We hurried back to help with Thanksgiving dinner preparations. It was a wonderful time of warmth and love and LOTS of yummy, yummy food. My family was really happy that Ki Hwan was there to share this time with us.

Our yummy Korean dessert...

FRIDAY

Friday morning saw us off to watch an Imax at the Tennessee Aquarium. Deep Sea 3D was lots of fun. I LOVE 3D!!!!!  What amazingly beautiful creatures God created under the sea. Ki Hwan and I want to get our scuba diving license someday. And yes, for all those who know me well, I am a LOVER of carousels and there is an adorable carousel at Coolidge Park that I have always wanted to ride on. Promised myself that whenever I found a boyfriend (no matter how late in life that would be ) I would take him there so we could ride it together. And we DID! SO FUN!!!!

Then we headed off to Cloudland Canyon to enjoy a beautiful hike down to waterfalls and gorges...a breathtaking place.

 
Like the optical illusion below? I am STRONG!!

And then I got sick...
Yeah, I know...of all the times to get sick.

I had been holding out strongly all school year while all of my 3^rd graders were getting sick left and right...but I finally succumbed.

I felt so bad and lamented to Oppa why it just couldn’t hold off til next weekend when he was gone...really got the whole works--chills, fever, sore throat, coughing, and body ache and Oppa was right there to take care of me...and take great care of me he did...I realized that I am truly in GREAT hands...

Thanks to his loving care and all the natural herbs and remedies, I bounced back the next day. And although I still felt a little weak, the sore throat, chills, fever, and body ache were all gone.

SATURDAY

We had a beautiful church service and spent the afternoon relaxing and talking. I love the way I can communicate with this man. He is truly my kindred spirit. There is always so much to talk about and discuss and contemplate. Time flies unbelievably quickly when we’re together! Wish time could slow down when we’re together and accelerate when we’re apart.  Before we knew it was 5:30 and time to go to my little nephew’s birthday dinner. Baby Jason is two years old now.

After that Ki Hwan and I headed back downtown to the Tivoli Theater to enjoy a beautiful performance of the fairytale “Sleeping Beauty.” The arts are a strong emphasis in Chattanooga and there are always wonderful concerts, plays, ballets, and symphonies at the Tivoli. It was a special night.

Can you see his silhouette?

GOD-CENTERED

If there is any realm of my life that I have never been able to trust myself, it is in the realm of relationships…
This is one area I've always taken to God in prayer and felt a need for God to be an active part of...

Instead of "dating" I've always preferred getting to know people through a friendship first...I felt that I could guage pretty well what a person is like through a friendship first...

This is the first time a friendship has moved into the relationship level for me...

To me, a relationship has always been a serious commitment…

I have been blessed with a man who also distrusts himself in this area of his life.

Ki Hwan has expressed to me time and time again how much he has had to pray and depend on the Lord to give him wisdom...even in the areas of how to please me and make me happy, this man prays because he doesn’t trust his own ability.

His dependence on the Lord in every area of our relationship is evident…and God has been answering his humble prayer…

This man is truly my dream man…
It’s amazing how joyful my heart is…

I really could not have ask for anything more...
I am constantly touched and awed by his sensitivity, his sweetness, his thoughtfulness, his chivalry, his selflessness, his deepest desires to serve and please and give.

I truly am VERY blessed!

We spent a lot of time praying together this break, because we want God’s timing to be clearly evident at every phase of our plans together as a couple.  

We are certain He led us together…and that certainty gives us peace and joy as He continues to lead us forward.

 
Again, Ki Hwan and I have been SO appreciative of everyone's warm wishes and prayers...
It really means so much to both of us...
We ask that you continue to uplift us in prayer...we remain in need of God's wisdom and guidance...

God bless one and all!  See  many of you in Minneapolis for the GYC weekend!

Ready to go public…

*edit*
We just wanted to say that we have been truly grateful for all the warm wishes we’ve received. Thank you for all your prayers and support! It's been so heartwarming and humbling and it really means a lot to both of  us…thank you!!!

(A few more pictures also added at the bottom)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So much to tell….

A lot has happened since my last post…

And yes, I am LOVING teaching third grade…

I adore my students...

But more on that later…

First things first…

After 8 months of friendship, MUCH praying, much earnestly waiting on the Lord, much observing, MUCH conversing, much openness and spending as much time as possible really getting to know each other, we have finally decided that we are ready to take it to the next level.  This past weekend, Ki Hwan Song and I (some of you may know him as John Song) made the decision to officially begin courting. So as of this past weekend, we are now officially a couple.

So yes one and all…

We are now publicly sharing our happy news…instead of allowing the grapevine to juice.

For the first time in my life I can actually say…

That I believe my heart has finally found its match…

In so many amazingly compatible ways…

And it is the most incredible feeling ever!

I must say that the peace that comes from knowing that this is the person that God has led you to, is quite profound…it overwhelms me and brings tears of gratefulness to my eyes.

Now, it’s my turn to be candidly honest with everyone…

There was a time when I sincerely wondered whether someone really existed for me…

Had so many people ask, probe, and wonder when I was going to be “next.”

My calm answer: “Whenever God brings the right person into my life.”

Fervently hoping in my heart of hearts…but almost not daring to believe it could be possible…

I waited…

Waited for a long while…

Waited for the right one…

Waited for someone that my head and my heart could both agree on…(did anybody else find this superbly difficult or was it just me? )

I knew me…

I knew me very well…

And I knew what I was looking for…

But what I was looking for simply didn’t seem to exist.

Or so I thought…

But apparently God knows me even better than I know myself…

He knew my heart’s deepest desires and encompassed that in this one individual...

And the peace…the utter peace…knowing that God’s been clearly directing and leading at every step of our friendship has been truly beautiful…

Every stage of our journey…from friendship to courtship has been beautiful.

We’ve had our bumps, most definitely…but nothing that couldn’t be overcome with prayer…and nothing that didn’t make us stronger and more committed to God and to each other. 

So here are pictures for you all to see.

This is the man in my life—Ki Hwan Song.

 Oppa, I am so blessed to have met you.  Your beautiful heart and character…your gentleness, patience, kindness, humility, and sincerity have stood out to me from the very beginning. Thank you for being so very good to me. I never knew such happiness was possible. 

We've grown together...

Prayed together...

Agonized together...

Praised together...

We've seen God's smile upon us...

And seen Him gently grow us... 

And I am so grateful...

I bless the day we found each other...

More pics to come....^^

God bless you all!

I don’t have too much time for a xanga post...
But I am posting anyway.^^ Will try not to be too long and verbose

It won’t be a whole epistle on what my life has been like since my last post.
I will merely highlight the most important blessings...as short, sweet, and to the point as I can possibly get it—IF this is at all possible. *laugh*

(Seriously, the only time I’m succinct is when I’m canvassing and there is only a 1 minute door of opportunity. ^.~ btw...to all my friends who are canvassing this summer, I wish you God’s RICHEST blessings...I’ve already heard many great reports and I will be praying that your experience will be as incredible as my 7 summers have been.  EXPECT GREAT THINGS!

*laugh* I STILL get all excited thinking about canvassing...I think I will just always love the work.)

Moving right along,

Suffice it to say...May was the crunch month of the year...any teacher will understand what I am talking about...
There were many decisions weighing in the balance for next year, but God has clearly shown me what I will be doing next year...

One and all, I will be a 3^rd grade teacher for the 2007-2008 school year!

I am tickled to death...

3^rd and 4^th grade have always been my favorite age group to teach...

Yes, I’ve been working with middle school students for the past 3 years at Spalding and have enjoyed every minute and every student and every attitude possible ^.~, but my first love has always been the younger grades.
As the end of this school year came, a couple of different job openings became apparent in the younger grades.  My principal, who has before mentioned to me his thankfulness at my “versatility in working successfully with any age group” but who has always been aware that my preference is the younger grades, nabbed me a 3^rd grade classroom as soon as there was an opening.

I was very grateful to him...

So this will be a change and it’ll be exciting...^^
Ruth Kim, you and I are now fellow 3^rd grade teachers! ^^ I’m sure we’ll have many stories to compare and many stories to laugh about...it’s an adorable age group to teach for sure. I’ve got much love to give to these eager, little ones. ^^

I’ve already finished decorating my room! (to all you teachers wondering why in the world I’ve already set up my classroom in JUNE, the reason is simple: I’ll be gone ALL summer long working on my masters and will return with only 2 prep days left to spare before school officially begins, so it was actually a survival instinct >.<...there was simply no way around it.  BUT, I must say, I’m very excited with how my room turned out....this is why I LOVE the younger grades…you can do so much to the room. ^^ My theme this year is: “Racing to Success” And yes, the room, all my learning centers, bulletin boards, etc. are decorated with this theme. Pictures will follow upon slug bug door completion. *tune in sometime in August to find out what in the world this means.* =)  I love teaching!

I’m also switching my masters over to an entirely summer’s masters (instead of studying throughout the school year) so come one week, and I am back up in good ole MA for the next 6 weeks.  Without going into all the ins and outs of how truly crazy busy the last 2 months have been with extra classes on top of all my current classes(!), suffice it to say that there is NO way I would have come out of it sane except for the grace of God...honestly...humanly not very possible...but with God EVERYTHING is possible...and He carried me through. That along with some phenomenal constant support and constant encouragement from very wonderful people, I was able to successfully FINISH everything...so thank you...you all know who you are.

God is amazing...

He truly, truly, truly is...

But He isn’t the only One amazing...

Lately I have been overwhelmed in gratitude for the people God has placed in my life and is continuing to place in my life...

My friends truly are so amazing...

I mean, what can I say...

Someone once said that if you can count at least five “close” and “true” friends on your hand (we’re talking about true-blue friends—people who you know are ALWAYS going to be there for you...regardless of time and change) one is luckier than he can ever imagine. 

I realized something...I am doubly more lucky than being luckier than I could ever imagine.

I am overwhelmed with how many phenomenal friends God’s placed in my life...

Friends who are always looking out for me, no matter where they are...and no matter how busy they are...

Friends who rejoice in my happiness and success, and cry with me in my pain and sorrow...

Friends who are always there to listen to all the exciting and not so exciting (>.<)happenings in my life...and who are interested in these happenings...well, for no other reason than because it is simply happening to me...

Friends who have never hesitated being there and who I know will ALWAYS be there...

From my high school era...

From my college era...

From my professional era...

From my very recent era...

From my family...(Jonathan, you know you rank at the top...I love you... no other sister has such a self-sacrificing and loving brother...I am truly privileged and blessed.)

You ALL have touched and blessed my life so incredibly much....

Upon all these realizations, I really was humbled…and bowed before God with feelings of immense gratitude for the good people He’s surrounded my life with.

I have truly been blessed to have so many GOOD people in my life...

And you all KNOW that I value and respect and love every one of you from the bottom my heart. 

In closing,

God is a faithful God and He is an all-surpassing God (there’s much meaning behind this adjective “all surpassing”)...

And especially over the past few months, I’ve SEEN evidences of Him answering specific prayers of mine, again and yet again...
The pruning, stretching, and growing process in my own heart has escalated painfully at times...

But He’s been revealing to me even more of Who He really is and what He’s really like...

And I stand in awe...and in such dire need of Him...

And lastly,

God truly desires our happiness...

And oftentimes we’re afraid...well, at least I’ve realized that I’m afraid that some things just might be too good to be true...

But I’ve realized that the God who created me, knows me...

He knows my heart...

Intimately...

And knows exactly what I need...and what my heart's desire is...

And He loves me enough to give me just that...

And I’ve just been blown away...

So yes, I wanted to take this time to gratefully praise God the Giver of all good gifts...

Who has truly heaped blessings on someone totally unworthy of His goodness...

And I just wanted to publicly acknowledge God’s mercy towards undeserving me...

And no, cannot ever end without pictures! ^.~

Random pictures over the past months since my last post...

These are pictures from a while back when the GYC crew came to John Chung's house.  It was fun to see old friends and to meet new ones. (Sorry Andy...so late...I know...)

Andy saying:  "Uh, Israel, you've got a praying mantis on your shirt!"

They're all looking at John who was saying something very important...as always.

The 4 ladies!!!! So good to see you all.  Two lawyers, two teachers...

Pictures of my wonderful family:

Me with my brother, mom, and dad

My lovely and wonderful parents whom I LOOOOVE so much!!!

6 of our Korean exchange students graduated from Spalding Elementary School!!

I took the girls out for dessert afterwards. They looked adorable in their pretty dresses. ^^

My co-teachers and buddies:  Yuki Duvall (6th grade), and Cindy Ladi (8th grade)

Pictures from my cousin Jane's reception which she held in Tennessee...She got married in Jamaica. ^^
She waited a long time to meet the man of her dreams. ^^

Peter (bride's brother), me, Jane (beautiful, isn't she?!), and my brother

The silly cousins...

My mom and oldest aunt

My adorable grandparents...such a cute picture! ^^

The four sisters...they have the BEST fun together!

More random pictures of my life:

With my buddy Riquel Church who is also a teacher.

And pictures of just....me....having fun...

Yeah, so this was as short, sweet, and to the point as I could possibly make it...*laugh*  Yeah,  pretty much hopeless....

Have a great summer one and all…I’ll tune into your xanga’s from time to time, but will have ZERO time to post another entry until…well, until the next time I find time to post…

Au voir…and God bless you multitudinously!

The South East Youth Conference--2007

What a power-packed, spiritually rejuvenating, Spirit-filled weekend last weekend was!  We had been praying for this weekend and I was thrilled to hear that Pastor Asscherick was going to be the speaker. 

God is working...He is preparing the hearts of young people everywhere...

It's amazing to see how much SEYC has grown over the years. I remember the first effort here at Southern in 2005. David Gates was our speaker and it was powerful.  Last year, 2006, Pastor Mark Finley was our speaker, it grew in size, 3ABN became involved and again we experienced a powerful weekend.  This year Pastor David Asscherick was our speaker, and the Holy Spirit was working over time. The Iles Gymnasium at Southern was packed full, bleachers on both sides and even in the back filled to maximum capacity.  There was even an overflow room to accommodate those who could not find seats.

And God was SPEAKING!

Very clearly pleading and calling to the hearts of everyone present...

I invited as many people as I could, encouraging them all to make it out for this weekend.

And for all those who came, we were blessed and rejuvenated and vitalized.

The meetings began for convocation on Thursday afternoon at 11:00.  I could not be present at this one because I was teaching during this time.  But come Thursday night and I was there. And so were some others that I knew were coming as well as others that I did not know were coming.  It's always a pleasant surprise to see people you know! ^^ It was good to see Adam Ramdin, who drove from Nashville to join us on Thursday evening; Justin Kim, who flew in as one of the workshop speakers; Johnny Suarez, who came with Pan De Vida Productions (all seminars and meetings were recorded.  I highly recommend this weekend's series!); others came later like Sarah Shim and her sister Grace, who came in from Birmingham on Friday to join us for the weekend; Sikhu whom we saw on Sabbath was there too--a totally wonderful surprise; and then a HOST of others from the colporteuring world that I've been a part of for 7 years as well as a score of Southern friends, co-workers, and tutors (whom our department employs) scattered throughout the audience were a blessing to pick out from my birds' eye view on stage.  

It was such a thought-provoking, moving weekend and my heart was so gladdened by the fact that there were so many people there that I knew who could enjoy the spiritually rich blessings of the weekend.

My girlfriends:  Riquel Church, Cindy Ladi, Sarah Shim, and Sikhu (with a wonderful last name ^^)

The rest of these pictures come from Cracker Barrel…a group of us went out to eat for breakfast.

The Shim sisters…

Sarah and I with Frank Zyrinski...

CAMPUS Winter Retreat 2007

A bit belated…

I wanted to update much, much earlier, but this past week has been QUITE the week for me for a variety of reasons.  There were a myriad of things to accomplish and get done before school deadlines and significant state of affairs to work through, but I praise and thank God so much for His goodness and faithfulness. At the end of this week, I look back and marvel at how His mercy through these variable circumstances has been clearly revealed to me, firstly through the promises of His Word and through the assurances He constantly gives me, and secondly through the wonderful individuals that God has placed in my life and is continuing to place in my life. It’s been one of those weeks where I’ve been gripped with the re-realization that I just have SO much to be grateful for and I have been humbly praising God from whom all these blessings flow…

Well, I had the opportunity to finally attend one of CAMPUS’ retreats!
The timing was perfect for a variety of reasons:

1. It happened to fall on a long weekend (President’s Day) and teachers get long weekends off...^^
2. The retreat covered 2 topics, which have always gripped the attention of young people everywhere (myself included):  Relationship and Music.
3. Hana Kim, one of the Campus missionaries and a dear friend of mine extended the invitation and actively encouraged me to come.
4. And one of my friends whom I haven’t seen in 14 years was going to be there along with other friends from DKAY and CAMPUS.

How could I refuse?
The pull was strong…I found myself gravitating towards that pull and before I knew it I had bought my plane ticket and soon found myself landed in the midst of snow-covered landscapes, frozen lakes, and blizzardous weather.

I am not a fan of cold weather but I absolutely LOVE snow!!! 

I was in bliss the entire weekend while Michiganders looked at me, wondering how the marvels of snow could still enamor anyone…I understand that one easily can become calloused to its sheen beauty when one needs to shovel 6 feet of snow every single day. ^.~

Rhonda Rushton…my long time friend picked me up on Friday and took me to eat at Bangkok Cuisine. Thai food is phenomenal…and I ate the whole huge plate all by myself, plus a big thing of smoothies and promptly had little appetite for the rest of the weekend. *laugh* That was one good meal…thanks Rhonda!!!

God’s Spirit was moving that weekend as the speakers, Steven Conway, Ivor Myers, and Justin Kim plainly presented from the Word of God. I took furious notes on my trusty Apple PowerBook to share with others like Sarah Shim who could not be present.

It was definitely a weekend of self-realization and soul-searching…

The meetings afforded extremely practical applications. It provided guidelines on how to maneuver through the somewhat quaky waters of Christian insecurity; it delved into the true practicality of Christianity, manifesting itself through dating and relationships--definitely caused me to take an honest look at myself; and it was extremely informative as the origins of musical styles were traced all the way back to the French Revolution and voodism! (Ivor Myers, who used part of the musical group known as the "Boogiemonsters," did an excellent presentation intertwining music with passages from Ezekiel, Deuteronomy, and Revelation..."Organized Confusion"--extremely, extremely informative--a must hear presentation!)  

It was powerful…all around powerful…and I found myself amen-ing the entire weekend both verbally and in my heart.

And I want to take this time to thank all those who worked so hard in coordinating events like these (eg: the CAMPUS staff and missionaries…such a solid team!  Keep up the great work.) 

We all gained tremendous blessings! 

I came away wishing that Michigan was a bit closer…or that Tennessee was a bit closer…such spiritual events I am always eager to attend, but am sadly restricted by time and distance.

 With Esther

With Boeun

 At Julia’s house after Camp Au Sable, eating, playing games, and hanging out with her family and the Toronto girls...

Oh, and how could I forget her adorably hyper dog Ginger

I especially wanted to thank all my friends who went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable and welcome…for all those who provided food and rides and a place to stay.

I had such a GREAT time with all of you and made wonderful memories I won't ever forget....thank you!

And goodbye to the snow…
I shall not lay eyes on you again for a very long time...

As for the rest of you, I leave you the greeting that Camp Au Sable left with us as we drove away: