2015

What a year 2015 has been. As I sit here reflecting on all that has happened this past year, I can't help but stand amazed in all that God has done. I started the year in a new city where I knew no one and I am ending it with an evening spent with friends. He is faithful.

January was spent settling into my new home, city, job, and life in Tulsa. It was also the month when I joined the "glasses and contact club." And what a joy it has been to be in that club (note the sarcasm). January as also the month where I traded in my New York drivers license (tear).

February highlight was a visit from my mom, dad, and Kiah! And my first experience of snow in Tulsa. Let's just say my family was beyond thrilled to be able to experience a Tulsa snow. :) 

March brought many fun memories with friends and my 29th birthday! It was also the month of concerts and conferences including Winter Jam to see Skillet, Jeremy Camp, For King and Country, and many other great Christian artists, a Kari Jobe concert, and a women's conference!

April was the start of tornado season. All I have to say about that are 3 words. "Not a fan." But with that also was the arrival of spring and the flowers began to bloom. I also went to a great 2 day event at Church to "find your life purpose" as well as an adoption conference which was very informative.

May was a month of making memories with friends and having my aunt come visit for a weekend! I had so much fun spending the weekend with her and showing her around Tulsa.

In June, I traveled to Korea for two weeks to co-lead our Korea Family Birthland Tour. It was so much fun returning to Asia but this time to a country I had never been to before! I had the opportunity to visit with many of the kiddos who are matched with our families and take pictures and videos for the adoptive families waiting anxiously for the approval to travel and bring their sweet kids home. As much as I loved traveling and seeing a new country, I was more than ready to return home by the end of my two weeks overseas.

In July, just four days after I returned to the US (I arrived home on the 4tho f July), Kiah arrived in Tulsa for a week! She helped with our China Heritage Camp and it was so fun having her here just hanging out. After a week of having her visit me in Tulsa, we flew to NY together where I spent a week and half with my family. The other highlight of July was July 8th when my niece, Quinlan Grace, entered the world! I was able to meet her when she was about a week old which was such a blessing. As usual, my trips to NY go way too fast and it very quickly it was time to return to Oklahoma.

August was a month of catching up. Between traveling to Korea for two weeks, having Kiah visit for a week and then flying to NY for almost two weeks, it was a whirlwind few months. August was a great time to just relax, get back on a normal schedule again, and catch up with friends (all of us had such different schedules this summer and we barely saw one another!). We also went to see one of my favorite speakers, Steven Furtick who is the pastor at Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C. What an awesome night of worship and teaching.

September brought a fun women's night of worship with friends, journaling, beginning several new Bible studies, and enjoying the last few days of summer but the pool.

October was all kinds of fun! The Tulsa State Fair took place in early October where one of the bands featured was For King and Country! My women's small group took a trip to the pumpkin patch and the end of the month was filled with memories of carving pumpkins and a Halloween party.

The first week of November I flew to Orlando, FL, to spend a a few days with my precious Kate (AKA: Charlotte) and her family! Many of you will remember her from my time in China. It was so good to see her again and to see how loved she is in her forever family. God writes the best stories! November finished out with a weekend trip with friends to Branson, MO, and Thanksgiving with friends.

December, my favorite month. I tried to make the most of it this year since last year since I really missed out last year having just moved to Tulsa. Ugly sweater party, special Christmas activities, and a trip home to be with my family for Christmas. It doesn't get much better than that.

Wow, what a year 2015 was! It makes me tired just looking back on all that took place and all that the Lord has done. I am always ready for the start of a new year but I am especially excited for 2016. Not sure exactly why, but I feel as though it's going to be a big year and I can't wait to see what plans God has in store.

Happy New Year, sweet friends! Thank you for you love, encouragement, and friendship. I am so thankful that the Lord put each and every one of you in my life.

{Days 8 & 9} Trains, Planes & the 4th of July

First of all, Happy 4th of July! This is my fourth 4th of July, not spent in the US (although I'll arrive about 9 p.m. on the 4th), so even though I am a little bummed about missing the festivities, what is missing one more?

I am currently sitting in the Tokyo airport waiting on my flight bound for Dallas. What a whirlwind the last few days have been! There really hasn't been a lot to write about as our lats few days have been a little. It was a wonderful way to end our time in Korea, with a little slower pace.

On Thursday morning, we checked out of our hotel in Busan and headed to the train station. We took the high speed train from Busan back to Seoul. I had been on a high speed train before in China, but many of our families had not, so it was a fun experience for them! It took us less than 3 hours and would have probably taken us about 5 hours if we were to take the bus, so it was definitely faster! After arriving back in Seoul, our original bus driver met us at the station and we headed to another market to do a little shopping. After making some purchases, it was time to check back into our hotel in Seoul before heading out to watch the Nanta Cooking Performance. I don't really know how to describe it other than it was really, really good! It was a cooking/comedy performance. Unfortunately you were not permitted to take pictures or videos so only have this one from before the show started. After the show, we had dinner and then headed back to the hotel where most of us crashed from our long day of travel.

Friday was my last full day in Korea! I woke up earlier than I probably normally would because I wanted to make the most of my last. Since I hadn't done much shopping, I decided this was the time that I need to finish (and start) up. Our hotel is located really close to a street that sells a lot of souvenir type gifts and I was able to pick everything I wanted up there. We had a delicious farewell buffet at a local restaurant Friday night. Our families were awesome on this trip! My friend, Leslie, who lived in the same city as me in China and is now living in Seoul, came to spend my last night with me. We went for a late night swim and it was fun to get caught up.

Today has been saying goodbye to our families, finish up packing, and then taking the bus to the airport to fly home. We had a little eventful morning when our bus never showed up and since all of our families had earlier flights than me (I took a separate bus to the airport later), we put them all into taxi's so that they would make it to the airport with plenty of time.

My flight from Seoul to Tokyo was only 2 hours and very unventful. My flight to Dallas should be boaring in about 45 minutes. I am anxious to get back on US soil! This trip has been fun, but I am so ready to be back into my normal routine in Tulsa.

My next post will be from the good old United States of America!

** I am having trouble with uploading pictures in the Tokyo airport, sorry!

{Day 7} The Beach

Today was a much needed break. This tour has been fun but it has been busy. Lots of sight-seeing and our days have been pretty packed for the past week. Today, everyone had a free day to do whatever they wanted. We stayed right on the beach and so naturally, I spent the afternoon at the beach. 

 

I went for a walk this morning, read for a while, and then another long week before calling it a day. My second walk was to explore a nearby lighthouse.

I just love watching the waves crash onto the rocks. It makes me think of the story of Jesus walking on the water and how even the waves obey Him. It reminds me of His power and strength.

This cat was just hanging out on the rocks. I thought it was funny. 

I stumbled upon this walking path. I though tit was absolutely beautiful!

It was a much needed day of rest. Tomorrow morning we take the fast train back to Seoul for our final few days of the tour.

Happy July!

{Day 6} Busan, Fish Market & UN Memorial

Today was another day of travel but thankfully it was just an hour drive. We drove to the city of Busan which is on the ocean. It is right on the Sea of Japan or the East Sea. It is absolutely beautiful! We first stopped at a lookout tower to see the city.

We then stopped at a local fish market. It was quite the culture shock for some of our families! I had seen markets like this during my time in China, but many of our families had not. I always love seeing others reactions!

Cummins!

We then made a stop at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in memory of those who died in the Korean War. It was really something. Unfortunately it rained all day today and so it just a quick stop. There was so much to see but since we were huddled under umbrellas, we didn't see a lot of it. 

The Wall of Remembrance.

It was then time to head to our hotel and check in. After another long day of sight-seeing, everyone was ready for some down time. Our hotel is right on the beach and it is beautiful! It has been several years since I have been to the beach so it is a nice treat, even if just for a day. Since it was still raining, I spent most of my evening relaxing and reading. After our intense schedule, it has been a much needed break!

Tomorrow is a free day and I plan on sitting at the beach and reading. Sounds heavenly to me! We will meet up with the group for dinner and then Thursday morning we are taking the high speed train back to Seoul for our final few days in Korea.