Me and my girl

Nahyun (Natalie) is now 17 months old. Her parents had been traveling around the world (well, to Spain), and she spent about a month in Texas with her grandparents. This meant that she was away from ME for about that long!

She's getting to the age where she could forget you after that long of a separation, but when I went to pick them up from the airport, she gave me a big smile and came right into my arms! I'm pretty sure my heart melted a little at that moment.

Anyway, things are definitely back to normal now. She is so different and changing all the time... although she is still without hair. :) She has earrings now (which you can't see in these pics)... AND... she's going to have a baby sister in February!! So, I get to be "emo" (auntie) again!

Hopefully, the next one will be able to call me "emo"... N called me "appa" for the longest time (which means dad) and after her away time now calls me "Amy" which means "emo" in her language. :)

Um, can you tell I adore this child?! :)

Haircut!!

It's been almost one year (technically 11 months) since I last cut my hair. It was time.

Before and After:

I enjoyed my long hair, but it will always come back. :)

Hyeyoung and Kurt are married!

Wonderful seminary friends were married September 12, 2009 in Chicago! I was privileged to share in their special day with them... Congratulations Hyeyoung unni and Kurt!!! Love you both.

My One Year Mark today

Yep, it's true. I arrived to California to start a new life here exactly one year ago today. Funny how life turns out... just never the way you think it will or expect it to sometimes. SO much has happened in the course of just one year... even the fact that I'm ordained now!

As I led worship this morning, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to be in this place. Wow. Just, wow.

With all the ups and down of this past year, I pray that keeping my heart focused on God and what it is that God calls me to do that I will continue to faithfully minister to this church and continue to root myself in this place.

Thanks for the love ya'll. It's been a good year.

Rich and Emily are married!

And I was lucky enough to share in their special and SUPER FUN day. :)

CONGRATS TO MY COUSIN RICH AND OUR NEW COUSIN EMILY!!! LOVE YOU BOTH!!

VBS 2009

It's been a while, but my life has been consumed with VBS (Vacation Bible School) for the past few weeks in terms of prep and execution, but today was the last day!! HALLELUJAH! It went really well and I'm so thankful for all the volunteers and the kids that came!!

I pray you all are well!

sharing a poem

Nothing So Wise
Jeanne Lohmann

There is nothing so wise as a circle. -Rilke

The arc of an egg
bends hands
to shape prayer,

the shell
unbroken,
the heavy yolk
floating.

Our fingers
curving always
inward, become a cup,
an open bowl.

Prayer is
circumference
we may not
reach around,

space for all we cannot hold,
the rim of Love toward which we lean.