Gracias a Dios

Gratitude lately

for little ones who teach me so much about 

forgiveness and unconditional love

for the gusto to try new things

and the little neighbor girl who tell me I look good

for children who inspire me by hopping a fence and 

flying their kite in outfield

for the chance to celebrate and serve a woman who treated

me so well during the biggest transition of my life

for an apartment full of sweet kiddos 

who remind me to play

for glue sticks, cute fabric and a happier classroom

for Saturday basketball games and spring weather

for my Greca and my favorite smell  

for iced coffee, Pinterest, handmade tables, and Saturday mornings

for friends who do life together, double hammocks, 

and coffee that reminds me of home

What have you been grateful for lately?  

Sonrisa

When I was preparing to move I cried often.

Not because I was dreading where I was going,

but because it was a big transition and there was a lot to leave.

I once made the comment to my parents,

after saying goodbye to a friend,

"It went well, I only cried twice."

My dad would not have it.

"Morgan!  If you are going to count the number

of times you cry,

than you need to count the number of times you smile."

Thanks dad.  

It was true.  

Why do the times that I cry stand out so much more than the times I smile?

It's silly.  

So hear I am, 

calling out those smiles.  

I find myself smiling at the cute toys my kiddos 

bring to school.

[note the rule: you cannot bring toys to school]

I smile during late night baking sessions,

and when I see grandma's old apron hanging on our kitchen wall.

I have been smiling at the mountains as I walk 

down the hill to Cofre 

to buy more avocados and shelf stable milk.  

I've smiled when students end up in my apartment 

and think it's amazing that I have...

a] books for them to read

b] a cinderella barbie in my room

c] a baseball field in my backyard 

I have been smiling as I leave Skype dates feeling 

energized and connected to people I love.  

I smiled during a project weekend with my friends 

Curt & Alicia,

and I smile as I watch my new room come together.

I smile as I thank countless people for rides around this island,

selfless friends I have.  [ Plankenhorns ;) ]

I smile during every single episode of "Parenthood"

especially when we watch it on the projector!  

And I find myself smiling with my roomies 

Lorriane & Heather

during shared meals and house projects.

I smiled last week when we were served our

chinola y fresa drinks in FANCY glasses

and I pretty much always end up smiling with I'm with these girls.

I also end up smiling during our after school workouts,

always entertaining…

[think P90X yoga, the butt bible, and TurboFire] 

This week:

Smiles - 525 [rough estimate]

Cries - 4 

not even a close fight.  

What have you been smiling about lately?  

It's better to count the smiles than the cries.  

My dad taught me that :)  

Weakness

I have loved this week off from teaching.

It has been good.

Different?

Yes.

But very good.

I've planned, blogged, researched, and 

enjoyed wonderful people.  

So good.

BUT

I've felt:

achy, tired, unproductive, grouchy, negative, sad, sloppy…

It's just been one of those weeks

when you feel off.

You know what I mean?

That in itself is NOT a bad thing.

BUT 

when my bible study was walking

into an english speaking Ash Wednesday service 

I was carrying all those feelings with me.

Through the scripture readings and songs I was having trouble

connecting with the Lord.

I was feeling guilty about myself and my week.

Sometimes I slip into believing the lie 

that God only wants me when I'm "strong".

When I'm:

well liked, busy, productive, organized, happy, energized, helpful, 

encouraging, healthy, put together…

lies.

In the middle of the Ash Wednesday service I was reminded of 

a YL leader retreat from a few years ago.

It was ALL about weakness.

And how the Lord uses our weakness.

I had forgotten that.

That Ash Wednesday service was such a sweet time with the Lord

AFTER I remembered how much He loves me

in the middle of my mess.  

What lies do you catch yourself believing sometimes?  

I dare you to talk about them with a trusted friend today. 

Gracias a Dios

It's raining.

The sound of drops of water hitting the tin roof

mixed with Audrey Assad's soothing voice

is putting me in a nice place.  

You may ask, 

"Why is Morgan listening to rain,

enjoying Audrey Assad,

and writing a blog post at 9:12am on a Monday?"

Good question.

Because of her.

Hannah [aka Miss Foil] is our elementary intern.

She is spending each month of this semester 

in different classrooms at Doulos.

February was Kindergarten!!

And this week she is full time teaching my kiddos.

So fun, right?!

That means I am spending this week being self motivated

to GET THINGS DONE.

Pray for me.

Please.

I'm trying to have my next 5 weeks planned and ready.  

I can do it.  

Beginning with that,

I've been grateful for a lot lately.

Thank you Lord, for heart shaped pizzas, 

traditions that can cross oceans,

and roommates that think I'm crazy.

for freshly sharpened pencils

and parents who think to send them

I'm grateful for friends and family

that take time to connect with me,

and the creators of Skype and FaceTime.  

for bold makeup,

bold clothes,

and bold people.

I'm so thankful Lord, 

for slow quiet mornings 

full of coffee, mountains, whispers, my favorite blanket and reading.

[you were extremely missed Erin]

for Friday night Ballet,

watching teachers support their students,

and seeing talent develop.  

Thank you for new shoes bought in Jarabacoa that, 

as funny as it may seem, 

help this place feel even more like home.

for mugs with South Dakota churches on them

and the smile that puts on my face.

What have you been grateful for lately?  

Tell me!  

Please?

Doulos Blog [guest post]

So I wrote a guest post on the Doulos blog.

I know right…

ME a guest writer?!

Silly silly Doulos.  

Check it out because

a] you are interested

or

b] you know that I am interested 

or

c] you are really interested in stars and reading  

Either way…

Check it out! 

Doulos Blog [Reading Under the Stars]

Thanks folks.

I love ya too :) 

Gracias a Dios

Life lately has been full of laughter and tears.

There has been really good times.

There has been really sad times.  

I've let tears fall in the grocery store looking for pepperoni.

I've laughed on the side of a mountain with good friends.

I've sobbed talking to my family on FaceTime.  

I've giggled with my roommates late at night.

I've quietly cried talking with my boss on the street.  

I've laughed hard at the lunch table with coworkers.  

I'm realizing that this is life here,

at least for now.

It's quite amazing in the midst of being extremely difficult.

I'm finding that walking around this town 

gives me the chance to really dwell on the goodness of this place.

I am grateful for so much.  

Will you walk with me for a moment?  

[I promise I won't cry…] 

Thank you Lord for birthday celebrations,

chocolate cake, and simple gifts.  

Thank You for thoughtful and generous parents 

who surprise me and show me so much LOVE.

for Young Life, warm nights, 

basketball courts in the middle of town,

and leaders here and there that inspire me to chase You.  

Thank you God for these women who make this place 

feel a little more like home,

and for eating crap on my [BIG!] bed.  

for baseball and the way that it reminds me of You. 

[strange, right?]

for window curtains, a moto helmet, and a shower curtain 

all lent to me by selfless friends.  

Thank you Jesus for students who 

look adorable hold a baseball bat,

put a smile on my face,

and give me a run for my money.

for a trip to Santiago for groceries, house things, 

and of course sweet frog.  

It might seem like life would be perfect living on an island.

It isn't.

It surely is wonderful, 

but along with that it is incredibly hard too.  

I'm choosing to be grateful in it all.  

What have you been grateful for lately?  

Tour [the big move]

I am all moved!

When you are a new teacher at Doulos,

you live with a Dominican family for at least the first month.

After the first month, you can decide how long to stay.

It is wonderful to live with a family to help with

the culture and language, among other perks.  

I lived with my family for 7 months.

It was truly unforgettable.

My family was the perfect fit for me as I transitioned into this culture.

I cannot express how much I love and appreciate them.

[my new room before painting]

Some friends of mine (2 single girls) had an open bedroom 

in their apartment, and they offered it to me.

Throughout this year I would spend at least one evening a week

at their house watching "Parenthood" and making apple cider.

After Christmas break I told him I'd love to move in :)

[picking out paint colors]

It was a really hard and really wonderful move,

as I'm sure most moves probably are for people.

I was really going to miss living with my family, 

but I was so excited to live with friends again!

As the weeks passed…

My roommates and I painted my new room a 

beautiful gray...

… and I pinned tons of room ideas on pinterest :)

[I would love to build this bed frame]

The night before moving day

my family and I dressed up and drove the 4 wheeler to dinner.

It was a wonderful evening.

We went to the Columbian restaurant and it was SO yummy.

You should go.  

Soon.

I also received a sweet note and dessert.  

Again, my family is so wonderful. 

The next day was moving day!

Lexie dropped me off after school so I could finish up packing.

We made promises to keep in touch about the actual moving plans…

enter… power outage.

I packed up and assumed someone would show up to move me.

2 hours later, Lexie shows up.

That's how things seem to go here…

powers out… dead phone… no minutes… car breaks down…

yet somehow things get done.

weird.

Anyway, we packed everything up into Lexie's car.

[threw the back doors since her hatch wouldn't open]

Off we went, down the Avenida, to my new casa...

enter… stray dog

Sometimes stray dogs like to just chill in the street here.

Bad idea.

There were about 4 motos to our right, and a median to our left.  

There was no where for us to swerve.

Well, you probably can guess what happened… 

We eventually made it to my new home,

but with so many emotions.

Excited, sad, disturbed… 

[The picture above is Lexie and I after arriving at the new place]

After arriving, we got straight to baking.

[that makes sense, right?]

We had seen a picture of Elephant Ear Bread on pinterest,

and we couldn't say no.

Lexie, Alicia, Lorraine, and I got pretty close I'd say!

#PinterestSuccess 

Thanks to Curt and Dan I had my wonderful bed to sleep in my first night!

It.was.fantastic.  

Anyone have ideas on how to spruce up my room??

Let me know!

I am now officially moved and loving it! 

Thank you again for everyone who has supported me in this.

Whether you invest in my salary

or you carried my bed up a spiral staircase,

Thank you :) 

What funny / sad / crazy moving stories do you have?!

No, really, I want to know...