It's A New Year!

So, what does it mean . . . a new year? I have been thinking about it just a little bit as 2009 turns to 2010. And I haven't fully decided. I used to make a bunch of resolutions - you know, promises to yourself to do better in the areas of personal discipline - but I am not so sure that is what a new year should be all about. Not to say that resolutions are not good things to make. I think that thinking about what needs to change in the next year is a bit overwhelming but if I think about what needs to change today - well, I can do that (with God's help Phil 4:13).
Actually, there are a couple of decisions that I have made for this new year that may or may not lead to anything. One is that I have asked my parents to help me find a spouse. Yes, you are reading correctly! I think that it is time my family, and perhaps some of my friends, see what a Christ-honoring relationship looks like. Or maybe it's just that God wants me fully surrendered to Him - and if my parents are looking than I don't have to!
The second decision that I have made is actually born of the first. In talking with my dad about helping me to find a spouse, he said something that has made me stop and consider how I am choosing to live my life. He talked about being available to God and the opportunities placed in my path by yielding my members as instruments of righteousness to God (Rom 6:13). I realized that it is not about being completely surrendered to God next month or in two months - it's about being completely surrendered to Him in every area of my life - today, this minute, this second. Spiritually, Mentally, and Physically.
Being available means going to bed on time so that I can be the best possible teacher. Being available means doing my lesson planning before watching my favorite t.v. show. Being available means budgeting my finances so that I am free to give. Being available means strengthening my relationship with Jesus first and foremost - before all else. Not tomorrow - today, this minute, this second.
So, what am I waiting for? It's time to start now - this second!

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!

Homesick

I must say that although Hawai'i is beautiful I am finding that I miss Washington very much! You would think that being on a warm island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean I would have nothing to complain about - right? I shouldn't complain - I really shouldn't - but I am in a complaining mood right now!
It's relatively early, on a Friday night, and what am I doing? Blogging! And why, you ask, am I blogging? Because there is nothing else to do! That's the way it is here. If there is nothing going on, you're stuck because there's nowhere else to go to find something that is going on! I'm on an island for heaven's sake!
It's not all bad though.
It's the end of October and I am sitting on the lanai in my shorts, t-shirt, and flip-flops blogging! IN OCTOBER!!!!!!! When in most places people are wearing jackets, sweaters, and even gloves! So I guess I should count my blessings!
Speaking of blessings - this is what I get to look at every night from my lanai.

Laptop Computers Are Wonderful!

So, I finally got my laptop and I am loving it!
This means that I no longer have to stay at school to do my computer work. I can do it all here at home or in a coffee shop or at someone else's home or . . . you get the idea! I am so excited that I have not done any school work on it - yet! You know, all work and no play makes Abbey a dull girl!
I'll probably post some pictures on my facebook page of Hawai'i and the interesting things that I have seen so far.
One thing that I saw this morning when I went into the bathroom to take a shower was a Cane Spider. It was pretty early so I didn't have the presence of mind to get my camera. This thing was huge! It was about half the size of my hand and it was hanging out right where I wanted to go. Now, I don't touch spiders that big, if I can help it, so I scared it into a corner and kept one eye on it to make sure it didn't move before I got into the shower. When I was finished, I checked to make sure that it hadn't moved somewhere else before I got out!
My motto is: Live and let live! As long as the bugs don't bother me I am fine. Besides, Cane Spiders eat other bugs so we're not supposed to kill them!
This week at school is GIG week (GIG stands for Getting into God). Seeing as how I have never been through one before, I sometimes feel like a spectator rather than a participator. Though, I have been reminded once again that God never works like I expect Him to or like I think He will. God is so good to remind me that I do not have a corner on the market of predicting what God is going to do! Over the past couple of years that is the one thing that He has continued to bring to the forefront in my life. I am learning to appreciate each surprise He brings into my life.
Get to know your surprising God!

Teaching in Hawai'i

Well, so far I have been teaching for four weeks and in some subjects I still feel like I am floundering around. I am not sure if my expectations are too high or if I really don't know what I am doing! I hope it's the expectations-too-high problem.
The weather has been beautiful. I think it was the warmest that it has been on Friday. I think my students thought they were going to die of heat stroke! It was really warm.
I am trying some new ideas to see if I can motivate one of my classes to actually want to learn what they are supposed to. I hope they work.
One thing that is easy for me to forget in all my busyness is that I need to be seeking out the Lord in all that I do. I need to remind myself daily that unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. I guess sometimes I feel as though I am laboring in vain.

PS. The word Howlie in one of my previous posts, I just found out, is actually spelled Haole!!!

I Hate Millipedes . . .

. . . and any other creepy-crawly that wants to climb into my bed!
True story. You know how when you get that "bugs-are-crawling-on-me" feeling and you reach down/up to scratch the spot and that usually takes care of it? Well, the other night I was happily sleeping away in my bed when something woke me up. I had that "bugs-are-crawling-on-me" feeling on my leg and shifted position to see if the itch would go away. It did not. So I reached down to scratch it when my hand closed over a millipede crawling up my leg - under my pajama pants! I don't think I went to sleep for the rest of the night! That is why I hate millipedes.
I guess in a place like Hawai'i there would have to be a downside. Bugs is definitely one of them!
Other than bugs though, my time here has been exciting and a blessing from the Lord. He is continually teaching me things that I thought I had already learned! Do you ever find yourself thinking that you've learned a particular lesson pretty well only to find out that you have only made a few scratches on the surface. That is me, here! I suppose that is one of the reasons for my exhaustion. I not only am teaching for the first time but God is teaching me new and deeper lessons on how He wants me to live my life.
I am so thankful for His faithfulness to me.