm 34:4)

What is your "one word" for 2015?

Taken from: instapray.com

I'm linking up with Velvet Ashes, where women around the world are sharing their "one words."  #OneWord365