Just tumbling through

These 15 things never fail to put a smile on my face.

001. Crabcakes

002. My brother Jae, when he stares off at a distance, grins, and amuses himself.

003. Text messages or Snapchats from Daniel.

004. When Bryant wakes up happy and aegyo-ful.

005. A Christ-centered conversation with a coworker

006. Kettle corn popcorn

007. Chilling at a cafe to read

008. A lower weight on the scale

009. When a friend talks about suffering, but joyfully.

010. Bright days in the 60s

011. Conversations about church planting and growth

012. A funny story my mom shares.

013. Snow days

014. Finding the perfect gift for a friend or family

015. Intimate moments with the Lord

I know. It's been forevaaaaaa.

Day-to-day, life is on a rhythm. At 6:30 I pop bacon in the oven at 400 degrees before my shower. Come out, turn off oven, thaw out a bagel from the freezer, make Bryant's PB&J, French Press Coffee, make two sunny side up eggs and broil the bagel while he showers. By the time he arrives to the kitchen, he had been thinking about something from the night before (contemplating while in the bathroom or the like) and shares it with me. I'm not so surprised every time.

Go to work, read when I'm bored- whether on my phone with the news, an ibook, or the bible. help out with classes, laugh about something funny the kids did again. Think about what I'll make for dinner, go home, eat leftovers like cray, and wait until he gets home. 

As some of you may know, Bryant and I will be moving to the Deep South in June. His Hebrew classes for Seminary will start then. We just came back from MS and here is a brief summary of our trip, organized by realizations.

1. The culture in Mississippi shocked us.

Most are Presbyterians or Baptists. But it is a suit and tie kind of Presbyterianism that we encountered this weekend, albeit all of the churches we visited we more traditional.

2. Southern humor is different from Baltimore humor.

In MD, there's this kind of "poking fun" humor that is actually very endearing. It's a form of sarcasm that's funny. Bryant and his brother, as well as most everyone in our church talks like that. The South is more like Michigan humor. Bryant missed it though.

3. God gave us new insight with every conversation we had with students and faculty.

Each student was unique, all were so so kind. They gave us rides, since we didnt rent a car for this visit. Some were more focused on ministry, others on exegetical interpretation. But when we would have reservations about something, immediately, in the next conversation, it would be answered. It's as though our God was sovereign or something. ^^

4. Faculty are SO smart and LOVE GOD and the Bible.

Seriously. It's really cool. It's not dry information, but knowledge that produces worship and service to others.

5. Bryant felt at peace and excited by the end of our visit. :)

New job has been awesome. Past three days of training has made me excited for the school year to start next week.

I love the hours. The co-workers are great. There's almost one staff for every two students- a crazy ratio for any school. I'll be a TA for high school-aged special needs children for social studies and science on a HS certificate track.

And I have been repenting often of 'my righteousness' On the first day, my executive director teared up because a lady came up to her and said "You are right about the way you hire people. Everyone here is so nice"! And since I heard that, I have been repenting. Lord, may those around me see not my presumed goodness, but may they see Christ's righteousness in me.

A co-worker who is starting here as an intern sought me out this morning. "Joyce, I HAVE to talk with you about wedding stuff. I'm getting married in November and have had cold feet this entire month"

We ended up conversing over lunch. She shared with me her story, her relationship, her worries. I shared with her "I'm not Catholic, but I am a Christian, and the Bible has given me a lot of encouragement during my time before marriage." Turned to my phone,  1 Peter 3, which spoke to me considerable as I had been preparing for marriage. And I shared with her that I believe that marriage was meant to represent Christ who, in seeing us in our complete weakness and sin, before we were seeking His favor, died on the Cross for us that we would belong to Him. And that marriage is about commitment and loving the other, in spite of who they are as a whole, in their weakness, in their agitation, in their patience, in their leadership. Her difficulty was that she saw marriage as a "50:50" thing rather than a "100:100" thing. She considers herself irreligious.

What was interesting was that two other new staff joined our conversation at the beginning and they would say "Oh~ you know it'll be alright" and attempting to comfort her without hearing her anxieties completely. But one of them texted me later in the day, saying that she too was a Christian and had been encouraged by the boldness of the conversation.

On days when I am weary, out of gas, tired of the daily grind, I want to find her during my lunch break and be restored in the Word with her.

Trip update

We’re almost halfway through our vacation, visiting cities and family before I start work. NYC the first two days, Boston the next couple, and now headed to Florida where Bryant’s mother lives.

The first meal we had in New York was Halal Guys. We ended up craving it before our bus ride to Boston so I guess we liked it ^^. We walked with Josephine throughout Central Park, took pictures at Bryant Park (haha) and took a train to his aunt’s house. The next day went on a pizza your and visited Redeemer Presbyterian. All in all, it wasn’t too packed and was quite restful. I liked getting to know his aunt’s family more. Bryant’s been liking double chocolate chip cookies (he says it’s because they are like brownies)

I'm grateful for:

- ANN KIM: A family friend who lives about a mile away. My transition to Maryland would have been much more rough without her and our sporadic runs, talks, prayer time. She's so generous, and we can laugh/share about marriage together. Their first year anniversary is approaching next month.

- LISA HEIDEL: The wife of our community group leader. We were able to spend a lot of time together in the first couple of weeks here- chopping vegetables for our CG time, going to the SSA office, etc. She's gregarious and excited about her twins (sixteen). Their family has a great sense of humor, and I can see it in their kids too, who have been helping out with VBS skits this week at our church.

- FATHER-in-law: He's been so kind. I don't think I expected such generosity from him, whether it is furniture or his old car for my new work, or willingness to spend time. Please pray for him, my husband invited him to the men's bible study thanks to the exhortation of an older man in his life. He cannot because he already has a weekly commitment at that time, but Bryant is encouraged to read the word with him someday.

And many others. But these are the ones that stand out to me at the moment.

We will be in NY then Boston, then Tampa. We're excited about the opportunity for a break and to spend time with family before we work hard (until our brother-in-law's wedding at least)

I love reading the bible book-by-book, which had always made it difficult to follow the M'Cheyne Daily Bible Reading. But recently I stumbled upon this one which has been really great if anyone is looking for a bible reading plan. I have never felt so amazed at 1 and 2 Chronicles! haha.

http://changinglives.org/RTE/docs/bkatatime.pdf

By the grace of God, my husband and I have been growing closer through communication, trust, confession of sins, and speaking truth to one another. Please continue to pray for us.

On another note, one of my college friends, Josephine, will be visiting this Thurs/Fri! I am excited to hear how she is doing and about her recent trip to Indonesia with HMCC.

me: nooooooo

Yesterday we met a really kind man. He is a missions pastor at a nearby church and one of the men at Bryant's bible study introduced us. He had been in Indonesia for a year and a half. It had been a great conversation, and it really spurred us to continue to pursue missions for us as we pray about the future. He encouraged us to look for seminaries with a strong focus on missions as well.

One thing it made me pray about is how we long for the church to be involved in unreached people group missions, and how we don't just want prayer and money support, but mutual encouragement, be sent with their leadership and blessing, and serve the congregation in going as missionaries in the future. 

I attempted to cut my husband's hair yesterday. It was quite an ordeal and we ended up with a shaved head so no one would know what it looked like half an hour earlier, haha.

I love bright, windy days. Today is one of those lucky ones. There's something about it that is makes me pensive and free. 

It's just an update, so those who are avid readers know that i'm alive =)

- Interviewing for jobs. There's a second one for this Wednesday. Please pray that I will be sincere.

- Through prayer and encouragement from various brothers and sisters, we feel led by the Lord for Bry to go to seminary Fall of 2015. We are looking for a place that loves the Word and has a strong faculty with an opportunity to serve a church to grow in maturity and receive mentorship before going to the field.

- We're planning a trip in mid-August to visit some family before I begin work.

I had a first "I don't care about what you care about" moment with my husband this past weekend. Making up and forgiveness takes work. But I'm so thankful for him and the Lord foremostly, because He helps me in my weakness daily.

Towson, MD.

I got here at 10:41AM. A Farmer's market here opened at 10:45AM. Nice! Fruit is average priced, but vegetables are really cheap: three bell peppers, a kilo of zucchini, and a kilo of cucumber for a total of $3, yay. Bryant's Grandpa lives close by so I'll probably stop by with some peaches before going home. hopefully there will be more progress on these thank you cards- my average has been about 6 per hour >.<

Yesterday (Wednesday) was his day off. We had crabs. Maryland is known for their Blue Crabs. We haven't eaten out as the two of us since we've moved but we got a dozen and a half yesterday.

These are small/med females. So delicious. We had some at a friend's house about a week and a half ago. Those were crazy too.

And we make some stew with the leftover crab claws for dinner!

We had a really good and restful time. Got a vanilla soft serve and smoothie from McDonalds too, walked around, watched a David Platt sermon on the Song of Solomon, worshipped, watched Star Trek II. Hahaha. He got a nap in too :)

Lately we've been having good conversations about life, our past, theology, and there's been more clarity on a lot of things. We have a lot more dialogue now. I'm thankful. He misses his siblings though, keke.

"Not everyone's gonna like you"

Bryant is actually very gentle and comforting. We made this rule of "No serious conversations after 10PM"- based on the exhortation of an older man in his life. It was 10:47pm yesterday and I was job searching online when he shared something. I cried and he embraced me- so manly haha.

But this morning we woke up half an hour late and had a rushed morning. Any less sleep and we would've been quite cranky. Lesson learned.

There have been a few moments this past week when I experienced either tension or guilt with friends and family this week because of my own naiive-ness. 

Maybe not everyone's gonna like you. But that doesn't mean I'm not called to serve all people(s).

Yes. It's 3:40AM

Hubby is sleeping, and my brain has little strength to be distracted. Perhaps this blog post can finally be written.

Honeymoon and Move-in

Our first week was filled with new experiences. I got drunk off of a half can of corona on our first night in Mexico- and laughed, and slurred, and cried all within about an hour or so. High school Spanish came back to me (who knew my mind filed away "Donde esta el bano"?) Bryant and I started reading 1 Samuel and Philippians together. I came to recognize my selfishness for care and attention every day, and insecurities because of his teenage experiences. We cheered for Mexico with Mexicans during their football game against Croatia. Shared the gospel together with our tour guide to Chichen itza. Mexicans are so kind. Respect.

I'm so thankful for his father and our friends Ann and Dave who helped us with the move-in too. I ended up questioning a lot of Bryant's small decisions like what items we needed, etc. But one morning, we worshipped together and it was so amazing- seeing Jesus clearly and forgetting about myself. That, along with other treasures in Philippians, made me consider self-forgetfulness (humility), Paul's yearning for the church, trust, and joy.

There are many moments when I don't really want to do what is asked of me. But they are necessary things!

Currently

Cooking is fun-- he eats everything so well and we have all these ingredients that my grandma on my mom's side gave us. My food tastes like my moms (not in her deliciousness, but the style). That makes me happy =)

Monday night, I was very overwhelmed with the new relationships the Lord has placed in my life here. From new family, to new friends, to new church, from those who were very exposed to the values of the world at a young age like Bryant or those who grew up in private Christian schools. But may Christ be made much of in everything. Lord get my eyes off of me and may I seek Your glory in every one of these relationships.

There's always more, but I'll just leave it at that today. Gonna jump back into bed. By the way, he is a great man, growing in gentleness and fear of God every day ^-^ trying to get as much out of his MLB iPhone App since we don't have a TV or Cable. But in all seriousness, I'm very thankful to be with him and to pursue oneness in Jesus together.

Prayer Request: to enjoy Jesus and grow in humility.

note to self: write about CFC in a post in the near future.

Picture below-- a friend painted this as a wedding gift to us. Amen