Happy Thanksgiving :)

Hey, everyone. It's Thanksgiving! Or rather the day after (if my clock is correct!). I am thankful for friends near and far, for ginger-spice cranberry-apple struesel pie, for a job, for my computer, for Christmas music, for my family (who are spread all over the U.S. and, soon to be, world), for a car that runs, for sleep (which I'll be meeting with shortly!), for my own room and bathroom, for sunny weather, for stupid t.v. shows that I can laugh at, and for a God who loves me no matter what.

What are YOU thankful for?

Still Homesick

I know that it has been awhile but I do have an excuse or a reason (whatever you want to call it) for not blogging since November! It's called "This is my first year as a teacher!" Amazingly, even though I have been insanely busy, I have still had time to be homesick. Today I have been feeling it especially, which is why I am writing on my blog. I was just thinking about my friends from home and all the things we did together. That was back when I had connections! Now I am living on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and I don't have those connections anymore! All the people that I know already have their circle of friends and, while not excluding me from things, they don't go out of their way to include me. Maybe I am just being silly and should just push my way into the circle but that is really not my style. I prefer to be invited and, sad to say, if I am not invited, I feel like I am not really wanted. I guess what I am trying to say is that I really miss being a necessary friend! If I wasn't here no one would really miss me. Enough moping! So . . . in thinking about all this, I pulled out the video that Rex Munyon so kindly made of the 2008 Beach Retreat on the Oregon Coast, watched it, and started to cry! I haven't cried like that for long time! I guess tears are good for the soul! (at least, I hope so!) The video started me thinking about not just the fun we had but also the fellowship. That is really something that I am dying for! I feel as though I am going to wither up and die in the area of fellowship! I have been reading Psalm 25 where it talks about the secret of the Lord and have been reminded how necessary to life communion with other believers is. It's a funny thing, fellowship. In order for it to take place, two people who are headed in the same direction need to talk about God and what He is doing in their life personally. Right now, I haven't really had alot of time for God. I am really striving to put Him first in my life but haven't succeeded very well so far. It's a difficult thing to do when other things scream for your attention louder, it seems, than He does. He just quietly and continually calls us to Himself and if we ever slow down or quiet down long enough - we can actually hear His voice. I need a renewal and don't know how I am going to get it! I need a friend, here, who will encourage me to be faithful to Jesus Christ and who needs a friend too. Any volunteers????!!!! To close, I would like to include the video that I talked about earlier. 2008 Beach Retreat Buddies - You're the greatest!