Random :)

It's another pretty sunshiney desert kinda day. It doesn't rain much here, like in Oki. The weather isn't as moody here as it is over there- pouring one moment and then the blindin' sun the next :) But I must say, I do miss those tropical breezes... The sticky humidity... The beautiful orange-pink sun setting on the long deep blue horizon of the ocean, seen from our balcony.

Oh, how I miss it.

Anyways, just got home from getting a shot! It was one of the last things I had to get done for my college application. That, and my picture. After I get my pic developed, I'm going to send it off in the mail, with much hope and prayer. I've been praying for a while now about what college I'l be attending. Since this school is close to "home" (referring to our current duty station), parents-appoved, and has the same beliefs, it feels as if this is where God's directing me to. It's not the college most of my friends are going to, something that's going to be pretty hard for me, but I'm sure God will work it out for the best.

Now that I don't have my school materials yet, I've been spending a lot more time reading, studying for SATs, and playing guitar. Just realized the thrill you can get out of a guitar :) So much fun... I don't know that many chords, so I just bear with what I do know (which isn't much!), but it's a great way to pass some time, since I'm piano-less at the moment :( Hehe. And besides killin' time, it's also a good way to make your fingers sore :P My left hand fingers are not all that used to all that pressure on those metal strings, but the music that comes out is pretty worth it :)

While I'm posting, I just wanted to say happy birthday to a dear friend of mine. Pretty sure you won't read this, but if you do, know that I'm prayin' you had a wonderful day. Trust in God and pray always. Only He knows what lies ahead of you, so just give Him everything...

And with that, I'm off to the books again. Or book, that is. The gi-normous one that will "Guarantee a better SAT score!", or so the title says :)

Later(^u^)v

"Don't be sad that it's over, be glad that it happened."

On the way home last night, I rode with my mom and we had a pretty good talk. It was pretty random, but it's been a while since it was just me and her. The conversation started with how, when her and my daddy weren't married yet, she borrowed my dad's car to go on a drive with her friends. The ride ended up with one of the front tires flying from the car and then her losing control. Hehe. That would probably explain the fact that I'm 17 and still don't have a driver's permit. When, at 16, I could've had my license already. Well, in Okinawa, that is. I'm not sure about here in the states...

Anyways.

We ended up talking about the senior trip my class (in Okinawa) is taking to Tokyo, and how we were gonna plan for it- financially, praying about it, figuring out where I'd be in my lessons for school. All just planning for now, but Lord willing, I'll go. Since I REEEAAALLY wanna go :P Please pray for me!

And somehow that conversation led into missing Okinawa (like how many of our family's conversations have been ending..."Aw, So&so in Okinawa did that!" or "Aw, they only have those in Japan!").

About a week or 2 before we left Okinawa to go to the Philippines and then eventually here, a family from our church took me, my sister, and another friend of ours (she was PCSing also) out for dinner at, what I consider, a fancy restaurant. Talk about special treatment! :) Their whole family was a good friend of ours- the dad led the Jr. Church Services, and their kids were close friends of ours. As we were ending our meal, they made us 3 girls feel even more special by giving us gifts and then the dad gave us a little heartfelt speech. He said how we should keep serving the Lord, like we were doing at our church over there, and that there's no church like our church in Okinawa. Hearing that at first... I thought he was right, I loved our church over there- the beautiful music, the wonderful, friendly people, good messages, and so much more. But then aside from that I thought that maybe we're just biased, since it's the church we go to and whatnot.

However, since we came back to the states, I realize that a church like ours in Okinawa really is a rare one. Being in a foreign country, we as a church really felt like family, and everyone was reaching out to everyone, just trying to make them feel as much as home as possible. I remember just arriving there, and the different kind of welcomes we received. Don't get me wrong, I like our church here also and I know church isn't about the people. But it really is different over there.

And now, being back in the US, I realized how I sometimes took for granted the first-hand witnessing of seeing missionaries at work, or the experience of being in someone else's country, one where I can't always order something at a restaurant without making the shape of it with my hands XD... And I realized that missionaries are normal! Before moving to Oki, I just always thought of how different they were going thousands of miles away from family and all things familiar, but after becoming best friends with an MK, our family getting close to several missionary families, playing the piano in a church where all I can understand is "Konnichiwa!"... I realize how they're just ordinary people, that God uses in extraordinary ways...

It was so hard to leave all our friends, missionaries, Filipino group, teachers, schoolmates... All who eventually we considered family... But I know God had a reason for taking us here. And He doesn't make any mistakes. Instead of thinking all we left behind and all that we used to do, I should just be thankful for that time. Not end the friendships, but make them grow. Not stop the service, but do even more. Not dwell on what He "took away," but focus on what He gave and what He's still giving :)

Just a thought♥.

My First Post :)

Well, here goes :)

My first blog on here. And I'm not too sure how to start. Hopefully I'll be diligent in writing these posts, keep up with old friends, and maybe somebody will want to read my posts too! Hehe. Well, right now I'm at home, enjoying another chill day at home, munchin' on goldfish and oreos, all being washed down with a cold glass of milk XD. Hehe, well, atleast that's how it is for now, until I can finally start on my senior year of high school, when my materials arrive. I'm actually pretty excited for school to start, but at the same time, kinda scared. One more school year, and then I'm off to college. Kind of a scary thought, yet exciting at the same time. Well, I won't get too deep in that thought, being as it is my first post and all. Gotta keep things light :) So, for now, I'm off to go read a book, and hopefully call my bestie in Oki.

TGIF ;D