How to sum up 5 months in the USA?  That is the question before me.  In the 12 years I’ve been in Thailand, this is the longest I’ve been back in the States.  Before coming back to the USA, I prayed for a car and for money to sightsee around AZ, and to see many things that I haven’t seen in a very long time.  In the end, I didn’t sightsee around AZ, but God took me to CA and to CO and I saw things I have never seen before.  God far surpassed my expectations!!

New and wonderful cultures, (if I may be so bold as to use the word culture) I’ve been introduced to: 

Duck Dynasty

Chihuly

 
 

God’s creation that I’d never before seen:

 

Redwoods

Lake Tahoe

Maroon Bells

garden of the gods

 

Glen Canyon

Independence Pass

Things I can now cross off my bucket list:
Milked a goat; got licked by a cow; fed squirrels from my hand;  
Rode the tram at Palm Springs, Sky Harbor Airport and the Phoenix Metro Tram
Billy Graham Library

Interesting tidbits:

After many of years of living with teenage girls in Thailand, I find myself relating more than I ever dreamed of with friends who have children of their own.  Who would’ve thought??

I got to share about Thailand with a Teen challenge group. 

I’ve shared about Thailand with twice as many groups as I ever have before, and God is working, even when we can’t see it.

I saw “God is not dead” and I now have a crush on Michael Tait of the Newsboys.

I’ve stayed at 13 different homes throughout these 5 months and each family I have stayed with has enriched my life in some way.  I’ve taken something away from each place I’ve stayed. 

A time of personal reflection is a good and profitable thing. 

My collection of postcards is increasing by the day.  I’m so happy!

Finally, after 2 days of tears, I learned how to use an I-pad. 

I have regained a sense of adventure and zest for life.  I’m excited about leaving my comfort zone, believe it or not.  I’ve learned more about HOW to rest in God.  I’ve learned that I can be busy and still be at peace in my heart.  My circumstances don’t need to control my emotions.  I CAN have victory over my emotions and my sin when I remember who God is and who I am in Christ. Christ has already won the victory on the cross.  The same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at the right hand of God in the heavenly realms is available to me as His child.  I am adopted into His family and am co-heir with Christ.  But too often I forget that and dwell in my own little disgusting world, allowing free reign to my fleshly thoughts.  The apostle Paul said that we are to take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ and to let our thoughts dwell on things above.  All of those little irritations and frustrations of everyday life are minor in comparison to the glory that awaits us.  Oh God, let us truly be able to say from our hearts “It is well with my soul.”  

Let us wallpaper the walls of our minds with Scripture!!