One Year Anniversary

July 3, 2009

This time last year, I was boarding a plane and heading to Kona to embark on an amazing journey with YWAM. Wow...one year. God surprised me with a special phone call from two good friends, Tim and Aaron, who are still doing ministry with YWAM. Together, we were able to reminisce a bit about our 6 months together. Now, here I sit, recalling God's goodness this past year...

- joined YWAM
- lived in Kona, Hawaii for 3 months
- wrote my first song
- lead praise and worship for the first time
- met 50 amazing people who I have grown to know and love deeply
- flew out of the country for the first time
- lived in England for 2 weeks
- rode the Tube
- watched Wicked in London
- watched my favorite play at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
- lived in a flat in Belfast, Norther Ireland for about 9 weeks
- met some amazing people in Belfast; i still write to them
- saw one man get physically healed before my very eyes
- visited Ireland for a day
- home for the holidays
- went to San Francisco with some of my DTS family
- drove up north by myself for the first time
- went to Disneyland with some of my DTS family
- got in a relationship with one AMAZING guy =)
- went to San Diego with the BF
- went to Vegas with with the BF and Krissa
- went to SF/San Jose with the BF and Krissa
- getting closer with the BF's awesome family and amazing friends
- went to Vegas with the BF, Marky, Jenn, and Joel
- went camping at San O with the BF and his friends
- another Vegas trip with the BF, Marky, Jenn, and Joel
- watched Avenue Q with the BF, Anthony, and Karen
- watched Frost Nixon with the BF
- watched Dirty Dancing with the BF
- went to Vegas with Jerica and Kristine for JB's bday
- went {back} to the Philippines - I left when I was 1
- met some of my family here in the Philippines for the first time ever
- flew to Bacolod
- and now I'm currently in Boracay

...it's been such an amazing adventure. Seriously. I look back and all I can do is smile. Well, if you know me, it's more like smile and cry. God is SO good! I was thinking about God's goodness today {as I was getting an amazing massage at the resort's spa} and I can honestly say I couldn't ask for a better life. I don't have all the money in the world; I don't have any fancy-pants car; I'm not married (yet!!); I don't have any kids (yet!!); I haven't had a set job for the past year and I don't currently have a set job. But, I'm happy. I'm rejoicing in the Lord. I love the life God has given me. God tells us to follow Him; He wants us to live our lives the way He lays it out in the Bible; God wants us to do His will. I've been trying to do this this past year, and this past year has been the BEST! I've grown so much in my relationship with Jesus. I love my family. I love my church family. I love my boyfriend (yes, I do; and yes, he already knows!!). I love my life.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

Thank You, Jesus, for my rich life. Thank You for causing me to smile...