Livin' in America

I've been getting emails from people saying 'Where are you? Did you make it back yet?'. My sincerest apologies for being MIA, although I'm sure everyone understands why. :-( Yes, I made it back to the States safely.

It's been surprisingly busy since then. Two days after I got here my friend, Mika (from Hokkaido) arrived and I was hanging out with her and my friend, Joni. We had a nice Japan reunion. Then a day or so later five other ladies from Hokkaido, including missionary Debbie Griffin, arrived for a week and we spent time with them. In between all the fun of running around Nashville I also had several doctors appointments and went to Georgia for a day (we spent more time in the car than anything else!). After my Japanese friends left I had one week before starting my part-time job at our International Missions home offices. I used that week to buy a car that I absolutely love. It was kind of scary, but it was the right move. Then I made a spontaneous trip to Huntsville, AL with my cousin and friend to rescue a cute little dog from a madwoman. Good times :-) Then I started working three days a week and also found out that I have rheumatoid arthritis. Oh, and most recently we had a wedding shower for my cousin, Heather, who is getting married June 2. I think that covers the big stuff, except for the hours I've spent looking at and applying for jobs in Chicago and graduate school applications and research. I'm tired.

I can't believe I left Japan almost a month ago. It's the strangest feeling in the world and I think I'll just not talk about it right now. To my friends in Japan, I love you and miss you. This transition for me is a lot about learning to be content in all circumstances I suppose. I've seen God provide many times already. He knows what I need, and don't need.

I hope I haven't lost too many of my readers from being absent this past month. If you've left...come back! But if you've left, you'll never know I wrote this, will you?

Serenity Prayer

I've heard about the Serenity prayer for years, but I've only heard one part of it. Here's the prayer in its entirety, maybe it will encourage you as it did me.

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and Wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with Him forever in the next."


If I had written it though, I wouldn't have used 'reasonably' happy. I think God wants more than reasonable happiness for us in this life. Either way, these are words of perseverance, faith, and hope in the love and plans of a Holy God.


Thought for the week:
きみは愛されるため生まれた....You were born to be loved.