Gracias a Dios

One year ago today I said "I will go."

I was sitting at my desk at Hayward Elementary School,

it was lunchtime and the room was empty and dark.

I was on the phone with a woman named Krista.

I had never met her.

I had never been to her school

or her country.  

I had, of course, talked to

my parents,

my brother & sister,

my closest friends,

and most importantly

the Lord.

I said "I will go" and I am glad I did.

Not because it's been easy or fun or perfect.

Not because it's been warm all year or because

21 kiddos learned to speak English.

I'm glad I did because

I believe this is an opportunity the Lord put in front of me

and He gave me enough bravery to say

"I will go".  

I've been thankful for a lot this year.  

He is some of my gratitude lately...

I'm thankful for crazy, wild, and loud birthday parties in my classroom.  

for a wee-little neighbor who does my hair for free :)

I'm grateful for a bible study that 

cooks, eats, laughs, cries, reads, and learns together.  

for boys who are goofy, risky, and very smart.  

Thank you God for wiggly baby teeth and Kindergarten selfies.

[who gave this girl my password?…]

for a mama that I can be honest with [and a blog for that matter]

and for situations that stretch me.

I'm thankful for friends that steal my camera 

and for a blog to post embarrassing pictures on ;)

for nights spent with family and for my spanish that,

although is not as great as I wish,

IS improving.  

I'm oh-so-grateful for sweet and innocent dreams.

Here I am.

A teacher and Young Life leader 

at Doulos Discovery School

in the Dominican Republic.

I'm so glad the Lord got me here,

and I can't wait to see what else He has in store for me.

I really hope it involves being a barista…

What do you want to be when you grow up?!