Let's get it started

I find myself in the same position as Brenna (my fiance) did last week. I KNOW I should be packing but yet here I am at the computer doing everything BUT packing. That's OK. Anyone who knows me certainly would not be surprised. This week has been pretty busy. I just recently returned from teaching an Environmental Education class up at Horn Point in Cambridge. I had the most awesome time a teacher can have. The kids were focused and willing to learn. PLUS they were just great kids to hang around with and so were the other counselors. I am going to have to reflect on that another time. Right now my focus needs to be my up coming trip.

I have never really been too far from home most of my life. I went to college in the same town that I went to High School. I got a job in the same town. I have lived here ever since. I even just bought a house not too far from my parents house. (It is not as pathetic as it sounds I promise - or is it) We Cancers are homebodies anyways so it shouldn't come as a surprise. All that changed of course after I met my fiance Brenna. (All except buying the house near Mom and Dad's) Brenna has been such a welcome breathe of fresh air into my life. I really think I would have slipped into such a dull routine that I could have bored myself to death. Or worse - just settled for whatever came my way whether I liked it or not. Which I think is worse than total boredom. I have always been a bit of a follower and never one to initiate much in my own. Not any more. Since Brenna - I call it Life AB (After Brenna) - I am not the same person.

First off, I have found the most wonderful church you could ask for. (actually Brenna found it and dragged me there but you didn't need to know that!) Soul Discovery has been quite the eye opener for me. Not being much of a church goer, it was difficult at first. Besides, anyone who knows me knows that if I sit in one spot for too long I WILL fall asleep. and that means ANYWHERE. I even fell asleep sitting on a bar stool at my brother's bachelor party! But I digress! After a few internal bouts with selfishness and an email from Pastor Reid asking me to really look at WHY I am doing what I am doing - Is it for myself or for God? I think I am finally on the right road now. We have met some wonderful people through Soul Discovery especially Steven and Lindsay! It would really take a long time to go into ALL that I have been blessed to receive through Steven and Lindsay. I love these guys like they were my own family. And I kinda feel like a part of theirs. So much so that we have asked them and their entire family to be in our wedding. Well almost - I still haven't talked to Steven about his role yet. I could really go on for a while but I think that will be a blog of its own. (to be continued)

Secondly, we traveled to Guatemala with Soul Discovery this past February. My first time out of the country! What an trip that was. It has changed me forever. Just looking at what we have here compared to what they have is shocking. I have SO taken what I have been blessed with for granted. And I guess that is what God had in mind for me with that trip. I am still not certain where He is going with it but I am looking forward to going again in January. I kinda feel like I am behind everyone else who went. Like they got the concept before we went and built on that while there and it took me going there to get started and now when I go back - I will be where they were when we went the first time. (Does that make any sense at all???)

Thirdly, I have finally become active in finishing my Master's Degree in Education. (Only having started it three times already) My biggest problem has been a lack of focus as to WHAT I wanted to get my Masters in. Now, after going to Guatemala, I think I know where I want to focus my studies. International Education. Which kinda brings me to WHY I started this blog in the first place (Finally - I know) Tonight - actually tomorrow morning at 2 am - I am off to MALAYSIA! I am going in conjunction with a class at Salisbury University to study Science ands Technology in Malaysian schools. I am going with Dr. Robeck (I am still having a problem calling him Ed - I guess it is because I took a class or two with him at SU before I got to know him through his kids at Salisbury Middle. We are also going with a young lady named Andrea. Can't remember her last name. I don't know tons about her. Actually I have only seen her twice but I am sure that after this trip that that will change. She actually teaches at the school where Brenna starts work in the Fall but that is another story as well.

SO - I guess that is all for now! (Thank God!) (I heard that!) If you are still reading this - wow. I have never been much of a writer but man - when it starts flowing out - you can't stop sometimes. I'm not sure who I will be sharing this whole blog thing with. I think I will just let it fly out into cyberspace. After all, I really think I am just writing this for myself anyway. While we were at camp this past week, the kids had to journal every night about their experiences and I totally fought it at first but now I see the sense of reflection you get once you start. Hopefully this will become a regular thing for me. I have much to tell and I really don't care if anyone else but myself reads it.

But now = off to pack for Malaysia! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!