When no words are neccessary…

I think sometimes the greatest realizations are found in complete silence. Or perhaps only the sound of laughter. I am reminded again and again that this is true. I know there are many people that teach children for the joy in knowing that they have perhaps built up an intellect that can not be pushed down. I do hope that that would be the end result for most of my kids, sure. But, I think that along with an education, that values and relationships be built as well.

Leaving the seriousness of the conversation behind for a little while. Yesterday I had perhaps the most gratifying 20 minutes of my life lately. As I walked towards the kitchen at school to wash one of my bowls from dinner, I had to wait in line behind another teacher from our pre-school to use the sink. I sat down on the bench in the waiting area of the pre-school to relax until I could use the sink, when along came Holly.  

Holly is a young girl about the age of 6. She is smart, and just learning English. She is also the daughter of the pre-school manager. I often have tickle boughts with Holly in the hallway for no apperent reason. It is often uninentionally the center of attention, and is most often frowned upon by the adults, because they think she is only bothering me. It is often quite a saticfying meeting for both her and I. Often playing around with her, making her laugh and smile and throwing her in the air can be pretty much the only thing that makes either of us happy for the day. I say this only because yesterday, we laughed, tickled, rubbed noses, and just plain had fun chasing each other around for over twenty minutes only using maybe 5 real words of conversation. Mostly questions on my end that she would wag a positive or negative answer in my direction before running straight on full force at me, charging in hopes that I would throw her back in the air. She has to stay late because her mom is in charge, and I stay late for Korean lessons. It’s a perfect match to rid those long day work blues.

I take joy in knowing that little or no conversation needs to be had in order to communicate with another human being, young or old. I have had the pleasure in realizing this truth many times here in Korea, in which there need be no words to communicate to another human being what you are wanting to communicate. At some point it becomes less about what the words are, and what you are truely seeking. In that I find some peace.

My Birthday…

Praise be to God for this completely wonderful Birthday weekend!  I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I was surrounded by fantastic people who have been a positive force lately.

Friday night we went out with the Korean teachers. We had Sam Gaup Sal…which is barbequed pork. It was very fun, and tasty. Then we proceeded to a Noray Bong (Karaoke room). I was worried that no one would be excited about singing and being a dork…and I was completely wrong…the girls from work were first class Noray Bong champs!!! The rest of us were in for a treat, and treat we got. Korean pop stylings and three 5 foot 4klg girls dancign and singing to “Tell me, Tell me”! hahaha. Russell serenaded us to the likings of Gangsters Paradise with Jeremey…and even Josh Groban snuck his way in the count down.

The night slowed down when we all headed over to WA Bar over by our apartments. We met up with everyone from church there. There were a lot of people having drinks in the bar that we knew, it was really cool! We ended the night with the the Korean girls sticking it out like champs, we were the last people to leave, which they almost never do. It was a good night.

I proceeded to get sleep at 4am. 

About 9:30 I woke up, against my will to my body ringing that lovely internal clock.

About 11ish Christina and I headed to Costco to pick up the month supply of foreign foods.

Around 6pm about 18 of my friends gathered together for a Birthday dinner at TGI Friday’s.

They brought a cake, and ate merrily together for a couple hours. The Korean wait staff and manager playing guitar and bongo’s singing the Korean TGI’s Birthday song.

Then, most proceeded to the pool hall a couple floors above us, and played pool for a couple of hours. There were many heated games of pool, and many hearts broken by the unsavory flavor of defeat…

After the fatigue set in, we headed to Josh and Kelly’s for one last round of drinks and company. We talked our hearts about everything and everything as the night quickly settled. It   wittled down to the seven of us the speed scrabble pieces came out.

One last game was played. Some furniture was moved, and we said our good byes.

I headed back to my apartment, sad, and also completely filled. God had provided what I was afriad would be a rather lonely weekend. Especially after last years piano bar, boa filled 26th birthday with my best friends in Chicago.

I am truely blessed.

Thank you again to all that made this weekend a Happy Birthday!

I am truely THANKFUL for YOU ALL. LOVE YOU ALL!

post #21

Simple,

Overcoming lord, I am amazed at your grace.

You show me love, you show me grace that can not be obtained.

I was bought, you paid a price, the ultimate sacrifice,

Can I meet you in this place, where I can say…

Oh lord, oh lord, sanctify me, make me whole, make me free

I have been hanging on every word, for so long,

I can’t be heard, I can’t be seen…

I wait for you, for you to carry me,

New Music…

I have spent the last three hours putting together and rearranging my myspaces so that I could display my new music on them. Please please go check them out if you have a few minutes…and I will promise to write something of substance very very very very soon…lots to blog…just losing track of time…that’s all…

there is a link to the right here that you can connect to my music page from…

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In the list…

In the list of things that should be done, I often fight the lists order. So at this moment when reading and studying should be on the top of that list, music and blogging take the steal for first. Sometimes it’s a mad dash to say something, and sometimes it’s just time. Now I guess is just one of those times.

I figured it was about time to reflect on the past couple months dragging the rest of the year in tow with it. By this, I would like to examine the year at large, and simply take a collection of moments that I am thankful for.

I guess to properly start. I have to slide back to approximitely longer than a year ago. In the fall of 2005 i was working for a theatre that I love more than most, but cannot stand to remain one of its pillars. It’s hard, but I thank God for giving me, one, a friend who has been with me through thick and thin, who was there for the whole mess. God bless this person, abundantly. I soon there after moved to the windy city with some friends who lovingly opened their couch for my sleeping pleasure for a month, in which I will always be greatful. Chicago was a force, and place to be rekoned with, and I was walking through the storm.

Shortly after I found my place, which another friend of mine was more than helpful in the process helping me financially get off the couch.  For that trust, I am greatly blessed, and for Gods great blessing on me, I didn’t make a fool of myself. I lived and worked, and fell behind in life, unmotivated by life for many months enjoying and fighting the company of another lovely person in my life. Although life seems to throw curveballs, we have to hang back sometimes, and take the strike, and get back in the box. And that we did.

Fast forwarding a little. In the middle of June, after many changes had occured, I was on a plane to the other side of the planet. In which I now reside. I have officially been in South Korea for almost 7 months, and time is flying. I have been tested, thrown, andtried many times. I am still standing, wobbly at best sometimes, but still moving. God has walked me through each step of the way. I have returned to a walk that not many truely have the chance to take. I am enjoying the bittersweet opportunity to salvage the remains of mistakes and heart breaks, and the muck that life has throw my way. I will not, EVER, say that those things were not my fault. I have learned the importance of taking responsibility of my crap.

I am happily enjoying the new place God has put me. I am still sad for the place in I had to leave in order to get to where I am now. I look forward for the months to come. I also look forward to the months to come.

I pray I have the strength the carry on in the direction I am moving towards.

I am thankful for you. Thank YOU. You oh Lord are the anchor of my ship, the rock on which I step in faith. In you Lord I have been provided for.