I "think" we have a house

Yesterday, Derek and I went and looked at another place. Derek is pretty much amazing. He has spent hours touring around with agents, co-workers and friends trying hard to find a place that will make us happy. He did...I stressed him out so much, and was a royal brat.

Our friend Amy helped us find a "villa" near our church. It's new and has never been lived in. It's 2 bedrooms, one "laundry room," bathroom and open kitchen/living room. This might sound amazing, but keep in mind America is the only place in the world that believes in large living spaces. For the two of us, it is good.

We plan on filling it with a couch gifted by our lovely friend Audrey, a piano we hope to find with our friend Nancy, an oven for me and other gifts we find next door at the recycling center.

The best aspect of the apartment is that it's next door to church and the view from the roof is good. I hope to have access year round to the roof for a special place/quiet place.

Our expectations are constantly shifting and I am learning humilty through this experience. I'm thankful for that...

On another note...the lovely women of women's group threw me a surprise lingerie shower last night, complete with poems and a "panty line" where each girl held underwear significant to special days in our marriage. They were very kind and very generous. They gifted me jewelry for our wedding day and a photo frame that they all wrote lovely messages on. Sweetness...

Home in 10 days!

we HAD our first home...

A friend of Derek's sent him a message this week saying "whatever you expect and plan for in marriage, the opposite will happen...when you try not to have kids, you will. When you try to have kids, it won't be easy...jobs, houses, etc..."

The depth of those honest words are ringing true for Derek and I right now. The house that was "our version of perfect" is no longer hours. Due to some financial conflicts with our schools, we are no longer getting the house (really apartment, but considered a house here in Korea.) Because we are not "yet" married, my future school is not willing to put a deposit down on a house for Derek and I to live in together when we come back to Korea. Instead, they think it best for us to live in 2 SEPARATE APARTMENTS for the year...our first year of marriage.

Not going to happen for us. So, back to the drawing board. Derek is out looking for apartments today...with the amount of money we are being given, it will be small, it won't be our "vision" but as Derek keeps reminding me, we will have each other. God has purpose in this disappointment. He is teaching us to rely on him and to honor his wisdom and plan in our lives. I'm trying to hold on to that truth. I'm struggling. I'm realizing more and more that I have a desire to be a wife that builds a home and, to be honest, is southern in her ways. Need to be working on letting those expectations fall away and instead allowing Jesus to work in and through me to love on this wonderful man.

Hope to write soon about our "next" home.

10 days and I'll be in the states...haven't started packing up my apartment. I have to move across town in the next few days, celebrate Derek's birthday, check off a million other things on my list and make sure that I can get my visa to come back to Korea. Whew...your prayers would be greatly received in this time.

His love and mine,
the soon-to-be Mrs.

WE HAVE OUR FIRST HOME!!!

We have found our first home!!!

When you think about what your first year of marriage will look like, you might imagine your first home with the colored walls you've always wanted and all of the new shiny things from your registry nestling in. 

When you think about your first year of marriage in a foreign country, you drop all of those expectations and learn to be creative. Your priorities shift to what do we think we can get to accommodate the essentials of sharing a life together...a couch...an oven...a bathtub! 

When Derek and I started looking for a place to live we went in looking for a couple of specific things. We wanted a seperate bedroom from a "main room" and a bathtub. We wanted a "big enough" living space to have our bible study and friends over and be comfortable. We wanted enough closet space for the two of us. 

Well, we got all of those things and then some! God's blessing and provision in this place goes beyond all of our prayers and into awe at his love and majesty and at his work in our lives. 

We will be near a couple of other married foreigners that go to our church. We are a 5 minute walk from church. On the 12th floor of a community development with 2 balcony's, 2 bedrooms, great living room, oven, ac, frig, bathtub, an "extra bedroom for closet space," and other great gifts, like a free couch! 

So, we are incredibly excited about this new place and where we are going to spend our first year of marriage. 

Side note: This place is available to us August 20th. Derek returns to Korea August 21st. He's going to move in and when I get back August 29th, I'm coming straight home to my hubby in our new home! 

Married life is looking Ni-suh in Korea!  

Went on a field trip with my school yesterday. We (me, and 3 Korean teachers) took over 20 kids, western ages 4-6, to a WATER PARK! This is where you have to ask...what were you thinking. In the meeting before we left, I was instructed several times "not to lose my kids." Well, I didn't. I was scared that they would drown while I blinked, but the water park requires everyone to wear safety vests. No drowning kids, but lots and lots of blood. Kids fall down, a lot. Add water, you get more wipeouts, more blood and more tears.


Highlights:
-my kids were 7 korean age - meaning - they have been my students for almost a year and can speak a fair amount of English.
-red light/green light works at keeping kids on a leash.
-hired photographer following us around all day making us feel like celebrities
-being outside between the hours of 9-6 on a weekday
-having my kids tell me that my legs look like "chichi" aka boobs. ?!?
-having a 4 year old position me so that he could crawl into my lap and take a nap. Cutest think yet.

It's the Final Countdown!!

37 days before you meet

Derek and Anlee Fekkes

23 days before I'm in 

America

16 days left at 

Isponge

Be glorified Father, in all things.