Embracing twenty-three

23About two weeks ago I was freaked out about twenty-three- it just seemed older. It just seemed liked I was getting old too fast.  It just seemed weird. I didn’t feel ready to embrace another year of getting older and beside twenty-two has a good ring to it. Yes, some of these things are still true like I am getting older and twenty-two has a good ring to it, but over the past two weeks God has been working in my heart and embracing me with truths for this next year. After an episode of freaking out about getting older I committed my fears and my anxious thoughts to God and committed to prayer each day to seek God’s desire for this next year in my life.

God has laid some beautiful truths on my heart and has helped me embrace this new year in my life. I am choosing to cling to these truths. He is making me new. A song that has been playing over and over again on my runs is Beautiful Things by the band Gungor. This song talks about how God makes beautiful things out of dust. I am just in awe these days with how much God loves me. He sent his only son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins so that I could be loved no matter what. There is absolutely nothing that can separate me from His love (Romans 8:37-39). How awesome is that. This morning as I opened up my bible to read I happened to be in Matthew 26 where it talks about Jesus having His last meal, being betrayed and then denied; wow, God perfect timing because this is something that has been on my heart lately. I have being pondering what Jesus’ death truly means to me in my life and what it means for me to live it out.

My Birthday Morning- Beautiful!

This past year God has helped me work through my fears, strongholds and to face my sins. He has called me to trust Him more and depend on Him more. My life is not perfect and I still have things to work through, but that is the beautiful thing about this life with Christ. We are not perfect, but He still loves us. He still desires us. He helps us through each circumstance. He is always faithful.  I am so excited for what this year is going to be.

As I embrace this year there are twenty-three things that I am going to focus on it, grow in and embrace:

1.      Eat healthy (lots of veggies, quinoa, coconut oil and less baking)

2.      Workout (run a ½ marathon)

3.      Thankfulness (continue to write in my thankful journal and wake up each morning with the saying “today I am grateful”

4.      Read More! (Spend Sunday afternoons reading)

5.      Practice a Sabbath

6.      Seek God for confidence in my roles in life

7.      Say No! Learning what it means to put up boundaries and not feel guilty for saying No!

8.      Be generous! (give my tithes first to God and then give beyond that)

9.      Encouragement (write letters, notes, and send packages)

10. Say Sorry with no “buts”

11. Find a new hobby (no more baking!!!)

12.  Go on adventures

13. No gossiping!

14. Practice the Fruits of the Spirit

15. Take a Korean class (embrace the culture I am living in)

16. Teach with my whole heart

17. Embrace alone (spend 1 Saturday a month all alone)

18. Be hospitable (invite people over for dinner, game nights, coffee, ect)

19. Play Games (dutch blitz because I just enjoy it)

20. Read through the whole bible and really soak it all in

21. Maintain my “healthy” weight

22. Volunteer at an orphanage (this is something that is always on my heart)

23. Live out Micah 6:8 “To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God!”

My desire is to live out this verse this year...

I am not going to allow the age of twenty-three to freak me or make me anxious instead I am going to embrace it with a God who will carry me through and continue to speak beautiful truths into my life as well as help me work through the twenty-three things He has placed on my heart! J

Happy Birthday to me!

                                                                                                            Love, Daniella

a. day. alone

a. day. alone. I have not had very many of these by choice in my lifetime. I really don’t remember the last time I chose to spend the whole day or even just a little bit of time by myself, but this Saturday I practiced saying “no” (which I really struggle with) and spent the whole day alone. Let’s just say it was so refreshing and just what I needed. I laugh now because all along God knew I needed this day and He had it all planned out for me, but of course I struggled with deciding on going with family and friends to the zoo. I don’t like zoos because I don’t like animals, but I wanted to go to socialize and be with the people that are dear to my heart. Although I know that I would have had a blast at the zoo I know that God wanted me to Himself for a day. He wanted all of me. He wanted me to find my rest in Him and to finally overcome the fear of being alone. I can officially say that I have faced a struggle that I have since forever- that being; I hated being alone. I feared it, but yesterday I had a break through. God spoke clearly to my heart over and over again that I am not truly alone ever because He is always with me. He is the one that can satisfy my longing. He is the one that I need to take time for.

I have been reading through a book with one my dear friends here in Korea. We are reading Having a Mary Heart in Martha World by Joanna Weaver. In the chapter this week she talks about how important it is to protect our time with God.  A part that really stuck with me was the part that talked about loneliness and quietness. It said in paraphrase “so often we are afraid of being alone, but have you ever thought about loneliness being God’s way to call you to fellowship with Him? Have you ever thought about quietness as a time where you can hear God’s voice because you are being quiet instead of listening to advice from friends, podcasts or music? We so often put noise on to fill the quietness, but are we missing out on God speaking to us? “

Truth!

This year has been a year where God is really teaching me to embrace loneliness not as a bad thing, but as a good thing. He is changing my perspective of loneliness. Loneliness doesn’t have to be a time where you feel all by yourself and don’t feel like you have anybody to talk to, eat dinner with, play games with, ect, but loneliness can be a time where you press into God deeper. I believe in faith that I will not be lonely for the rest of my life because of the desire that God has placed on my heart, but right now I am ready to embrace this season of loneliness. I am ready to finally bend my knee to a fight that I have been fighting for forever and allow God to use this time of loneliness to transform me into the woman of God He has created me to be.

Throughout this beautiful Saturday I spent time being productive, being still, reading in the sunshine, walking through nature and soaking in everything that God had for me. I walked in quietness instead of listening to my ipod and I heard sweet truths spoke into my life by the one who loves me the most, God! He placed things on my heart to ponder on, to trust Him in and to be excited for. I know that even though I feel like I have gained a hundred miles in the department of loneliness and that I have overcome a fear. With that I know that it doesn’t mean that I won’t struggle with it ever again, but now I have the truth to continue to fight back with. I have the realization and new perspective to help me fight the fight because I know that what God wants is for me to embrace it and He alone will satisfy it! Hooray!

I love that being alone doesn’t mean that I will always be alone, but that there are moments where we need to be alone so we can experience more of the one who loves us so deeply. I love being with people! I LOVE IT and I won’t stop being with people of course, but I have also learned this weekend what a treasure it is to set apart time to be alone. My goal for this coming year (yes, I turn 23 in 13 days!!!!) is to take a day each month to intentionally be “alone” aka be alone with God.

Will you join me in this goal for your own life?

Love, Daniella

P.S. Only 15 school days left with my kiddos… I am starting to get teary eyed, but also so ready for a long break and did I mention I coming to the U.S.A! J

Walk by Faith

These past couple of weeks have definitely been a test.  It has been a hard adjustment coming off of incredible season of coaching soccer. I didn’t realize how much I loved it and how much it filled my day up. I now have so much more time, but less motivation to get the things that I need to get done. It is funny how when you don’t have a lot of time you can be determined to work hard and get so much done, but when you do have a lot of time it becomes so hard to finish a task.

These past couple of weeks have I been faced with many valleys that I have had to walk through. Without going into details these valleys have involved student problems (prays would be appreciated with how to deal with it), relationships and a reoccurring lesson that God has to keep teaching me over and over again. These valleys have drained me- mentally, spiritually, and physically, but you see it is not just these valleys, but the valleys that I have had to face all year. I just feel like every time I feel I am doing really well, feel settled and just loving life I am hit with another battle to face (a valley). It has been draining- mentally, spiritually and physically.  There moments when I don’t think I will be able to make it to the end of the school year, but then I am reminded that I have a God that promises to never leave me. He will carry me. His burden is light and His yoke is easy and He asks me to give it all to Him (Matthew 11:30). 

I am reminded that I have to walk by faith even when I cannot see what is going to happen. I have to have faith that God will give me the wisdom to guide my students in the right direction of loving one another through their differences. I have to have faith that God is in my relationships and that His plans will be clear. He has a plan and a purpose for each action, word and placing of people in your life even if it is not the way you or they see it. He sees the whole picture.  I have to have faith that I will finally be at peace with the lesson that God has been trying to teach me over and over again. I have to have faith that I will bend my knees in this area and give it all to Him.

I have decided that I will walk by faith even when I cannot see because I know that I have a God who will guide me and who will show me the way. (2 Corinthians 5:7)He will always protect me, teach me and love me. Faith is believing even when you cannot see and I am deciding today to take on this challenge of having faith that God has a purpose for this past year and that it is drawing me closer to His heart and His will for my life!

Love, Daniella



So Worth it!

Today I came home from school went grocery shopping, got lots of school work done, made dinner, relaxed, looked at plane tickets, took a shower and now I am going  to bed at 8:30… can you guess that I have more time now that soccer season is over?!? It’s amazing how much time was taken away coaching, but you know what I miss it. I miss going to practice every day. I miss seeing the girls on my team. I miss being challenged. I miss being outside. I miss seeing goals accomplished. I miss it. Yes, it is nice to have a few extra hours in my day and my body is surely telling me that I have been busy for way too long this week, but I still miss it.

I miss this! The joy and the laughs!

Coaching soccer was good for me. It helped me to focus on something other than school and life. It helped me to be discipline. I was so much healthier while coaching soccer. I was so much more self-discipline and productive! It helped me gain my confidence again. It brought me closer to God- who I relied on for everything during the season.

My Team on Senior Day! We only had one senior! :)

Coaching soccer was good for me. It allowed me to go beyond knowing just the elementary students in my school, but now I know some of the high school girls. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and humbled me when I had to ask for help so many times. It stretched me when I had to make decisions and figure out what was best for my team. It opened my eyes again to what it is like to be in high school and the issues that high schoolers deal with every day.  

It is hard to believe that our incredible season is over. My girls went undefeated in their season being #1 in conference and then they went on to victory winning first place in tournament. These Lady Conquerors went against the odds of having only 12 players and 3 who had never played soccer before to being champions with grace. Being a coach to these ladies was a huge blessing and lifesaver in my life.  As you know moving to Korea has been a hard transition, but God has continue to be so faithful through it all providing me with just what I need at the right time and this spring He provided me with 12 high school girls to coach. I would have never guessed that this would have happened, but I am so thankful it did. I would not trade the past two months for anything. These ladies taught me so much about the importance of teamwork, encouraging one another, playing for the glory of God, never giving up, and finding the strength to push through all things, goal making and what it means to love unconditionally! I learned so much through this season and I am excited to say that I will be coaching again next season! J

We did it!!!! We had amazing season of hard work and it paid off!

Highlights of the season include:

·         Building a team that pushed each other to do better

·         Having team dinners at my apartment (I am never having 12 kids- it is so much food and work!!!)

·         Praying before and after each game remembering why we are playing- All for His glory because He has given us the ability to play.

·         Creating goals as a team and individually before each and every game

·         Beautiful sunny days of practice

·         Running to AK Plaza, getting smoothies and doing communication games

·         Having a great fan support

·         Seeing girls accomplish their goals and playing their hardest

·         Winning tournament even though other teams didn’t think we deserve it! We just played our best! J

·         Coaching with Hannah (an amazing assisted coach!!!)

Team Dinner=loading up on the carbs!

Soccer was so so so good for me! I am so thankful for each thing that I learned through the season and I am excited for next year because it can only get better with changes! J This is one thing that I have learned as a first year teacher and coach- changes are always good! Thank you, God, for giving me this amazing opportunity and allowing me to learn so much through it! I am one happy coach!

What a team! I miss them!

                                                                                                                       

 

Our team motto for the season!

Love, Daniella

Happy Birthday, Grandma!!!

Today a very special lady in my life celebrates her eighty-second birthday, my dear grandma!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!!!!

Grandma- I know that you are reading this which makes me smile. I love that you have a computer to keep in touch and it has been so fun to skype with you while I am in Korea. I am so impressed that you have learned to do all sorts of things on your computer!! J

Grandma! Thanks for being an amazing example of a woman who seeks after God‘s heart. Thanks for showing me the power of prayer and reading scripture. Thank you for showing me what it means to be an independent woman and to always have an excuse to buy a new dress! J You have taught me so much and I am so thankful for your wisdom. There are so many amazing memoires that I cherish with you. You are so fun, so caring, and so generous! You always listen, always give good advice and you see the heart of people! I am so thankful for the summers that I have gotten to spend with you and grandpa. Getting our green tea frappes, shopping, and laughing are at the top of the list of favorites with you!

My Sweet Grandma and I! :)

My prayer for you this year is that you will be refreshed and find rest in God alone. You have been amazing support and care-giver to grandpa. Thank you for showing me what it means to serve your husband with your whole heart no matter how difficult it is. I pray that God will refresh you in new ways.

Grandma! I ask that you will continue to take care of yourself so you can be around for many more years. There are still so many memories I want to make with you!!! I love you so very much!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

 

We both love going to the ocean and eating a yummy healthy salad! :) Grandma- you have taught me well!!!

 

                                                                                                            Love, Daniella

Oh, good-byes!

Good-byes are never easy no matter where you are. In my life time I have had to say far more good-byes than I can count. Growing up in a mission organization with a constant flow of people coming and going always brought good-byes. People who invested in your life and you invested in their lives and then suddenly it’s time for them to leave. Good-byes have always been hard for me. I ignore them and pretend they are not going to happen until the very last second and then I feel like I don’t have enough time to tell the person how much they have impacted my life and how I am going to miss them so much because I have ignore the fact that it was going to happen!!!

One of the first things that someone said to me when moving to my community here in Korea is “you better be ready to say a lot of good-byes… people come and go constantly here.” Inside all I could hear myself saying is “this is no good- I need to leave now before I become friends with someone who I have to say good-bye to!” But then someone else told me “if you never become friends with someone who you know is going to leave soon then just maybe you will miss out on a great friendship” You see the community I live in consist mostly of people who are missionaries or people who are with the military. People who move constantly!

Well, I listen and become friends with an amazing couple and another lady. And now guess what… the couple has left. They have moved back to the states. I miss them. I miss laughing with them. I miss going out with them on Saturday nights. I miss drinking bubble tea. I miss being spontaneous with them. I miss the care and understanding they gave me. I miss our conversations. I miss learning so much from them. I just miss them. I know that God has a purpose in bringing them back to the states and I know that God had a purpose in allowing me to become friends with them, but it doesn’t make the good-byes any easier. I pray that someday will be able to meet again! J

My dear friends, Derek & Christy (baby Lydia)!

And guess what else my dear friend is going to be leaving in July, but I am trying to not think about that now. I am trying to soak up every minute we get together. I am enjoying the moments we have during our bible study and our spontaneous trips. I don’t know what I will do when she leaves, but I am trusting God that He knows!

My dear friend, Emma!

Bottom line… good-byes are hard! But God is showing me a lesson through them to invest in people while He places them close to me. To enjoy the moments! To cherish them! To love them!

Just so you know that when I say good-bye to you; it really is hard for me even if I don’t always show it on the outside. My heart just aches for a while! L

Love, Daniella

 

 

{Settled}

I know that most of post since moving to South Korea have been about the hard aches of my transition here and the lessons that God is/has been teaching me through every heart ache, tears, disappointments, struggles and misunderstandings. Well, today I want to share with you that I think I am starting to feel {settled} in where God has me. There are still many frustrations, disappointments, and struggles, but through it all God is/has been modelling my heart and showing me the simply beautiful journey He is taking me on through this chapter in my life.


In front of my home- it's really starting to feel like home! J  

Today, I spent the day really resting, having lunch with my girlfriends, reading cards on my rooftop while soaking in the sun, going for a run, buying fresh strawberries to make chocolate dipped strawberries and updating my blog. Oh, I forgot to tell you… my spring break has started! Yay!  With all this said I was reading through the wonderful cards that so many people who mean the most to me have written to me while I have been in Korea. I came upon an envelope that I had jotted down some notes on. I have no idea what book or blog I was reading, but let me tell you it must have been a good one because these quotes are good. One that really stuck out to me today was:

“God is saying to us, over and over “What can I do today to remind you again how good this life is?”

So true! My life is so good because I get to journey through it with a Savior, Jesus Christ who makes it simply beautiful. God never promised life would be easier actually He said “that we will face trials”, but with that He said “He would never leave us or make us do it on our own!”

Corrie Ten Boom is one of my favorite heroes. I try to read her book The Hiding Place once a year. Every time I read it, it puts my life into perspective again.  Anyways, I love this quote that she says “With Jesus even in our darkest moments the best remains and the very best is yet to be…” My desire over spring break is to allow God to change my perspective of being here in Korea. I have had the perspective of it being hard and not at all what I expected it to be, but I have decided that I don’t want to stay stuck in this mind-set. Through lots of prayer because I know that is the only way I am going to be able to change my mind-set to see what the very best yet to come is going to be. My prayer is that I will embrace where I am and seek to see the goodness in it all. To allow joy to flow in and out of me. To focus on positivity. To focus on an eternal perspective. To change my heart and my mind to focus on the journey that God has for me and have peace that there is a reason for each emotion.

Love these words!!

This spring break is all about refreshment and gaining a new perspective. I have the lovely opportunity of traveling with some co-workers to see Taiwan. I think this is perfect timing because it will allow me to leave Korea (leave behind the old mind-set) and return to Korea with a desire to gain the new mind-set. I have also taken the weekends to rest and organize my life. Much needed! So, after all the post of storms it looks like the sun is breaking through the clouds. Yes, I do know that I am still going to face hard times, but that’s okay- it’s life and that’s what makes it a beautiful mess! J  

Love, Daniella