Feeling Loved

It doesn't hurt today.  7 years and not a day goes by when I don't miss my mother.  I love her, she loves me but God loves us both and ultimately, He gives me strength on the days it does hurt and sustains it on days like today.  Love you mom. You were right. God's taking good care of me.  No worries. :) 

525,600 Minutes

A year ago I left everything comfortable and familiar to fulfill my dream of living oversees.  

So much has happened this past year.  I'm thankful for new relationships, the growth I've made and various experiences that have turned the last 525,600 minutes into some of the best of my life.  

Today, I received my Korean name: 

유다정 meaning affectionate to others. I'm honored to be given a name that reflects my heart but more importantly, the heart and character of God. We've gotten a lot closer these last several hundred thousand minutes...lol. 

Here's to Year 2!  

Until next time...

I've Got a Feeling...

I love summer (vacation)...lol. 

Last July, I decided I was too young to walk around unhappy with my body, have my couch be my best friend (y'all know) always tired and lazy.  So, I bought a pair of running shoes and matching gear (OCD like) and started running again. 

Got to Korea, kept working out and this past May began training for a body figure competition.  In addition to the competition, my goal was to be confident  in myself and my body and have an awesome summer at the beach.  

Well folks, it's summer. And the understatement of the year is I'm having an awesome summer, confident, happy but most importantly joyful, from the inside out.  

I climbed a mountain today. The highest mountain in S. Korea and was amazed at how well I did.  Yea, I'm hurting...lol. But it's that good hurt, you know. I've been at the beach all week, just radiating confidence, I'm surprising even myself. This is awesome!! Gotta keep this up. 

I'm so proud of myself, haha! And what an incredible feeling that is. 

Until next time...

Mudfest

Hello all!! Happy Summer!!

I know it's been a while but I promise this won't be too long. 

Things are going really well.  I've officially renewed my contract which means I'm staying in Korea for another year!  I promise to TRY to do a better job f blogging and keeping you all posted this next year.

One of the first things I was told to do in Korea was "go to Mudfest" so I did! And it was great!  It's exactly as it sounds, grown people playing in the mud.

Brief history: the mud is supposed to be really good for your skin and the festival has been going on for many years now. 

There are mud slides and mud pits to roll around and wrestle in. It's just a free-for-all in those pits...and be careful cause if you're an attractive female, strangers'll tackle you for sure. 

When you're done, head to the beach, catch some waves, soak up the sun. At night, an outdoor concert, awesome fireworks show and dance the night away. 

Pretty cool experience...thanks for the suggestion Britt. Keep em coming! 

Until next time...

A Random Reflection

Late last night coming home from rehearsal, I'm standing up on the train praying someone close to me gets up so I can sit down.  A wet umbrella in one hand, a heavy bag around my shoulders and a bag of chicken in another hand (thanks J), I'm tired and hot and just wanna get home.

An older man walks up to me and shows me a picture he just took of me standing on the train.  The fact that he took the picture doesn't bother me, it happens quite often...but the fact that he shared it with me took me by surprise.  What's more, at first glance I didn't the think picture would be all that good.  It's been a long day and I look like a bag lady that needs to take a long nap so how could this picture be any good? And who is this guy?

Well, the picture is actually really good.  It's a candid shot that he caught very well and offered to email it to me.  Then, he asked me to sit down in the "reserved" seating section for older people, pregnant women and children.  It doesn't seem like a big deal but you're not really supposed to sit there as a young able bodied person unless there isn't anyone else around.  Not only did his invitation justifiy my sitting there it filled my desire to sit down.  God works in cool ways man.

With the little Korean I know, and the little English he knew, we had a pretty nice conversation.  It was one of those rare, wonderful, unexpected moments.  Wherever he is, I hope he was as blessed by our meeting as I was.


Until next time...