Yep, this blog post is long overdue. There, it's out there and acknowledged. No more denying it. Ha!
It's been hard for me to think about writing a blog post while in the US. I mean, would anyone even want to read it?! It'd be filled with a lot of the same thing...speaking engagements, playing with my nephews, school work, playing with my nephews, connecting with people, playing with my nephews, etc. Boring, right? Well, boring or not, that has been my life the past 6 months.
It hasn't all been boring. I've been able to reconnect with people that I haven't seen in a long time. Those times have been such a blessing! I love the body of Christ, where I'm able to go for long periods of time without seeing or talking with someone, only to be able to step back into those relationships and pick back up where we left off. No, not every relationship is like that, but I am thankful for the ones that are!
One of my highlights so far has really been playing with, reading to, and simply being around my nephews. It's so fun (and also quite tiring!) to be with them almost every day and watch them learn and grow. Grahm (the youngest) is speaking a lot more than when I first arrived and it's so fun! Caden continues to amaze me at the things he learns and remembers - on numerous topics! Since I've been living with them, I get to see them regularly, which is great. It'll definitely be hard to leave them when I go back to Prague!
The one year anniversary of Grandma's death was last week. Being here and not seeing her has been one of the weirdest, and at times, hardest things about being in the US. It just doesn't seem complete somehow. I've been back to the gravesite a few times, both to grieve and to remember her; often thinking of her and praying. One thing I learned from her is the importance of prayer. I'm humbled to know that even without Grandma, Grandpa has continued their tradition of praying for each of us each day. May I learn to carry that same mantle.
My time in the US has also been filled with school work. But, the exciting thing about that is that I am now in my last quarter! If all goes well, I will finish in March. It has been such a blessing to study again, and I have learned so much, but I'm also getting to the end of my patience with paper-writing! :) This quarter, I am taking a class entitled "Self-Care for Missionaries." I am really excited to be able to take this class, as I know it will (and already has!) provide some valuable tools and helpful information for me as I return to Prague.
Speaking of returning to Prague, I've had a number of people ask me when that will be. I wish I could tell you for sure, but at this point I can't. My hope is to return in March sometime; however, it is dependent on my support level. At this point, I am at 51% so I have a ways to go. While this is discouraging for me at times, I am trying to rest in the knowledge that God is aware of the need and that he is in control.
I'm sure there is much more that I could say, but I'll just leave you with a few pictures from my time Stateside instead. Enjoy (and thanks for reading!).
It's been hard for me to think about writing a blog post while in the US. I mean, would anyone even want to read it?! It'd be filled with a lot of the same thing...speaking engagements, playing with my nephews, school work, playing with my nephews, connecting with people, playing with my nephews, etc. Boring, right? Well, boring or not, that has been my life the past 6 months.
It hasn't all been boring. I've been able to reconnect with people that I haven't seen in a long time. Those times have been such a blessing! I love the body of Christ, where I'm able to go for long periods of time without seeing or talking with someone, only to be able to step back into those relationships and pick back up where we left off. No, not every relationship is like that, but I am thankful for the ones that are!
One of my highlights so far has really been playing with, reading to, and simply being around my nephews. It's so fun (and also quite tiring!) to be with them almost every day and watch them learn and grow. Grahm (the youngest) is speaking a lot more than when I first arrived and it's so fun! Caden continues to amaze me at the things he learns and remembers - on numerous topics! Since I've been living with them, I get to see them regularly, which is great. It'll definitely be hard to leave them when I go back to Prague!
The one year anniversary of Grandma's death was last week. Being here and not seeing her has been one of the weirdest, and at times, hardest things about being in the US. It just doesn't seem complete somehow. I've been back to the gravesite a few times, both to grieve and to remember her; often thinking of her and praying. One thing I learned from her is the importance of prayer. I'm humbled to know that even without Grandma, Grandpa has continued their tradition of praying for each of us each day. May I learn to carry that same mantle.
My time in the US has also been filled with school work. But, the exciting thing about that is that I am now in my last quarter! If all goes well, I will finish in March. It has been such a blessing to study again, and I have learned so much, but I'm also getting to the end of my patience with paper-writing! :) This quarter, I am taking a class entitled "Self-Care for Missionaries." I am really excited to be able to take this class, as I know it will (and already has!) provide some valuable tools and helpful information for me as I return to Prague.
Speaking of returning to Prague, I've had a number of people ask me when that will be. I wish I could tell you for sure, but at this point I can't. My hope is to return in March sometime; however, it is dependent on my support level. At this point, I am at 51% so I have a ways to go. While this is discouraging for me at times, I am trying to rest in the knowledge that God is aware of the need and that he is in control.
I'm sure there is much more that I could say, but I'll just leave you with a few pictures from my time Stateside instead. Enjoy (and thanks for reading!).
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| Hanging out with college friends |
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| Hiking in Hocking Hills |
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| Family pictures |
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| Grahm enjoying "Pete the Parrot" - the parrot I use when teaching children in Prague |
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| Caden telling the Christmas story |
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| Returning to Hocking Hills in the winter |
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| Connecting with friends (like Bethany in DC) |
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| I even made it to a Christmas market! (Philadelphia) |
Stacy! I love to read your posts and will be praying for you as you raise support.
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