"Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years at the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds."" Psalm 77:10-12

The year 2005 has been an interesting year. The shutting of certain doors in my life. The leaving of the foreign world that became home and family. The opening of different doors that I had not anticipated. The resettling in the States and then resettling again in SC. The many flights home and catching up on hugs that I have missed out on in the last 2 years. The many new friends and faces. The longing to see old friends and faces. The weddings. The changes. The studying. The much awaited Page Thanksgiving. And now the New Year is already here.

The last year has been discouraging, difficult, and also surpisingly delightful. Last night I was challenged to look back on my life and see what God has done...what is His track record with me? Though I am in a place now where tomorrow is a huge question mark and all is uncertain, I know in my head that He is going to lead where He wants me to be. He is forever good. Even when I don't believe it. He is forever kind. Even when I don't see it. He is forever loving. Even when I don't feel it. My feelings do not change the overwhelming and unchanging love of God for me...for all of us. I don't know what lies ahead in this next year. I know it has been almost a year since I started this blog...and I hope that the next year is full of more faith, more joy, and far more love.

As I challenge myself to consider what God has done...I hope you will also be challenged to consider it and be encouraged...He is good. Always.

Happy New Year. :)

This is Cori and I last year at the Paris-Dakar rally...if you notice in the background...we were in the desert. And you know something...there isn't really anything fun about a desert. It's hot...you feel like you are going to drown in the never-ending sand...you can't get enough water to satisfy...you constantly stumble as you walk on...and sand just gets everywhere. I guess what made it sweet was walking through it with a friend. But I still really don't like deserts...of any sort.

Merry Christmas! Finally, I got to play in the snow...my niece and I built a snowman yesterday before the rest of the family came over to celebrate Christmas...fun times.

And here is the snowman in finished condition. :) Isn't he cute?

It's all over. Tomorrow morning, I have to be out of my house and on the road! I'll be sticking around the Atlanta area for a few days to catch up with some friends...and then FINALLY heading home for Christmas break. :) If you happen to think on it...pray for Amy and me as we drive north on Tuesday and as I drive from Indianapolis to home on Wednesday...I hear that there is a lot of snow up north...I'm so excited!!! Lord willing, I'll be home for Christmas...and it will be a white Christmas! :)

Some of you have been writing and asking me where I have gone...did I fall off the face of the earth? On the contrary, I have just come up for some air...this last week or so has been one of the busier of my life...but very full of memories and fun times! I've been trying to spend a lot of time with my friends and here are some other things that have been going on...

Well, the chaos started with Bekah's birthday last week...

...and we had a surprise party for Bekah...here everyone is hunkered down in the kitchen waiting for Bekah to come in!

...and we had a little celebration for Hye-Youn's going away/bride to be...she is moving back to Korea next week. :( So we got some food to cook dinner...

and we went shopping for wedding/going away items for Hye-Youn. :)

...then we took Steph out to O'Charley's for her birthday...

Working...(our roomies came to visit us yesterday at work, so yes, this is at the infamous Chic-fil-A!)

And yes...even studying.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STEPH!!! :)

I got this in an email today and just loved it...so I wanted to let everyone see it and get a good chuckle. :) I've highlighted some of my favorites. :)

Remember when life was simple being a kid...You're an 80's child if...

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word "SIKE".
2. You watched (or owned one!) the Pound Puppies.
3. You can sing the rap to the "Fresh Prince of BelAir"
4. You wore biker shorts under your skirts and felt stylish.
5. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to start a club of your own.
6. You owned those lil Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.
7. You know that "WOAH " comes from Joey on Blossom.
8. Two words: M.C. Hammer
9. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock ".
10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars.
11. You can sing the entire theme song to "Duck Tales".
12. When it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
13. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
14. You saw the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" on the big screen.
15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.
16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
17. You played the game "MASH " (Mansion,Apartment,Shelter,House)
18. You wore Jordache jean jacket and you were proud
19. L.A. Gear....need I say more
20. You wanted to change your name to "JEM " in Kindergarten.
21. You remember reading "Tales of a fourth grade nothing " and all the Ramona books.
22. You know the profound meani ng of "WAX ON, WAX OFF"
23. You wanted to be a Goonie.
24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe)
25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off...
26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
27. You took Lunch Pails to school
28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BAN of snap bracelets.
29. You still get the urge to! say "NOT " after every sentence.
30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts
31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band.
32. You thought She-Ra and He-Man should hook up.
33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged friendship bracelets
34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes. (and like 24, probably in neon colors, too)
35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"
36. You remember "I've fallen, and I can't get up"
37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.
38. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
39. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
41. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.
42. You remember Popples.
43. "Don't worry, be happy "
44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks.
45. You wore socks scrunched down
46. "Miss MARY MACK MACK MACK, all dressed in BLACK BLACK BLACK "
47. You remember boom boxes vs. cd players.
48. You remember watching both "Gremlins " movies.
49. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!!
50. You remember watching Rainbow Bright and My Little Pony
51. You thought Doogie Howser was hot.
52. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
53. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool.
54. You knew all the characters names and t! heir life stories on "Saved By the Bell ", the ORIGINAL class.
55. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THRU THE HEART.
56. You just sang those words to yourself.
57. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
58. You cut your t-shirts in half and wore it with your homemade Levi shorts.. (the shorter the better)
59. You remember when mullets were cool!
60. You had a mullet!
61. You still sing "We are the World "
62. You "Pegged " your pants ritually. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head aren't you!!!
63. You french rolled your jeans.
64. You owned a banana clip
65. You know who said "Whatch you talkin bout fool!"
66. You ever walked like an Egyptian
67. TRAPPER KEEPERS
68. You ratted your bangs out 6 inches high
69. You almost took your siblings eye out with Lawn darts
70. You remember the "Where's the Beef" lady

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEKAH!!!

It has been an interesting, but wonderful weekend, and I have to admit that I am a bit sad to be back in SC...although, I hesitate to say that because I love my friends here and miss them when I am gone...but homesickness is the word of the month. I had a blast with my friends Brina, Susie, and her hubby Jim. Why interesting, you ask? Well, let me tell you a few things about the weekend....first off, my flight from SC left late...which gave me a grand total of 10 minutes to get from gate B22 to gate B7 in O'Hare airport...well...you know how when you are playing a sport and you get hurt but you make the play, so its worth it? Yeah, well, that happened to me. Here I was with this other guy running through the halls of O'Hare when he tells me in a huff to keep going and let them know he'd be there...so here I am running with a 30 pound pack on my back when all of a sudden I feel my ankle give out and down I go...now, I roll my ankles quite often...but the moment I got up and tried to run, I realized that this was more than just a little roll. It is a pretty nasty sprain that has made my ankle about twice it's size and some pretty colors since...but the beauty of it all? I made the flight. :) Barely. After that it was a lot of sweet time hanging out with my friends and catching up, eating well (Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream over a couple chick flicks while I iced my ankle was quite lovely)...and hanging out. It was a fun weekend. Oh, another lesson I learned this weeekend...when you have to pee and you are on a plane...go BEFORE the final descent of the airplane, because they REALLY will not let you go at that time!! Oh, and one final thing...this was sort of poetic justice...I saw snow for the first time in two years today...where? O'Hare Airport...the place where I went to leave America for 2 years. :) God is good...got us all home safely, even after freezing rain last night and an early morning and snow today. He's just good and that's all there is to it!

I am headed out in the morning for the land of Indy to catch up with my two close friends from college and to help throw the most fun baby shower ever. :) I am exhausted at this point, but wanted to leave you with a thought...I have been thinking a lot about "being called" to this or that...and ran across these two quotes in class tonight that I thought were interesting. :)

"Instead of, "You are what you do," calling says, "Do what you are."

and

"If you can tell where you got the call of God and all about it, I question whether you have ever had a call. The call of God does not come like that, it is much more supernatural."

Just thought those were interesting. I hope you all have a good weekend!