leaving SUNDAY

After a FUN yet exhausting week in the Bourb, I am back at home in Ohio. I picked up my passport with visa today, so I am finally good to go. I went through the interiew process, which took a whole 3 minutes ha. I felt like I was in the Matrix or something haha :)

Anyways - yes, my flight has been booked for SUNDAY. very soon.

flight routes as follows: Cleveland - Detroit - Tokyo - Seoul = around 18 hrs of air time. pretty crazy, i know.

So yes, from now on, I will be blogging from http://www.abbeyinseoul.blogspot.com

If you are interested, you can follow along. I am sure there will be some interesting stories to tell.

From the Inside Out

After a week of family and friends, I hustled on home in time to watch the Buckeyes get pummeled ( pretty painful to watch ).

I feel blessed to have been home for Sunday because Church was amazing. I only get the chance to go to this church while I'm visiting home - which isn't often - but I seriously love it. The pastor speaks so REAL. The church is going through a series called Escape. Today was specific to "Escape Myself"

Freedom is found in following.

Surrender to His calling.

God has promised that you are who I have called you to be and I WILL be with you.

Escape Self.

Worship blew me away today...I tried to hold back the wave of emotions, but these words and the Holy Spirit were too powerful:

____________________________________

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

___________________________________

Visa Number

yep yep. my visa number is here and i have my interview w/ the embassy on Wednesday.
the school would like to book my flight for the earliest time possible - so looks like maybe Monday - which is a week from today ahhh :) lots to do this week. its all coming fast.

i will be in seoul before i know it. wowzers :)

We are GOOD to GO!

I got an email back from Mark, the school vice director and...

Immigration accepted my documents! WOOHOO! A praise for sure.

He said they are really picky and because my transcripts did not have the ONU emblem on the stamp - he figured they would reject them, BUT he said they prayed all morning...amazing!?!?

...and they were accepted. wow praise the Lord.

He will email me the visa number in about 2 weeks and then I can make my interview with consulate in Chicago - then my flight can be booked! :) We're shooting for Sept 20ish.

3 weeks ahhh...craziness.

S K O R E A

Today, I Express mailed my documents for my visa with signed contract an all! It's official...I have committed to a year long teaching job in Seoul, Korea. I will be teaching 1st - 6th graders at a private school. AH :) pretty exciting!

It has been quite clear that this is where God is leading me this year. It will be hard at times, but I'm okay with that. I want to open my eyes to a BIGGER world. a BIGGER God.

This next year will be life changing...ahhh I'm moving to Skorea!?!!

I will be blogging along the way with many photos.

more details and emotions to come...

Wedding Crashers

I crashed my first wedding this past weekend, while I was at another wedding!
When there is another wedding reception going on at the same place, you just can't pass up the opportunity for crashing.

SO, we decided to peek in...and PERFECT - the Electric Slide! I was like...ok, here we go. We made our way to the dance floor along with the bride and her wedding party, ha! I never looked up, but apparently the bride and others were giving us "who are they" looks. ha!

It was great. We only stayed for a couple rounds of the Eslide and then jetted.
BUT mission accomplished :)

0 J U L Y 8

July 2008 - h a r d but g o o d :)

This month has probably been one of the most stretching, challenging times in my life. The transition from the world as a student to the world as a professional has been much more difficult then expected. Seriously, I'm creating a required senior seminar course on LIFE. Aside from that, there has been a lack of stability in my life - living with a family, no job, ect.

I think I was due for a growing season in my life...and so JULY came - and it did just that.
It hasn't been easy, ha no no it hasn't.
During this time, I have grown greatly in relationship and prayer with God.
Often I ask myself...honestly, what would I do if I didn't have Jesus...His love, His promise, His comfort...on and on - He's got it all.

I have said it before that I have wanted to live these words of David -
-------------------------
Psalm 63:
Oh God, you are my God.
Earnestly I seek You.
My soul thirsts for You.
My body longs for You.
In a dry and weary land,
where there is no water.
-------------------------
I want to struggle and thirst for Him.
I want it to be hard and long for Him.
I want to fall to my knees and cry out to the Lord.
because I can't do it on my own.

This has been July for me --Psalm 63.
and I am thankful. really, I am.

In Job 2:10, it says "If we take happiness from God's hand, should we not take sorrow too?"

Although July has been an amazing growing month for me...I am finding myself losing sight of the growth. There will definitely be many more hard times in my life...who knows, probably just around the corner. ha.
BUT I don't want to only seek the Lord when I am in NEED of Him.
Yeah, I needed Him in July...but what about August...tomorrow...right now??
It is so easy to find myself so heavily in prayer with God only when I need Him.
There are people and ministries to be prayed for always.

I did some growing in July
but if i don't seek God 12 months
all is lost.

Don't Blink

Today I am reminded at how short life is.
We go to bed thinking tomorrow will be here, but we are never promised tomorrow.
embrace EVERY moment. you don't get them back. they are gone. over. past.
live your life NOW. don't wait.

Being with Jesus one day will be a beautiful thing. gosh, will it ever...but we have a call to life here on earth.
Am I living out that calling each day or am I looking to fill my time elsewhere?
yep. i'm guilty. i've got to stop talking about passions and start living them out.

and lyrics speak...

i love you
all of my hope is in You
Jesus Christ, take my life.
take all of me.

I have got to surrender my selfishness. pride. EVERY day.
I will be of no use if I don't.

choices

random thought...but
gosh, there are so many things i want to do in life...

yep, i'm going to start a list now so i won't let it all get away.

why can't you be a surfer in hawaii and a snowboarder in colorado?
why doesn't life work that way?
i guess it can, right. we have a choice.
sometimes we forget that. i know i do.

MAYER

Saw John Mayer in concert last night. so sweet.
endured the rain and wait.
i like that he is real...
his lyrics actually carry some kind of substance.
good stuff.

face to face

I am experiencing a whole new level of Jesus.
His love.
His grace.
His strength.

and to know...
You know the depths of my heart, and You love me the same.
wow.

The Family Vaca

North Myrtle Beach, SC - a week vaca with the whole fam.

Some highlights to remember:

-ran the road every morning.
-got stopped by some hippies who offered us meth. no worries, we declined ha.
-went and saw a random band play covers - called Black Label Band.
-almost wrecked like 10 times, thanks to my bro/sister's driving.
-skim boarded
-rode the banana boat
-saw a guy catch a sea turtle from the shore - size of a basketball.
-same guy also caught a couple baby sharks.
-kayaked in the ocean.
-tried to get a surfboard from sis's friend - never happened grr.
-wore matching shirts with the fam...twice. yahhh. ha.
-boogie boarded
-fell asleep and fried my back - not so smart.
-threw the football lots.
-watched fireworks on the beach both left and right - they were as far as thee eye could see.
-listened to brennan manning speak on the ipod over the beach waves, so good.
-saw lots of family

good times in the scarolina.

City Girl

No, I'm not a city girl, meaning...i would not survive in the city alone.

Altho...last weekend I spent a day in the city by myself, well most of it. I get to the city by way of train and then proceed to walk miles the wrong direction, ha! I figure I should turn around and walk the other direction.

I estimated I must have walked some 4 miles that day. After making my way to Michigan Ave, I found this cute cafe (Baci Cafe). I stopped in to grab some lunch - so good! As soon as I'm done ordering, I look out the window and...YEP it is downpouring! I enjoyed my amazing chicken sandwich and watching the hardcore people walking through the downpour. I finished in perfect timing - the rain had stopped. I continued to walk Michigan stopping along the way until I got to Jamba Juice - so good. I walked back to Millenium Park and met up with my friend Courtney - who I miss SO much and loved seeing. She makes me laugh so much :) I love her.

By this time, it was beautiful out and so the Chicago Blues Festival went on! It was a packed-muddy good time. BB King played. Good stuff.

Wadsworth - OH

Made a trip home for a weekend - a good decision.

The weekend happenings -

-watched a brother graduate hs
-saw the traveling Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall
-attended the Austintown Fitch Regional Track Meet
-watched the most exhilerating boys 4x4 race - the bro made it to STATE!
-screamed and screamed some more for the 4x4 race...it was unbelievable!
my heart raced and my body shoooook - i now know what it's like
being on the other side. a spectator.
-saw my friends tiff and stef :)
-cooked out with my friend jake and his awesome groups of friends.
-went to a graduation party.
-laughed and laughed...there always has to be laughter.
-saw a girl i used to babysit 3 years ago - she's 5 now and the cutest thing ever.
-saw my high school soccer coach.
-made the drive to ohio in 6 hours on one tank of gas, which
was amazing...thanks to someone:)
-met up with my friend megan for breakfast - who i just adore.
-went to church at Grace and was overwhelmed by God's love and grace.
seriously - I just don't even know. His spirit was ever so present that day.

So yes, I saw lots of family and friends - always a good time.
Love love loved it.

PASSION for life

releasing some passssion for life...

ahhh after looking at past photos.....man my life has been full of some sweeeet memories.
so much i miss.
but yet so much more to come!

seriously................i LOVE life.

80/sunny

Memorial Day weekend...80 and sunny, best weather yet.

We did some biking along the shoreline in Chicago. so great. loved it.
first dip in the pool this summer.
little cookout by the shore.
played some wii tanks...my heart almost jumped out.
did some skateboarding - relived the college boarding days. Chachi remember!?

between biking and intense video games...my heart got quite a workout.

perfect day with some pretty sweet friends.

The Outside

I spent the whole day outside today at this old country house.
It was a beautiful day.
did some horseback riding.
fishing.
kayaking.
eating.
bonfire time.

coasting on the pond in the kayak...i was overwhelmed with creation. each, its own beauty.
so much you can do.
so much you can see.
lets not limit ourselves.

You are my joy.

keep it fun

i made a good friend this weekend. tammy - she's from germany.
we were both in a friend's wedding together. yes, amber's wedding.
last minute, decided we'd go to willow creek for church and then the train station.
it was only my second time to willow creek and the only megachurch i've been to, but i loved it.
it was mother's day and funny thing...the only other time i've been there was on father's day.
so yea, it was amazing and i wished my mom was there with me.
we both would have been in tears.

I'm a graduate. past tense.

I graduated this weekend.
yes, its official official. i'm done.
the fam came. we laughed a lot.
but no crying- i stopped mom from following through with that one. ha:)

sooo for now, "i'm going on a job hunt.
i'm not afraid." pha..yahhh right.

nah just kidding. a plan is in place. praying for guidance.

soccer causes injury

so today we do a soccer clinic for a local 5th grade school...oh my word hilarious!

we had like at least 12 injuries today.

including this one that isn't real funny, okay but it is.

here's the story:

the kids are doing this soccer drill which involves like 8 balls - flying everywhere...and these two girls come up to me. one is crying with her arm holding her stomach. her friend says, "the ball hit her in the stomach." so I take the girl to a nearby bench to take a breather...while still in tears, this girl takes a seat and it wasn't even 2 SECONDS and what do you know...........SMACK a ball beelines her right in the face.

oh my word, it was movie like and i couldn't believe it.
i felt bad. really i did.
but i can't help but laugh inside...we all need to get hit in the head once or twice if we want to be a stud player, right? ha:)