Reacquianted with Spring

Here are some pictures I took as I biked home yesterday; love the signs of new life.

Speaking of....

It's been far too long since I've written a post and I really have no excuses; it's just one of the things that often gets pushed to the bottom of the "to do" list. If I did make an excuse, course work would make the top of that list. Speaking of school... I'm well over halfway through the program and am really hoping that I'll have enough energy and brain power to finish strong. This continues to be one of the more stretching and demanding challenges I've signed up for. I know that a lot of prayer has been helping me through. Speaking of prayer... God reminded me through three different people in three days that "People are praying for me". This was a great source of encouragement to me and something I certainly could not do without. If you are one of those people than I'm very, very thankful for YOU!

The weather has really been affecting me lately; we've had many grey and rainy days. I'm really hoping for a sunnier Spring. Speaking of Spring... I've been watching the flowers push their way up and out. I'm going to take my camera tomorrow as I bike to class as proof of Spring in BC.

What signs of spring have you encountered this year already?

A Gift Bag Full of Joy and Love

In the holiday season it's almost natural to find yourself reflecting on the past (2011) and looking ahead to the future (2012). My trip to Grand Rapids over break gave me the time to reflect on these two points in time. When I look at 2011, I see God's grace and faithfulness flow through many of the events that occurred. When I look ahead to 2012, I have the confidence that I will continue to see this in the coming year as well.

It was last year at this time that my decision to leave Nicaragua was not only an idea in my head, but it became more of a reality as I shared it with others. The last half of the school year I completely embraced and savored my 'last' events in Nicaragua: last 4th grade play, last 4th-6th grade retreat, last chance to see Somoto Canyon, last trip to the beach, last bike ride, last chance to bike around Conception on Ometepe, last gallo pinto, last glass of cacao, last late night chats with friends, last service in a Spanish church, last meal in a Spanish home... (or at least for the time being).

At the time of my transition I didn't share a lot of on this blog. Upon reflecting on that time I would have to say it was the most difficult transition I've made, but with God's strength, grace, and provision I've been affirmed that the decision was in step with His will for my life. At times I feel myself sort of bargaining with God: I'll leave a country, community, and job I love, but You need to fill in the details that go with it. As far as I can see we have both been keeping up our end of the bargain. I still think about Nicaragua often and I would give anything to sit down with my Nicaraguan friends to share an evening of talking and laughing together.

In September I moved to Langley, BC to begin studying for my Masters in TESOL (Teaching English to Students of Other Languages). The program runs one year making everyday both valuable and intense. We started as a cohort of 13 and spend every day together in class and every night together on Skype. The program follows a problem-based approach to learning which in short means that we spend hours reading up on a topic and discussing with other members in our group and then share our findings with the rest of the cohort.

This school year is proving to be one of the most mentally challenging tasks I've put myself up to, but I'm enjoying the learning aspect and believe that not only the knowledge I'm learning will be of benefit but the process of being a student again will make me a very different teacher. My cohort has become a big part of my community. I believe the friends I've made here are the answer to a prayer asking for community in Langley. We are a very diverse bunch coming from various cultural and religious backgrounds; I learn something new from them everyday.   

Christmas break came just in time to give us relief from 4 months of gruelling work, in order to refuel and refresh us for the next lag of the journey in 2012. I'm so thankful for the time I was able to spend with my family just doing the traditional events we normally do at this time of year. Which of course always includes Aunt Aimee figuring out the instructions for the new boards games received at Christmas and spending hours playing them. As I mentioned above it also included a trip to Grand Rapids where I got to spend less than 48 hours with by buds Kate and Rachel. What a blessings to catch up and chill with great friends!

The end of my stay at home was marked with a special gift from my niece Annika (age 5). She handed me a bag and prefaced it by saying, "You're probably going to laugh, but I have wanted to this for a really long time." The top of the bag had some decorated papers in it and then the rest of the bag was empty. She was quick to explain that the bag contained joy and love inside. "I even laughed in the bag," she assured me. It was one of my favourite gifts this Christmas for sure. That is what I wish for all my friends and family... much JOY and LOVE and living life to the fullest in 2012! Happy New Year!

First time at Krispy Kreme with Rachel and Kate

A bunch of Bootsmas

Annika and I on the one and only snowy day