another long, but good day

I was gone all day teaching, observing, and Triple 7-ing. I got home around 10 and for the first time in...uhhh, maybe never...I didn't have any prep or grading to do...for tomorrow's class anyways. So I played around on my guitar for awhile and caught up with a couple friends, emails, and blogs. Now, I want to sleep...because I can and it's not 2...or 3...or 4am yet! But first (for Leah's sake ;), let me note a few highlights from today.

1. I accidentally discovered Dad had no lunch plans, so we both dropped everything for a quick, unexpected lunch date. Always a blessing.
2. I finally have time (2 weeks before the end of the semester!) to observe some of the full-time teachers and try to learn some new tricks. I got to observe/participate in two classes today, both of which I'll be teaching soon. I learned things in both, and even got a few laughs.
3. Somehow, I've become popular amongst the students of one of the classes I'm observing, so the teacher and I stuck around for awhile after class chatting with some of our faithful fans. It was fun, and I even learned more about grammar in the process! Did I ever mention that I love foreigners!? When it all comes down, I love that I get to spend my time with them everyday. What a blessing.
4. 777. What is Triple 7, you ask? It started as a group of crazy guys, and now, there is also a group of crazy girls, and they're all learning to lay down everything to live for their Savior. Pretty awesome stuff. Bonnie just had to ask once and now, I get to spend every Thursday hanging with a handful of these women, and they're even willing to suffer through my guitar playing! I feel blessed and refreshed every week. I am so thankful that God lets me love on those women, be a part of their lives, and learn from them.

So now, it's almost 1am, an hour earlier than my normal bedtime, and I'm fixin' to hit the sack (sorry, got a spurt of southern flowin' through me!). I hope you all are having a great week. I'm looking forward to an awesome Friday. I hope my eyes are open to what He wants me to see tomorrow.

Much love! Peace.

the house saga... part iv

Dare I say that my parents' house has sold!? It appears as though God is answering the prayers of many in very cool ways (as He often does). There was a family in need of a home to own, with all the financial resources and no restraints...and their good friends live up the street from my parents. Papers have been signed and they are in escrow to soon become neighbors! So, as far as we can tell, God is answering the prayers of my parents, and at the same time, meeting the needs of this other family that desperately needs to own a home. (Brief Insight: They are trying to adopt a child from Russia and one of the requirements is to own a home. The Case Worker visited the house last week, and it seems their on their way to having a new daughter by the end of this year. What a blessing to them and to my parents!)

Please continue to pray for my parents as they work out all the details and get everything packed up (again!). The plan is to move them up to Arrowhead on November 4. Let's see what God has in store this time around! (This is the new place.)

Oh, and please lift up the family (Jared & Jennifer) that was unable to buy the house. God didn't put them in my parents' life on accident. Pray that they would know how to be a blessing. Pray for the family as they discover what God has in store for them.

long time, no blog

For my few faithful readers, I apologize for the lag in blogs. This is the first time in...well, I don't know if it's happened yet...that I've finished preparing for the next day's class(es) before midnight! I debated for a moment over writing or going to bed, but I couldn't help myself. Today was fun.

First, my students made me happy. I got to congratulate them today. I've been struggling with them. They haven't been where they should be. I've debated over whether it's me or them, or maybe something else. So I've been pushing them, challenging them, and motivating them with pop quizzes. But this week, they impressed me. We're finishing up what was supposed to be the most difficult chapter for students at this level, and they have done better than I've ever seen them do. They are getting it!! It's amazing. It's exciting. I told them I wasn't sure if it's because they're actually studying like they're supposed to now or if they just became brilliant all of a sudden. Or perhaps I'm figuring out a thing or two about how to teach them more effectively. My mom thinks it's a combination. Nonetheless, it's fun to see them doing well and understanding in a way that will allow them to actually use the language they're supposed to be learning. It was fun to see their smiles when I told them I was proud too. After class, a quick visit with mom turned into lunch with her and Tracy...also enjoyable.

When I arrived home, the stress was lighter than usual. Tomorrow's our first in-class write, so I didn't need to prepare a lecture, a quiz, activities, a PowerPoint, overheads...blah blah blah. I felt FREE!! It was nice. So I was excited when Chris Chris called and wanted to take me (well, technically, I guess I took her since she doesn't have a car!) to watch the sunset from the top of Mt. Rubidoux. This doesn't seem like a huge thing, but in all my years here, I've only been up the mountain once, and that was for sunrise...very, very early in the morning! Chris was excited because it was so windy today, which means the sky was nice and clear (plus, I think she knows how much I love being outside and probably knew a break in God's beauty would do me some good). So it was exciting to actually be able to say yes because I wasn't overwhelmed with school!

Being my normal self, of course we were late. We got to see the sunset as we walked up the mountain! But we had fun at the top for a moment, looking out over the city and enjoying the fresh air. I think Chris almost got blown off the mountain at one point, but we survived, and even made our way back down in the dark. I think Chris even saw her first star in Riverside. ;) It was a nice "get-away." Thanks, Chris.

on the way up


keep walkin' (Can you guess who's who?)

I told you the wind almost blew her off! (Look closely; she's holding onto the cross!)


hmm...(um, I guess you can check out the lip. Several of you have been asking about its progress. Not too shabby, huh!?)


Riverside...the good 'ole 951 (RCC's just to the right)


God's cool colors (no, it's not blurry; it was windy!)

Then, as if I hadn't had enough fun, Six let me attack her (with love, of course) when we got home. Isn't she cute!?

Phase 1 of the attack (no worries; it appears that Sixy is A-OK!)


Phase...I dunno, maybe, uhhh...6? The Not So Great Escape


Phase...The End...she still seems to be doing OK


Phase...Really The End...I think she's chet roi (yes, that's my floor she's sleeping on!). Good night, Sixy.

I am frequently reminded of how blessed I am to have people in my life that truly love me - when I'm up, when I'm down, when I'm not all I should be, when they see what I could be.

the house saga...part III

Well, sorry I have vanished from the blog world temporarily. I determined that if I could not sleep, I could not blog...and not having gotten enough sleep for...well, for awhile, I have had to steer clear of my blog. It has been difficult at times, as I have had so many things rolling around in my head that I wanted to put on paper...but another time, I guess.

So, to keep in step with the rule (no sleep, no blog), I should probably not be blogging now. However, there is something I would like my few faithful readers to lift up in prayer. You may recall the news about my parents' home and their upcoming move. Well, apparently, that wasn't God's plan...or perhaps, just not His timing. Some things fell through that were out of my parents' hands and now they are caught in the frustrating inbetween, not knowing if they're moving or not moving or when or how or...you get the picture. I think the most frustrating and draining part for them right now is the unknown, not knowing which direction to move, so instead, feeling slightly paralyzed.

Please pray for wisdom for both of them. Pray for willingness to listen and obey even if it may not be what they'd hoped for. Pray that God would speak loudly when He does so that there is no question about their next step...not that He would reveal the whole path, but that they would know with certainty where to place their foot next...as it is currently hovering over an unknown. Pray for patience as they wait as well. And pray for joy...that they would find joy in knowing that the God that they are waiting for to show them the way, is the same God who is in control of every moment. Also, please lift up the family who had set their hopes on buying my parents home. As far as we understand, they are facing an unexpected financial hardship.

Thanks for praying as you're led. I'm excited to see what He has planned. I know it's good. It's always good. Now for that sleep my body's been longing for... God bless!

sold!

At times, the Lord does choose to lay blessings in our laps. My parents signed papers today; their house is sold! There is much packing and preparing to do, but they're very excited. Somewhere around the end of the month, they should be happy residents of Arrowhead! Weird, but very cool. Please pray that amidst all the work, they will get some of the rest they've been neglecting for several weeks. We know what happens to Hermans when they don't get enough rest!! Thanks for praying and being exciting with them.

blessings out of the blue

I know I struggle with believing that God enjoys surprising us with blessings from time to time. This week, both my mom and another friend said, "We pray for things, then when God answers, we're surprised! Why are we surprised that He does what He says He'll do?"

So what blessing did he shower today? Some of you know my parents have been in the process of trying to move. Yes, trying. They have found several "dream" houses, yet as soon as they get their hopes up and the paperwork begins to flow, something falls through. On the other end of the spectrum, they've had a few good offers made on their house. Again, they all fall through. A couple weeks ago, they found the house I think they've been dreaming of for years (they thought the other houses were it, but this one is what I picture everytime they talk about a new house). They signed papers with a contingency on selling their current house...which has been on the market for 3 months with no luck. So they decided to take extreme measures.

For a little over a week now, they've been doubling as professional painters during every waking moment outside of work and church. The house looks amazing...with the exception of all the tape on windows and corners and the lovely arrangement of each room's furniture smooshed together in the center of the appropriate room. So like all other nights, tonight, they came home from work and put on their painting clothes. As soon as they began, there was a knock on the door.

A couple renting a house across the street had been eying ours for some time, but had yet to make a move. When they saw the "For Sale" sign come down (during renovations), they feared it had been sold. Over and over they made clear how desperately they wanted to buy our house. After 3 months of making sure every little thing in the house was in order each time we left, this couple was blown away with undone paint and absolute disarray.

They really want the house, they have the financial means to do it, and It appears that all their ducks are in a row. Please pray for this couple, my parents, and their precious realtor over the next couple days. Perhaps God will bless my parents by plopping a blessing in their laps.