Graduation

We had the joy of celebrating two separate graduations this past week:)
Our kindergarten class: Marco, Chloe, Kyung Min, Andrew, David, and Rose with their teacher (and BCA director) Jennifer Lipp










Our high school graduates: Lauren, Kyle, Rachael, Kyle, Sean, and Christina.














What a great work God has done at BCA this year!

Taxi Faith

Every once in awhile when I am running behind schedule (a snoozed alarm clock that never rang again) or have lots of heavy things to carry to school, I take a taxi. I am reminded how much simpler it might be to get to school if I had a car, but I'm not willing to consider the overwhelming number of negatives. Some taxi drivers like to talk and others drive in silence.

I am amazed at the countless ways I have arrived at school. I often end up on a road I have never seen before. As I took a taxi home from the grocery store today, I was a bit surprised by the route we took. Although the route might be new, I generally tend to sit back and trust the driver unless he asks for my opinion about the route we take or clearly seems to be heading in the wrong direction. I am blessed with a fairly good sense of direction so I know if we are heading way off course.

As I relaxed in the relative comfort of a taxi ride recently, I considered how this is much like the life of faith. We know we are on our way to heaven and eternity with Christ (once we have made that life-changing decision to put our faith in Jesus Christ). Other than knowing our ultimate destination, there are numerous paths that God takes us down on our way there. (Disclaimer: This is not meant to mean that I there is a way to heaven other than through receiving God's gift of grace, but that God leads us all on different journeys in the life of faith.) The path that God has designed for me looks nothing like the journey that He is taking you on. Isn't that amazing!

And unlike some of my taxi drivers who need to ask my help in getting to the obscure street where my school is located, God knows the streets of our life perfectly. He knows the bumps in the road and understands that some turns feel like detours heading us in the opposite direction.

Sometimes the roads He sends me down aren't the roads I would have chosen. The streets aren't always marked clearly or well lit. Those turns are sometimes the ones that bless me the most. God uses the scary, dark alleys to draw me closer to Him, to trust Him in His leading in my life. Although I know my ultimate destination, this is one journey in which I don't know the route. I sometimes think I have it figured out, and those tend to be the times when God sends me on what feels like a detour.

Isn't it good to know that we can and trust Him? God help me believe and to trust you more!

Withdrawal

I realized recently that I haven't written much lately and that it feels a little bit like withdrawal--something that is so much a part of who I have become that it feels strange that I haven't take the time to do it on some level. So, here's hoping that I can get back in the groove:)

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! to all the women in my life who are mothers. Thanks for all that you do. As a teacher, I get to see first hand the difference that you make in kids' lives. Thank you for sticking with your kids through the good times and the hard ones, for showing love that isn't based on abilities or performance, and for caring about where your kids will spend eternity. Thank you for living your lives out for me to see--sometimes from a distance, sometimes nearby. You are making a HUGE difference in the world whether you see it or not. May God continue to strengthen and encourage you, providing hope during the struggles, hugs in the pain, and much laughter in the celebrations!

Daddy's Little Girl

I think my dad would be proud of me. I know he is anyway, but I thought if he had been there yesterday, there might have been a bit smile on his face.

I was up in the mountains with other families in ReachGlobal. I guess it is a tradition (new to me) that they play baseball together. Because some equipment was forgotten, they decided to play with a tennis ball. Although it has been years since I picked up a bat, I allowed myself to be convinced to join the game. It ended up being a wonderful time together. We even had our own 'fan club' as a group got off a bus to eat lunch in the same are where we were playing.

So, why would my dad smile? Every time I got up to bat, I actually hit the ball:) (and got on base). Quite an accomplishment for me. I was just hoping to not strike out every time so I was a bit astonished. We ending up losing, but were all able to smile and laugh together.

So, my dad... He's an amazing ball player. I remember many summer afternoons in parks watching him play in games organized by his company. I also remember his patience in pitching repeatedly to me until I could connect with the ball.

All this made me wonder...what did I do today that made my heavenly Father proud? What would cause him to point me out to someone nearby and say, 'That's my daughter'? I hope that there are things each day that cause a smile to cross his face. I am sure some things I won't ever know about until I reach heaven. Hopefully there are more as days go by and I get to know Him better.