All Good Things Must Come to an End

Well my dear friends...I think my blog is about to enter into hibernation. I've enjoyed blogging very much and have had a really great response from you all, more than I expected! Thank you for all those who have read and encouraged me through this blog!

I am so happy to let you know that I have two jobs at this time! As of last Monday I will be spending nights and weekends at a local calling center for upscale clothing. As of Friday I began a job with community services, working in schools with special needs children. I am going to be tired, but I am so thankful to have this work!! Although little extras, like keeping a blog, will have to go...

Also, I have moved from my original spot here in Lynchburg. I was so sad to leave Debbie (I miss you!!!) but it's for a good reason and is the right time. I am staying with another family (thank you Robert, Lisa, Issac, and Ben!!) here in Lynchburg for a few weeks. It's a perfect location, near my evening work making for a quick trip home when my night shift ends!

A few more weeks will see me moved again. I have an offer from a wonderful couple out in Bedford who I am excited to spend time with. My school assignment is about an hour away from their home though so it will be a challenging time this summer, to say the least! But I am young (right?) and have lots of energy to meet my goals.

Of course, Kazakhstan is still on the radar...I'm just waiting. All things have their time and place and now is the time for me to work work work!! And I seek to do so with joy and thankfulness and as much engery as I have!

If you'd like to know when I start blogging again, just subscribe to my blog (in the right hand column) and a notification will be sent to you! Blessings on each of you! Love, Ember

Frolicking....there's simply no other word

Well, after 10 inches of snow came by...I couldn't help but want to play! Sadly, I had no playmates around and had to come up with some imaginary ones. MiniMe and KJ-Gee were fun for dress-up but poor competition for a snowball fight! And of course I had to make a snow angel!

Please put me in the slow lane!!!

As I drove home from North Carolina, in swooped a snow storm...a very BIG, wet, and cold snow storm! It was a bit tragic considering the long morning walks I had been enjoying and the sweet daffodils that had begun peeking out at me from their yellow caps everywhere I went!


The heavy snow and winds meant a 2 and 1/2 hour drive took me almost 4 hours. I spent most of it creeping down the highway at 40 miles per hour, the end of a looooonnnggg line of cars. The couple of times I was arrogant (and impatient) enough to try and pass with speed, the slipping on the roads had me back behind them all, a bit humbler and down to 30 miles per hour!!

I counted no less than 11 accidents on the way to Lynchburg, so I'm thankful to be tucked nice and warm back at home!! Slow lane please!

We're really grownups now!

I spent this past weekend in Chapel Hill, North Carolina visiting my friend Jamie and her husband Charles. We talked for probably 95% of all our waking time, catching up having not seen each other for a year. The last time I saw her was when she got into the car to drive off on her honeymoon, just one day before I left for Kazakhstan. Now there are happy new developments in her family and as we discussed such big life issues as raising children, life insurance, and the increased cost in living...oy vey we felt like such GROWNUPS!!! ...Well, almost!

Thanks for your wonderful hospitality Jamie & Charles!

Where's the mammoth???

Hunting. I feel as if I've returned to the basic stage of striking rocks, beating myself and grunting, all while wearing spotted, matted, ragged furs. Your typical cave woman! All because... I'm job hunting.

Yes, along with so many others, I'm trying to find a job. I've got so many applications out and seem to find that the positions are filled literally moments before my resume gets in. I was hoping to be working by the first of March, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen at this point.

So what do I do? I try to be thankful for the down time I have, and put it to good use in reflection and relationship building. I keep my chin up and keep filling out the applications. And I trust. I trust that even if the worst comes and my savings are all gone, that I am not alone and the world will not end!

So although I'm a bit "hunt weary" today, this is a chin up email! The hunt is on!!! I'll keep you posted on the prey....

Of Seagulls, fish, and photography

Thanks to a good friend, I was able to have a couple of days in Virginia beach. Thanks to God they were warm and sunny days where I could walk on the beach. It was a lot of fun to relax, greet the sunrise, visit with friends, wander around the quaint shops. However, to be honest, Kazakhstan is never far from my mind. Some days it's so easy to TRUST and know that there is a bigger plan being worked out...and others days it's just difficult to still be in a place "in-between." But all said and done the beach was nice no matter what the state of my mind!! So my friend, thanks for letting me come along for the ride!!

Fellow Kazakaphiles and Kazakh visitor...kind of

Sara Coggins, the Interlink Kids Connection Manager, is in the US right now. She came through Lynchburg and we got to meet up a few times. The last time I saw her was when I dropped her off in Richmond, VA with some Kazakh loving friends of mine (note the car)! Thank you Pam and Gilpin for a really encouraging time with great food and a nice, long walk, despite the chilly weather. I really enjoyed my visit with you and hope I get to see you again soon!!

So I went to Virginia Beach this past weekend....

Reunions & Daring Escapes

So there really is no daring escape, but there have been some good times reuniting with my friends here Virginia. Here are a few highlights of catching up with a family dear to me, MY CAR an adoptive couple I met in Kazakhstan and their little boy, and a good friend over some iced mugs of pop. And this is the short list. Dozens of people have rolled out the red/blue/green whatever color carpet to welcome me home over countless meals and coffees. I'm thankful for this time...though I look forward to working again sometime soon, God willing!!

I can cook!

Hey, so the past few days have been a reaffirmation that I can cook!!! I really began to doubt myself while in Kazakhstan because I cooked some, but nothing came out quite right. Everything was just so difficult. But I did some shopping this week (And nearly had a heart attack at checkout! I mean MY WORD! Food is so expensive I just about fell over! In fact, my wallet did. It actually leapt out of my handbag and ran towards frozen foods. I chased it down and caught it just in time before it burrowed itself among the meats....and speaking of meats....AGH! Again! So I was torn between the $12 organic, hormone free chicken and the $3 (larger pack) of hormone full chicken. What to do??? Do I want crazy hormones and preservatives, NO! Can I afford the other stuff? Sadly, no...but hopefully if I go back to Kazakhstan I will have many years of chemical free food! So I bought...don't say it, yes, hormone full CHEAP chicken. *sigh* Defeat.)

....ANYWAY...so I cooked. I made a beautiful sweet potatoe-jalepeno soup yesterday that Trish taught me years ago. My host Debbie loved it, but her sons turned up their noses. More for me...ahahahaha. Then tonight I cooked couscous with capers, creamed spinach with garlic and feta, and spicy rosemary-pepper chicken in a thick tomatoe base. Tasty!!!! I can cook!!! (And no recipes so it's the best ever!!! Recipes are just like someone telling you what to do which is great if you don't have a clue, but so affirming when you throw things in a pot...and they turn out okay!) And...bonus, Debbie's son actually liked it! I know a lot of people would just be polite but when you've got a picky guy cleaning his plate...SUCCESS!!

I don't know about the weather...or much else!

We've had cold, heat, and some beautiful ice this past week. I've been meeting with loads of people who are counseling me through the return to the states and advising me regarding my hopes to return to Kazakhstan. We've all agreed that taking time is important, as opposed to rushing back. We're looking at the long term and wanting to make sure I am as prepared as possible. Although I don't necessarily like the idea of waiting (who does?!) I can see the wisdom and am thankful for the input. I have a lot to think about!

Running with the dogs

So here are some folks I've been hanging out with lately! They can't get enough of me. I'm currently house sitting for a good friend and I'm glad her HUGE dog is way more calm than he was in his puppy years.

Learning to Rest

So I learned something really great Sunday. After loading up on reunions with friends...I headed out for some solitude and a long walk in my favorite park when I realized something. I can rest!

I've been studying and working since I was 14 and the past few years all my vacation time has been used for Kazakhstan summer delegations. So, essentially for the past 14 years there has always been some checklist to do, some plan to make, something to clean, something to buy, somewhere to go, some job or job hunting. But now...

Now I am not yet able to make plans till I have quite a few more conversations. I'm not yet able to work since I haven't heard yet about my direction or time frame. I don't have a house to clean. I don't need to buy a thing. It's a beautiful time to be in. I know work and lists will come soon to me so I've realized I should be thankful in this time (and not anxious!). It's a time for reflection and taking stock, but also for REST. This is good. Very good.

Where is Ember now?

Okay....I am in LYNCHBURG. Yes, I am. Very exciting. I am taking it slow as it's quite a big shock for me to be here. I've got about a 10-15 minute time limit at Wal-Mart! It's a lot more challenging to come back than it is to leave, that's for sure.

But...taking it slowly doesn't mean you're not allowed to have some FUN! Hence, I shocked my former coworkers yesterday by showing up unexpectedly at their lunch. Those who know me shouldn't be surprised, but I'm loving the surprising people thing!!

Where was Ember?

Well, I left Delaware after the holidays...and made my first stop in Richmond, Virginia. I spent a couple of days with Vicki Charbonneau who will soon be headed to Kazakhstan herself. Check out her blog to see how she's doing! I had a great time chatting with her exchanging stories of the first year there and her stories from the past year of preparing to go. Thanks Vicki! Love you!

Sweetness!

My favorite photos from Christmas

Barefoot after Christmas

December 28th saw me at the beach...barefoot!