One Last Week

I have one last week here in Southern California. It's so hard for me to believe. In one week I will be embarking on a totally new path for my life. I must admit it's been hard, and it's getting harder, to say good-bye and leave this world behind. I'm usually fine and dandy during the day, but some seemingly insignificant comment could be said and I must force myself to hold back tears. I've also had a hard time really late are super early in the morning when I'm all alone and able to think about things. It's hard to believe that in one week I will be gone.

I have so many thoughts, feelings, and emotions swimming around in my head and heart. It's hard to register it all, and I know I need to cling to Christ even more. I've had a hard time dealing with certain things with friends and it's sad to think that I'm leaving soon and that things will be different: close friendships will change and we will move on with the different paths God has for us. I'm excited about the adventures and experiences that await me for the next few months of my life. I'm excited to see how God will use them to change and mold me. I know I need to change. I know I need to continue to be molded so that I can be more like Jesus. And yes, I know it will hurt because I already feel some of the pain.

Yet, I smile and thank God for where He is leading me. I know that it's all by God's amazing grace and mercy that I am able to take flight. So, here I am, perched on the farthest branch, just waiting for the right wind to gently lead me into the air. Here I wait smiling at the coming days. Here I wait and smile...

I'm almost there!!!

DONE -- Ask someone for an example of their support letter (Thanks, Katie!)
DONE -- Write support letter
IN THE PROCESS -- Send out support letters
DONE -- Community of the Word
DONE -- CHCS Family
DONE -- CFBC Walnut
DONE -- Talk to principal and parent...please pray for my mom!
DONE -- Tell my students the (good/bad) news (the "Flying Filipino" came back for my last chapel and told the upper graders about the new road God has for me)
IN THE PROCESS -- Help with CW VBS 2008
GETTIN THEM IN HAWAII -- Get vaccinations (Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus, Polio)
DONE -- Book round trip airfare to Kona, Hawaii (I booked a one way ticket for $75. God is SO good!)
___ Purchase Health Insurance
DONE -- Get my passport ($71 and 5 1/2 hours later, I finally left the cell. I'll get my passport in 6 months)
NOT GONNA HAPPEN -- Take one last trip to Monterey (I hope you're ready for me, Torrey!)
DONE -- Visit Captain Planet (always good times...)
DONE -- Finish up school year...pack up my school materials and say good-bye to my CHCS family
___ Visit people one last time
DONE -- Owen and Ruby with our Hooters run
DONE -- My Kat and Sarah...had In-N-Out one last time
DONE -- Kirsten and Ten... Starbucks and El Taco Nazo
DONE -- Car...we got our nails did!
DONE -- JP, O, and Jazzy Bear
___ PEddy on Friday
___ Say good-bye to my church family
___ Bon Voyage with my CHCS Family on Sunday
___ Lily Day on Monday
___ Captain Planet Day on Tuesday
___ Family Day on Wednesday
___ Pack my bags
___ Say good-bye
___ Take Flight (Flight leaves out of LAX -- Delta Airlines -- at 1:10 p.m.)
DONE - SMILE and trust God's perfect plan...I'm SO EXCITED!!!!
___ SMILE and trust God's perfect plan...

A Picture Update!

After the last day of school, Z Pizza had a fundraiser for me. Awaiting was a surprise given by the students and staff of my lovely CHCS family. You guys ROCK! =)



These are some of my kiddoes. I'm going to miss them so much!



And then I sat at my desk one last time, prayed to the Lord for His will for my life, and said good-bye to teaching. (for now? forever? only God knows...)



Then my fam bam packed a van and headed down south to San Diego. This was taken at old town San Diego with good ol' Honest Abe. He's one of the "ancients."



On Tuesday morning, Jerica, Sarah, Mark, David, Corey, and My Kat blind folded me and took me to...




...The Happiest Place on Earth!!!! yay! I had so much fun! It was a wonderful surprise and I loved every minute of it..even though it was SUPER hot! Thanks guys! I love you! =)






...just the gals in the Beast's Library. I took a quiz and was told that I'm most like Cinderella's evil Step Mother. I don't see that one bit! I protest...



This was the first time I rode California Screamin'...it was SO MUCH fun! I rode with Jerica...and she only had to hold my hand for 3 seconds. Good job!



At the end of the day, we were all SUPER tired...but we all had so much fun! Thanks again guys! It was a very pleasant surprise! I'm blessed to have you guys in my life, though you are ca-razy! I will miss you all so much!

Z Pizza, CHCS, San Diego, Disneyland...Thank you God for these wonderful memories. Thank you for making me smile! =)

2 Weeks, Folks...

...and I board that plane for Kona! Much has gone on since the last time I posted, and i want to put up some pictures, but it's late and my computer's really slow today, so that has got to wait. I will update my check off list, though:

DONE -- Ask someone for an example of their support letter (Thanks, Katie!)
DONE -- Write support letter
IN THE PROCESS -- Send out support letters
DONE -- Community of the Word
DONE -- CHCS Family
DONE -- CFBC Walnut
DONE -- Talk to principal and parent...please pray for my mom!
DONE -- Tell my students the (good/bad) news (the "Flying Filipino" came back for my last chapel and told the upper graders about the new road God has for me)
IN THE PROCESS -- Help with CW VBS 2008
___ Get vaccinations (Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus, Polio)...ouch!
___ Book round trip airfare to Kona, Hawaii
___ Purchase Health Insurance
___ Get my passport
NOT GONNA HAPPEN -- Take one last trip to Monterey (I hope you're ready for me, Torrey!)
DONE -- Finish up school year...pack up my school materials and say good-bye to my CHCS family
___ Pack my bags
___ Say good-bye
___ Take Flight
DONE - SMILE and trust God's perfect plan...I'm SO EXCITED!!!!
___ SMILE and trust God's perfect plan...

Last Day of School!

Tomorrow is the last day of school for my kiddoes. I can't believe how fast it all went. I have much to do today to get ready for tomorrow, but I'm excited for what the day has in store. I think there will be many tears (there were already some tears shed today), but I think it will be a very meaningful time with my students. Tomorrow I will say good-bye to classroom teaching (forever?) and prepare for another field God has in store for me. From when I was 5 until now...the last day of school makes me smile! =)

Hungry for some pizza??

Fundraiser, Food, and Fellowship
At Z Pizza!!!

Why: To help raise money for my missions trip
Date: This Tuesday, June 10th
Time: All day long!
Place: Z Pizza in Chino Hills
3090 Chino Ave. (near Harkins Theater)

* A percentage of money from the entire day will go to support me

*Come and fellowship with me between 5-7 p.m.
or stop by any time of the day and order some yummy food!

Thanks and I hope to see you there!

30 Days

In 30 days this will be my new home: The University of the Nations. My Internet has been down at home, hence the fact that I haven't posted in a while. So, today, when I was finally able to get back on the net, I started looking through YWAM and DTS stuff. My stomach began to churn with excitement. "I'm going to be there!! I'm going to be there soon!" I still can't believe where God is taking me. I am so blessed and it's only by His grace that I'm able to partake in this new adventure. God continues to show me His grace and mercy through many situations and trials. He is growing me and using many means to do so; I praise Him for testing and strengthening my faith through these situations. I praise God for using different people in my life to encourage me, people I wouldn't think about going to. God is good!

I have so many mixed emotions. I have fits of laughter and excitement..and then there are times when I want to take a snapshot of every moment with my friends and family: drinking strawberry shakes in the living room, hanging out outside of Starbucks, conversations and laughter in my classroom, Americana with my crazy family. I want to take it all in and never forget these cherished moments.

I will miss it here, but I know that the Lord has something new in store for me. But, I have 30 more days to make more memories, shed more tears, and spend more time with friends and family. I have 30 more days until I say good-bye to California and aloha to Hawai'i. I still can't believe it! God is good!..and of course, this makes me smile!