hmmm... so, today is a little warmer. and i can actually SEE the sky. amazing. it's supposed to be blue!!

it's friday. YAY!

jo has had half days all this week b/c the day school he works at has had off for easter (a christian school). he's only had to teach the afternoon school kids. it's been wonderful. we have gotten to hang out in the morning... have breakfast, run exciting errands like paying bills and recharging cell phones. it's been fabulous. boo for next week, back to normal.

i'm glad it's friday. (did i say that already?)

my prep class took their robin hood test yesterday, so today is fun day. next monday we start the secret garden. for julie's sake, i'm not doing an adventure story... she hates them and i guess robin hood was just too boyish for her. ha!

my last class continues to be on this MWF schedule, and i'm absolutely loving the extra hour in the evenings on tues/thurs. usually i'm getting home ~9:45, so it's great to get home just a little bit earlier. last night jody and i commenced once again on the puzzle we started back in december. we have a LOT left to do, but still, it was nice to have enough time in the evening to work on it.

so i'm trying to be a better communicator, since i've been so MIA lately. please continue to pray for us. we know this is such a critical time - making decisions and trusting the Lord to form us as a couple to serve Him.

hope to hear from you all soon. be in touch.

i am tired tonight, but i thought it was high time i wrote something. an apology to my faithful blog-readers. i have become sadly delinquent since jo invaded my life.

so yes, i am alive... breathing...

starting last monday, my advanced step 3 class moved to three days a week - MWF. it has been a really strange feeling not to have the children in that class every night, and the past few times there's been a frenzied feel to the class. we are trying to accomplish a lot each week in a much shorter slot of time. in some ways, it could be compared to a 9th grade english class back home studying on block schedule, and i am having to prepare a schedule for the parents and students to know ahead of time exactly what we'll be doing. it's weird for me, because i am not a trained teacher... and i'm being asked to do what teachers go to school and get their master's for. i feel a little bit inadequate, and it's really difficult to know if i can ask these children to keep up with the pace we're going at. i fear comprehension and these children's sleep and sanity are being sacrificed on the altar of "efficient" learning schedules.

anyway... hoping we'll find a balance and rhythm as a class and get in the flow soon.

in other news, europe, here we come!! jo and i have bought our tickets for our little backpacking adventure.... (drum roll, please) yay! aug 30 - sept 23. basic planning and research has commenced. jo is furiously searching for hiking shoes and sandals online. it's quite amusing.

there are so many other decisions to be made in the next 5-6 months... flying home, wedding details, flying to texas, the wedding, williamsburg, europe, back home, back to korea... my job, jody needing to find a job, an apartment, etc... if you don't have enough things to pray for in your own life, feel free to intercede for jo and me. the knowledge that the Lord is leading us is very comforting... even more so, to know that He is moving His children to intercede for one another. so - on that note - let me know how i can be praying for you, too.

bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. -galatians 6,2

i did it...

i took the token picture. sorry.

after an emotionally-charged weekend, i thought it was high-time i let everyone know the news. after picking me up from work friday night and walking me home, jody asked me to be his wife.... (at least, i think that's what he said. i actually don't remember everything. call it overload. ha!) anyway, i said, 'yes.' :)

we are so very happy, while still feeling incredibly inadequate to face the planning and challenges that are ahead. just this morning we prayed that God would equip us and help us to know what we need to do while we're here in korea. there's a lot to be done, and we must continue with our jobs and the details of our lives in korea while most planning will have to take place in the states. first and foremost, however, we are praying for our lives, our thoughts, or focus to remain centered on the Lord and that our walks with Him will only grow through this season of engagement. we give all the glory to the Lord.

we are planning on getting married august 25th at my church in richmond - west end assembly of God. poor pastor bill... two clementson weddings in 3 weeks. ahahaha!

"Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.

Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips."
Psalm 63,3-5

i would just like to announce that my internet has been fixed.
*hallelujah chorus in the background*

and i had green beans tonight. probably the first time since i came to korea.
oh, and it snowed today. not much. but still.

and another thing. i was late to work b/c the repairman was late. and i arrived to find david screaming like a banchee (sp?), brett trying to sneak down to the corner mart, three new children in my class - one of whom was bawling her eyeballs out, and her mother was hovering anxiously around - two who refused to write anything... and mrs kim trying to provide some semblance of order.

and that is how my workday began.... but don't you worry. i nipped all that in the bud really quick. i was evil miss ruth. *you gotta be the first few days as the new teacher. gotta strike some fear into those hearts... or you'll pay for it later*

but my day ended with an old student returning to visit - gabriella!!! she's starting back up on monday in my step 3 class. and let me tell you, i'm stoked.

^.^ the simple life in korea ^.^

i hear from brittany, adjusting to the busy life back in the states, that she misses the simplicity of life here in korea. and it is true. the life of an english teacher in korea is not a complicated one. i do not have much in the way of possessions outside of my apartment, and i don't really care for much. i have my students and coworkers, a very small network of western friends through church or around town, and jo. and yet it has been enough. i am thankful.

right now i am trying to get over a little laryngitis. i woke up friday morning without a voice, so today i am trying to rest. i slept a lot, and now i'm taking a breather in the middle of writing up prince caspian study questions and vocabulary. it's actually really wonderful. i have been stressed out with all the changes going on. i have lost so many of my students that it has been really hard to teach at all, and it's a challenge not to get discouraged.

for those who have kept up with me and my schedule, i wanted to give you a head's up. i am renewing my contract for another few months - until the end of july. i will be back in virginia for the month of august (except for a week or so, when i visit texas). then it looks like something big will be happening around the end of that month....


yeah.

and then if all can be planned correctly, jody and i would like to go backpacking in europe for a few weeks before returning to korea to teach for another year. the details are still in the works and i think i stop every 10 minutes to breathe deeply about all the ridiculous changes that are happening, but overall we both feel a great sense of peace about this big decision in our lives.

your prayers are still appreciated, however! and i cannot wait to see you all when i get back in a few months. it's crazy to think that i'll be back in va after another whole year....

may the Lord lead and may He receive all the glory. we are doing our best to follow Him and to move in step with Him. love you all. write soon.