If you're going to San Francisco. . .

It is official - I am headed back to San Francisco on December 21st - my year of living abroad is complete and so many of my dreams have come true! Thank you all for joining me on these adventures - you have been my constant companions over the 12 months and 3 continents! I am forever changed and will never forget all that has happened! Please continue to pray with me as I head out into the wild blue yonder of what comes next!

I leave you with the verse that I have learned and lived so well this year:

Philippians 4:10-14 (The Message)

Content Whatever the Circumstances

^10-14I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.

Music is in the Air

Well, the past two months have been full of music. First of all in November, we had the Middle School Musical - Annie Jr. Pictured above is Angela Slaughter, one of the teachers that helped out directing the musical, Avery who played Grace Farell, Claire who played Annie, and Andy Slaughter, Angela's husband.

I can't tell you how blown away I was by this production - this was WAY better than any play I had ever been in and this was being done by middle schoolers!!!! I was so proud of them. Of course, I sat in the audience swaying and singing every song with the kids - "You're never fully dressed without a SMILE!" It was so awesome!

Then, this month was the Christmas Concert. I was excited to get to substitute teach in the Middle School Choir. I knew the Mrs. Mann, my music teacher growing up would be proud - as I helped the altos pick out their harmonies!!! It was really fun to help get them ready for their concert. Then, last night was the production and it made me excited to see the kids all lit up by the stage lights and singing their hearts out! I swear that I was as proud as any parent! Singing is just one of the many things I love about the holidays, but as you know - I always have a song on my lips!

Coffee House

Last night, ICSB sponsored a Coffee House for Teal Ribbons, and ovarian cancer charity. One of the former teachers here at ICSB, Libby Apel, died this year of ovarian cancer and it devastated the school. It was awesome to see all the people come out to honor this woman who had an impact on their lives through her teaching. We had a night of fun, hanging out and listening to an awesome hungarian jazz band! It was great to see the students, parents and staff come together to make a difference for other women never to have to go through what the Apels did. Please take the time to find a way to make a difference in someone's life this holiday season!

Cultural Heritage Week

November has been a super busy month - one of the many reasons I'm behind on my blog entries! One of the highlights of the month was November 9-13 was Cultural Heritage Week sponsored by Middle School Student Council. As most of you know, I am one of the Student Council Sponsors - so needless to say I was busy that week. The purpose of the week was to bring awareness to our cultural diversity within the middle school - we have kids from 12 different countries! We wanted everyone to understand what it truly means to be an "international" school and celebrate our uniqueness! So each day we had a homeroom devotional featuring two countries and the issues that are going on in each.

Then, on Wednesday for chapel time we had a special multi-lingual worship time. We sang songs in french, spanish, swahili, hungarian and english! It was a lot of fun because it was my first time to help lead worship in chapel! We also had displays from each of the countries that the kids were able to look at and pray over specific issues that those countries are facing! The picture above is of a group of kids praying over the America display.

Lastly, on Friday we had dress up day - of course I broke out my Congolese choir outfit and we had kids dress up in outfits from India, China, and American military. We finished the day with a international snack time at recess.

All in all, I thought it was a great week to just think about the many places in the world that we take for granted. It made me very grateful that I have been blessed to see a good part of the world and I recognize all the many things I need to be thankful for!