Monday's with Mary

Monday's with Mary...God has blessed me so richly with a great friend here in Korea. (He has placed many special people in my life during my season here.)

Monday's with Mary began a couple of months ago. Each week we get together and just be friends and sisters in Christ. She is encouraging, loving, wise and graceful and gracious. Her heart shines through and she is filled with the love of Christ that she showers on whoever is around her. I can't help but be filled up in my time with Mary, and the blessings she gives me touches everyday of my week. At times, I can look over at Mary and for some unknown reason start laughing. This laughing continues on until it becomes a "scene." Others will just look on wondering what the heck is so funny. Mary and I usually don't know, either, but can't stop laughing.

Like C.S. Lewis says so eloquently,

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”

Mary found a great notebook that echoed Lewis's sentiments. It read,

To like and dislike the same things. That is indeed true friendship. When a friend speaks to me, whatever he says is interesting. There is nothing of this earth more proved than true friendship. We have such a frienship that is given to very few. nothing can come between true friends.

(Keep in mind this is Konglish. My grammar isn't that bad...it's a direct quote!)

So, I'm thankful for Monday's with Mary...

Forget the degree!!!

I'm going to open a bookstore someday!!! I sat here for 5 minutes after posting the last blog and came up with a perfect vision and floorplan, with fresh flowers, big potters, customized bookshelves, metal light fixtures, pictures from local artists, a children's section, bay windows, yard sale finds and yummy biscuits and tea! DONE.

Now saving every spare penny...

Poly Sci Degree?!? How useful is that??

Careers for a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science: As stated on degreedirectory.com...

The most common jobs for graduates with a bachelor's degree in Political Science are paralegal, administrative assistant, retail store manager, legal assistant, executive assistant, corporate paralegal, claims adjuster, examiner or investigator, intelligence analyst, non-profit program coordinator and marketing manager. Some of these careers, such as intelligence analyst and non-profit program coordinator use many of the skills learned while earning a degree in Political Science. Other jobs use the basic skills gained through a typical liberal arts education.

Absolutely none of these occupations sound even remotely intriguing to me...sad day...

I think I am experiencing a mid-life crisis at age 24. I have no idea what I am going to do with my life once I get back to what life is outside of Korea. I'm freaking out a bit. Today, I spent hours pouring over jobs online and simply was not excited about anything out there...I have ambition and dreams, but ... how to turn those into satisfying and supporting work? There is also this looming word hanging over my thoughts called "compromise..." Is compromise something I am going to have to do?!? Will I have to be satisfied just to have a job and not one that brings my passions to life or that really uses me as a servant to the Lord and the Body?

If anyone would like to fund my dream of being a bookstore owner, feel free. I will be saving for the rest of my life to possibly see it become a reality by the END of my life!

-Confused and Frustrated in Seoul, South Korea
Anlee

Floating Sleep

I have found that sleeping peacefully - for me - is a reflection of experiencing a peaceful day. If I end my waking day with anxiety, my sleep is usually anxious. If the day is consumed by unknowns, I can usually expect to find myself running around chasing after something completely unattainable. And when the day contains something fearful or scary, my dreams take on the shape of nightmares.

Sleep for me last night felt like floating on a cloud. It wasn't too deep of sleep, the kind that leaves you with a sleep hangover. It wasn't too lite. It was just right. I don't think I moved the entire night. The covers were half covering my face, the temperature wasn't too hot or too cold. I experienced my ideal sleep!! I woke up excited about the day and excited to go to school. I left early and went by the bakery across the street. I'm off to a running start today!

So, basic logic points to the premise that I must have experienced a really peaceful day yesterday. I DID!! A great guitar lesson with a great teacher, great conversation (with a handsome man), some yummy clam chowder (I now think clam chowder is yummy), a good and productive day at school, SPRING weather, skype calls, long emails from friends, and being in the presence and joy of JESUS!

Friday - Saturday

This past weekend was a jam-packed weekend of birthday fun!! Cam, aka squirrel, turned 24 on Friday. We celebrated by eating some yummy curry and watched the movie Brothers Bloom. Saturday, we began another day of celebrations. We ventured into Seoul for Cam's birthday dinner with some of her students. We ate at the All American Diner in Itaewon. Yep, it definitely was all american. Grease and Ranch...I have officially met my quota of how much I can "try" to stomach beef. I don't know if I can manage the strength to eat a cow again after seeing Derek attempt to eat 16 ounces of smashed cow. Cam's student's treated us to lunch, nice students, and we made our way to Yeoido where the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

Yeoido is home to the world's largest church, 80,000 members plus! The church seems to take up several city blocks. The cherry blossoms were beautiful and set the scene along the Han river. Derek and Kahle enjoyed a game of hacky-sack and Cam and I enjoyed our newly purchased floppy hats.


After a 2 hour bus ride back to Ansan, we met up with Adam for his housewarming/birthday party. He has the most amazing apartment I have been to yet! He lives in the tallest building in Ansan and has an amazing view of the city. Plus his apartment came with curtains. At the party, we met new people and enjoyed the company of Jack, Adam and Melidy's dog.

Sunday was a day of blessings. I have this amazing man in my life that I am blessed to share conversations, McDonald's, and life with. It's great to spontaneously dance on the sidewalk waiting for the bus or to look over at him and see someone who is becoming my best friend. Jam session Sunday night was a lot of fun! Badejo (from Nigeria), Mary (from NC) and I had a lot of fun trying to find harmonies in the songs that Derek picked out. Great times that I wish you all could come and experience with me!

Book this week: Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. c h e c k i t o u t ! !

Looking forward to Monday's

Good Monday Morning... What is your Monday morning outlook? Are you fare and warm, frosty and cold, rainy and lazy or sunny and bright? I am usually a combination of cloudy, rainy, windy, stormy, with pockets of sunshine determined to break through.

This is no way to greet a classroom full of eager students ready to play with their friends and release pent up energy from their weekend at home. I want to be excited for Monday to arrive. And I want to carry that excitment through the week. Lately, I have been living for Friday's. Again, no way to live.

So, I am determined to draw on the Lord's strength and joy to enjoy his day everyday and not just the weekend's, which while fun are often times just as busy as the work week.

Yesterday, I really received blessings from the Lord. Being so abundantly aware of and walking, speaking, believing in his hope and grace built me up in excitement and awe of the work he is doing in my life. He is using some really amazing people to continue to reveal his heart to me - He is so determined to win all of me and not just the "parts" that I choose to give him. I love my jealous God! Explaining those good works would take an infinite blog post, so I have decided to write out my testimony. I have typed it up a couple of times, in those situations where I was being called on to share the intimacy and power that has been revealed to me in my relationship with the Lord. But, my testimony, the work and life of Christ in me, is a life story of pursuit and grace. I'm committing myself to writing about His presence in my life each day. I want to own this beautiful love story as my own, to be ready to share it with others and to draw strength from seeing the Lord's great love for me.

My prayer is that each of you know how dearly loved you are and how very thankful I am for you. You bless me by your love and support.

Happy Monday Morning!!!

What the future entails...

Here's the Big News!!


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I'm staying in Korea another year. I'm currently looking for a position in another city, where both Church, womens group, bible study, guitar lessons, friends and Derek are all located. I am wanting to work in a public school - middle or high school. I'm excited for the opportunity to work with older students in a classroom setting and to challenge myself as a teacher, growing in knowledge of young people and reteaching myself basic grammar. I feel confident that I will be able to find a school and community that will be an encouraging experience. I want to encourage you guys to pray with me that I would first and foremost seek God in the decisions I make in my life so as to live for him and not for myself!!

:::COMING HOME:::

My plan right now, (and subject to change), is to leave Korea on August 13th heading towards Seattle to visit Derek and his home. (He will be home on vacation.) I'm really excited about meeting his friends and family and really hope it works out!
Then, I'm off to Texas to meet Amanda's family, Roxie and Graham!
Onward to Atlanta! Friends, family and beloved Scottie (my dog). I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!!! I am requesting now that you put in your vacation notices, because I am going to want to see all of you. Most importantly, MY BEST FRIEND IS GETTING MARRIED! So, I get to be a slave to her for missing her engagement and being an MIA bridesmaid.

Keep in mind this is MY plan and always subject to change unto HIS plan!!!

There once was in man a true happiness of which now remain to him only the mark and empty trace, which he in vain tries to fill from all his surroundings, seeking from things absent the help he does not obtain in things present. But these are all inadequate, because the infinite abyss can only be filled by an infinite and immutable object, that is to say, only God himself.

Pascal, Pensees

24 or 25?

Today I am 24 in most of the world and 25 here in Korea. What have I learned in 24 years...good question. I've learned that I am blessed with a Savior that delights in me and is the love of my life. I have a family that is encouraging, loving and supportive. Friends that are blessings, the most amazing dog in the world and what it's like to love and care for a beautiful, God-seeking man.

I love birthdays! I love celebrating someone's special day, thinking about what makes them "them" and creating a day that honors them. I can't remember all of my birthday's, but some do stick out.

When I was 13 I hosted all of my friends a surprise party. I figured the favor would be returned, but later began to doubt it. So, I begged my dad for a "surprise party." My dad continuously shrugged me off. However, I persevered until the evening of my birthday when still no surprise. Being the brat that I was (notice past tense), I made sure that I was not looking appealing for anyone's attention and therefore not likely to participate in a "family party." My brothers wanted to go to the skating rink and my dad tried to convince me to go with him and "hang out." Again, not likely. We ended up getting into a huge fight until I was "forced" to go. I went and walked in sulking to my SURPRISE PARTY! What a brat!

When I was 15 My parents gave me my first car! That car made many birthday's with me...When I was 18, I drove the car to Panama City Beach with some girlfriends for my birthday.

19-20 are a blur, but 21 was great. One of the most special men in my life, Grandpa and Aunt Jo (one of the most special women in my life), came to visit me in Athens, took me for pizza and bought me a beautiful ring that is here with me in Korea and adorning my hand today! What is a better birthday than spending it with the man you love?

So, I didn't have a 21st birthday...instead my best friends in the entire world, who I seriously think have more insight into me than I do by far. One of them I'm pretty sure can read my mind...(Brooks). They decided that they would have a 21st-22nd birthday for me...this included my favorite birthday favors in THE WORLD! PIZZA HUT DEEP DISH PIZZA AND ICE CREAM CAKE!!! You can't have a birthday in my world without these essentials. Also included were my other guilty pleasures...wavy chips and dip, and I'm pretty sure I remember mac and cheese! My favorite birthday gifts, the kind that are homemade and a new journal! Seriously, i have the best friends in the world!!



23 they just kept it up! The girls organized a volley ball tournament complete with burgers and chocolate cupcakes...ummmummummm. My closet friends were there. It was great. I spent the rest of my birthday in Washington, D.C. trying to carve out my place in the world with my dream job. I walked around Jefferson and took endless pictures of the cherry blossoms...roadtripped back to North Carolina to that most special man in my life, Grandpa's. Spent the rest of my birthday with family that I love...I am a blessed girl.


So, that leads me to 24/25. My mom managed to surprise me with a gift that she left with Derek. Jewelry! Thanks mom!!!!! You are sneaky. Lucy and Nancy made me a feast of my favorite foods here in Korea and we watched happy feet. Anna, Nancy's 11 year old daughter gave me a facial! Derek spent the day with me, brought me flowers (my favorite), made me dinner and watched a movie.

It was hard being away from people that I love and are about on my birthday. It wasn't the same without all of you being there to talk to and to hear my grandmother sing happy birthday in a pitch that only dogs hear (mema), but I had a good time with a good looking man.

Easter and Goodbyes

Easter in Korea...Mom and I went to Dongsan Church on Easter Sunday. After, Derek, mom and I went into Seoul to Derek's favorite restaurant, Tomo Tillo (aka Best Mexican in Korean). We finished up Mom's shopping in Itaewon and had dessert. Ummmm the best dessert in Korea. A lot of bests. On mom's last night we stayed in and enjoyed each other. Mom said goodbye to Derek. It was really nice to share my mom and my boyfriend with each other. You learn a lot about the people you care about in how they interact and care for each other.


Lucky me I contracted the world's worst cold/throat infection just in time for mom's arrival. Couldn't even get the day off with a fever, but I did get to sport this amazing face mask where I was forced to inhale all of my own germs back into the infected throat they came out of...can you say genius! Mom definitely enjoyed walking around with me.


Micah treated our Bible study group and my mom to a traditional Korean meal. We enjoyed many things that I don't know the name for and dried fish, shrimp and squid pancakes, crab (whole) and blueberry and flowers salad. I enjoyed much more than I had anticipated. Here is the spread...


Mom boarded her jet plane yesterday afternoon. I already miss her. It's a bit lonely. I think having her here for two weeks really grew on me and now I'm a bit sad. She's still jumping airports trying to make it home. I'm sure she will be tired but happy to be home again. I will miss her and look forward to coming home again in August...Here we are in Seoul on Easter. Me and my mom.