this ... is the beginning

i am so excited about the possibility of the opportunities awaiting me in the next few months, and am so thankful for the timing. God has really been stirring my heart for something more, something different, something outside my small bubble.

once these stirrings began, i started on what i call a "journey of self-discovery." for 30 years i've been living in this world of America. i've had the privileges of seeing large portions of the United States and even a little bit of Canada. but, for the past 7 years, i've been working in the world of missions, where people travel all over and see incredible things that i'm almost afraid to even hear about, let alone go see myself. you would be absolutely amazed if you heard the stories i've heard over the years. you would, for sure, be brought outside yourself to realize there is so much more...

and so, when God started stirring my heart to discover the "more," i paid close attention. the past 7 years have been wonderful, hard, fun, encouraging, painful. they've brought change, challenge, marriage, divorce, sin, restoration, three different job positions within the same company, two of which i wasn't even qualified for, growth, education ... and yet for the past year i've been unfulfilled, discontent, bored.

my "journey of self-discovery" began with actively seeking my skills, talents, spiritual gifts, my likes and dislikes, whatever i could find to determine "am i where i should be?" if not, where is that? what does it look like? what would i be doing?

one major thing i learned during that time was this ... i'm tired of the "i wish"es never coming true...

and next thing i know, i'm learning Spanish, thinking of going back into the hotel industry, thinking of working on a cruise ship, pursuing language school, managing a restaurant, becoming a bartender, becoming a casino dealer ... so many things, so many thoughts!

the one thing that is nearing closer to a reality is language school. wow, i'm so excited about that. i think i've narrowed it down to Antigua, Guatemala. there are lots of schools there, so now i'm trying to figure out which specific school would be the best to attend. i'm even considering volunteering while i'm learning. this one school is near a sea turtle hatchery and rescue group. that could be fun! :-)

i'm here today, at work, trying to be diligent and productive. i have one week left of work before i go on vacation. when i return, i have a very strong feeling that my next journey will be of huge changes for me, completely outside myself, completely different than i've ever known. i'm so excited!

stay tuned...