Trust with "BLIND" Faith

Tonight I had a very personal object lesson in trusting the Lord with all your heart and leaning not on my own understanding. Let me explain a little background before I get into the actual object lesson.

I have a friend who is blind. His name is Daniel and he's an amazing guy. He is more than just a blind man. He has a heart to serve and seeks every opportunity to help. People often ask how he became blind and I don't remember exactly what it was that caused him to need a surgery when he was an infant, but the scar on the side of his head implies it was a major surgery. The result was he was healed of what caused the need of surgery, but he is now blind. I knew of Daniel a few years ago from church, but our friendship has really blossomed in the past few months. We attend the same service and when he was asked about coming to Bible study he informed us it's difficult for him to come to church because he needs rides and someone to guide him. Myself and others in the young adult Bible study worked out a way for Daniel to be a part of our group no matter when or where we meet. This has been a blessing for not only Daniel, but our entire group.

Part of having Daniel in our group allows us to ask questions about being blind and learning of the tools he uses to help him live life. For example, a few weeks ago we were in a restaurant and the topic of signing for a credit card came up. For us sighted people we take for granted we can see the little line on the paper and give our signature. We asked Daniel what he does in this instance (he usually pays with cash and uses a special system for his money by folding the bills different ways and has learned the different feel of coins to distinguish between them - imagine counting out your money with YOUR eyes closed!). He said he has learned how to write his initials when asked for his signature, but has a credit card sized card with a rectangle cut out to use as a guide.

When Daniel needs to sign his signature he asks the clerk to place the card where he needs to sign and uses the rectangular cut out as a guide. Curious we asked if he would show us. We pulled out a piece of paper and a pen and placed the card on the paper. He then blew us a way when he moved the card after signing his name and gave his same signature without the card and it was written just as neatly as it was with the card - if not neater! We asked if we could try to sign our names with our eyes closed using his special card. A few of us did a decent job with only being a little crooked in writing our signatures with our eyes closed and only used the rectangular shape as a guide. We all laughed at the person who wasn't able to judge the spacing and could only sign half of his name. It has been fun and interesting to learn of the tools Daniel has to help him with everyday activities we take for granted. Most of the time we just watch and listen in awe of all the tools and the special systems he has. Tonight I had the opportunity to be "blind" and fully depend on someone else for five minutes. 

After our Bible study at a restaurant we were walking to the parking lot when the conversation came up again, for the hundredth time, of the time I led Daniel off a curb because I forgot I was leading him (I'm sure I will never live this down!). As we were all laughing, for the hundredth time, Daniel starts reaching for his cane and says, "Why don't I lead you? Then you will know what it is like." Instantly I find myself closing my eyes super tight so I wouldn't be tempted to peek and saying, "OKAY! Let's do this!" 

Side note: I didn't get permission to use other names beside's Daniels in this blog entry, so I will use initials for the others who were in the group. 

At this point I hear C, A, and K laughing and then saying things like, "Oh, we are really going to do this through the parking lot?!?" and "Here's your chance to get her back for leading you off the curb!" Before I could even really process what was going to happen I hear Daniel tell me to hold his hand. The only problem was my eyes were closed and I could tell he was near, but I couldn't tell exactly where he was. So, on one arm I have my purse in the crook of my arm and am holding three Bibles to return to the church. The other hand is franticly searching for Daniel who at this point has clicked his cane into place. Although we hadn't moved I could have sworn the world was spinning around me. I couldn't tell which direction I was facing and a tinge of panic overcame me. After finding Daniel's arm and holding onto his elbow (like he does when we lead him) he starts moving. 

Here it goes. There's no turning back now!

My eyes are tightly closed and I'm holding onto Daniel with one hand and Bibles with the other. What more can I do, but walk? So, off we went. One step, then two. I'm getting the hang of this. Another step followed by another. I hear C, A, and K talking and giggling at the sight of the blind leading the "blind." I hear the clicking of the cane tapping the ground as I'm being pulled into a direction I could have sworn was the wrong way! I wanted to open my eyes to make sure, but thought, "No! Don't do it! Daniel doesn't have the choice to open his eyes and see what is going on. You better not open your eyes!" I then hear A or K yell out, "YOU'RE HEADED FOR A PARKED CAR!" and I'm jerked into another direction as the clicking of the cane finds the car. I knew we had made it past the main crossing of the parking lot and now we're near the cars. At this point I'm a little concerned as my mind starts thinking about being led into the busy street by a wrong turn to avoid a car or a car speeding through this quiet parking lot. I'm now realizing what I've just gotten myself into! I'm fully trusting someone who can't see to lead me through the parking lot! My mind starts racing at what could go wrong! I then realized I hear Daniel talking to me. I realized I can't focus on my thoughts because I need to be paying attention to the little direction I'm being given by Daniel.

Daniel is telling me there are cracks in the ground coming up. There is "something" to the left of me. Another "thing" to the right of me. I can tell C is in front of us to ensure we are headed in the right direction, but not really telling us what is coming up. I can tell A and K are following behind us. I wanted to focus on what they were saying. I was grasping for anything that might give me a hint as to where I was going and what was coming up. Again, I quickly realized I can't focus my attention on anything except for Daniel because I need to be paying attention to the little direction I am being given from the one who is leading me.

I hear Daniel say we are now between two cars. I yell out for him to slow down! I feel like he's going too fast! He's gaining more confidence because he can tell what is ahead. He is using his cane to determine where things are and listening to C tell him the direction to walk in. All I can do is walk faster to keep up. I'm trying to listen to C so I can know what to expect, but I'm also trying to listen to A and K who are commenting on the whole experience, but not giving any specific directions. 

C calls out, "There's a slight raise in the road." I thought, "Why would you tell me this? I won't be able to tell a slight raise in the road. That's not good advice and direction! Tell me if there is a curb or something that can cause me to fall!" About three steps later I feel the slight raise in the road. I wouldn't have normally noticed this slight rise, but tonight I did. Even though I originally thought it was silly advice I could tell this was helpful. If nothing else what he's saying is true and we can continue to follow his lead (not that he would lead us astray, but that little advice had a larger meaning). 

About this time I realized my stomach was clinched and knotted. I realized I had been holding my breath. I realized how scared I really was in walking through a parking lot with my eyes closed being led by someone who can't open his eyes at a moment's notice if he get's confused at where he is going. I knew I'd be okay, but I didn't have control of the situation. I had to fully trust in Daniel to not lead me into danger. I had to trust C, A and K to direct Daniel away from danger. I didn't know if we would go straight to the car or take a detour around the shopping center. I had no control over this situation. As one who likes to know what is going on and take control this situation was VERY difficult!

Just as I'm reminding myself I need to breathe normally I hear C call out. The car is right here and a tapping on the car. I feel a final jerk to the side while taking a few steps and C, A and K yell out, "YOU DID IT! Look how far you went! You made it to the car!" I couldn't open my eyes any faster. I let out a sigh of relief and then realized I'm the only one who could open my eyes to see how far we went. A little guilt came over me when I realized how relieved I was we were at the car and I could open my eyes where Daniel doesn't have that luxury. I immediately tell Daniel I have a new appreciation for him. 

While I'm telling him how scared I was because I wasn't sure what was going to happen I instantly thought about all the times God has asked me to trust him and follow where he leads. I realized how so many times I'm so eager to follow God's plan, but as I get going and realize I'm not in control how fear comes over me and I stop walking so quickly. I ask to slow down. I allow fear to turn my stomach into knots all the while trying to figure out where I am and what I'm doing from others who are not the one I'm holding on to. 

The more I thought about this scenario I began to think about how Daniel is like Jesus (although Jesus can physically see where I'm going) and C was like God keeping us in the right direction. Without Jesus we can't come to the Father. I need Jesus to bring me to the Father. Although Daniel didn't sacrifice himself in this scenario, Jesus did 2,000 years ago. Jesus gave his life on the cross so I can be with God. Jesus says in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." All those times where God leads us into things where we think it is silly and not as meaningful as something else or even those difficult times in life where it is painful and confusing - these are the times we trust and learn we can depend on God. God knows the direction we need to be going and he'll lead us one step at a time. We can trust Him. We can trust with blind faith God will not let us fall.

Polka Dots

Remember Retro Wednesday I had a few months back? My cute polka dot dress with the red ribbon, red shoes and my hair cute and retro? Well, I believe I've already told the story how the then 3 year old came into the office and commented on how we were not matching (in the blog titled Potluck Blog Post) because she has a red polka dot dress.

(Her face has been blurred to protect her identity)

The following Sunday we both wore our polka dot dresses to church and I've never seen a smile so big! The next Sunday she told her mom she had to wear her polka dot dress because I'd be wearing mine. Her mom had to explain Miss Alice won't want to wear her polka dot dress every Sunday, but maybe once a month we can match in our polka dot dresses. She was so patient in waiting a month until we could match again. Her mom and I got to talking and realized her birthday was coming up the following month and that would be a good day to match. 

I thought of getting her blue shoes for her birthday so she'd have a red polka dot dress and blue shoes and I'd have a blue dress and red shoes. While shopping for blue shoes for her (which I was having trouble finding the right pair) I found a blue polka dot dress. I knew I had to get it. I gave it to her at her party the Saturday before we were planning on matching on Sunday. The week before her party I reminded her we were going to match the upcoming Sunday. She had no idea I had gotten her a blue polka dot dress and to match her I found pink glitter shoes in my size (which I know doesn't make sense I couldn't find simple blue shoes in her size, but pink glitter shoes in mine, but it was what I could find!).

Again, this little girl was so happy. What I hadn't thought ahead on was I'd look like a 4 year old because I was wearing glitter pink shoes with a blue polka dot dress all day because I didn't bring another pair of shoes! At the same time it was worth it to make a little girl happy.

I have so many hats I wear (or as someone pointed out I wear many purses and bags because each purse/bag holds another thing I'm heading up) I needed something to keep me organized and the calendar on my phone wasn't cutting it because I needed extra note space. While I was shopping for a day planner at Franklin Covey (which if you've never heard of them you should check out what they have to offer... for those who are organized you need their products... for those who are not organized you NEED their products!), anyhow, while shopping I was trying to decide on which planner to choose. My sister has a plain black one that zips up and although that seems awesome because you can then have loose papers, pens, etc. I didn't want to have the same as her because that would be a horrible mess to try to figure out if we set them next to each other. I looked at the pink one (because I LOVE pink!), but it just didn't scream "Alice," not to mention it was made of a canvas material and I thought it might get dirty and would be hard to clean. Then I saw this:

What a perfect planner that screams Alice! This clearly says, "I belong to Alice and if you see me and Alice is not near by there is trouble!" Then because I respond to color better than just notes scribbled all over I use my pens I had in college to take notes with that are 9 different colors (well there are 10 colors, but the yellow doesn't show up very well so I use 9 of the 10) to represent each hat, or bag, I wear.

The colors and what they represent are as follows:
Office - electronic: ie. email, website, Facebook updates
Office - print: ie. bulletin, newsletter, calendar
Education Director - Nursery
Education Director - Children
Education Director - Youth
Education Director - VBS
Bible Studies/General Church
General Work: ie. babysitting, housesitting, wedding coordinator, etc
Personal/Family/Friends

In college I'd use each color in my calendar to represent each class/activity I was involved in, but then realized when I'd take notes having the different colors helped me to remember because I could imagine what was written easier if I could imagine where it was on the page and the color I used (I'm a VERY visual person). There wasn't a real rhyme or reason in colors I'd use in taking notes, except I'd use one color that class session for what was on the powerpoint, another color for what the teacher said, another color for charts/tables, and another color if there was something a student said. People laughed at my system... but it worked and I'm all for what works.

I'm excited about my new day planner and what it is going to do to keep me organized, not to mention it's polka dotted and who doesn't like polka dots?

My, My, Where Has The Time Gone???

When I first started this blog I had such high hopes of blogging every week, or at least every other week, but lately I'm pleased with myself if I blog once a month! Sure I haven't had this blog for very long and it's easy to get carried away with other things in life, but I do hope I can get back to blogging at least every other week.

Although I'm currently working part time I feel like I'm rarely home. At least home long enough to throw in a load of laundry and then rotate it an hour later. I guess it doesn't help the situation I have enough clothes to last a month before I desperately need to do laundry so when I need to do laundry it's a HUGE undertaking of multiple loads for just one person's laundry (apparently this is not normal - most of my friends can go a few weeks, but not a month, before they desperately need to do laundry). I try not to be a bad roommate and leave clothes in the washer/dryer for longer than a few hours after they are ready to come out (more so the dryer than the washer... yuck I'm just imagining the yucky sat-in-the-washer-too-long smell!). When I get home I'm usually super tired and watch a TV program as I go to bed. In the mornings (I usually have more time in the mornings because I start late... love it!), I try not to get started on things I won't have time to finish... which means I waste a lot of time doing nothing rather than doing a little to get things done. The other thing that doesn't help my situation of feeling I have no time is Pintrest. Do you know about this website? Frankly, it's awesome! A time waster, but awesome nonetheless.

Pinterest is a website where you can "pin" things that interest you. You can create "boards" of different categories. You get these things to "pin" from websites, so while on the Pinterest website you can click on an image and it will take you to the original website so you can get full details of the image you're interested in. Genius concept if you ask me!

I don't have a Pinterest account because I know I'd spend even more time I don't have pinning things and get carried away with things I'd love to do or ideas for whatever could possibly happen in life, but I do love to check out what other people have pinned. Here's one I recently enjoyed on things this person would like to do in their spare time. I think if I had a Pinterest account I'd pin a lot of projects I'd like to get around to do some day.

Actually I saw a few things I'd like to do for Christmas presents (yes, I know it is February and I'm thinking of Christmas, but if I'm going to make something I have to give myself time to actually make these items). For this project I'm thinking of for Christmas if you have any magazines or junk mail that is colorful I'd love to have it. I'm not sure how much I need, but I'll be collecting these things (if you live in another country other than the US, please send me magazines or anything that has another language other than English - this would make my project all the more awesome!). I'll post pictures of the finished project so you know I'm not a crazy woman collecting trash. I so badly want to post a picture of what I'm thinking I want to do... but I can't because I know family members read my blog! I will show you a few pictures of other things I found interesting and want to try.

Here are a few art projects I'm thinking would be really fun to try:

Canvas Artwork

To achieve this use regular craft glue to create a design. 

Let it dry and then paint over the entire project. 

Super cute and easy. I will try this!

This could be done with children - I'm ALWAYS looking for projects to do with kids!

Cool Tile Artwork

To achieve this use ceramic tiles and dot melted crayons.

(melt the end of a crayon using a candle and then dab the melted crayon on the tile)

I'm not a big fan of word/phrases as decor, 

but I'm thinking an image like a bird or swirly design would be amazing!

Sounds easy... and who doesn't like playing with fire and melted crayons? 

Then we get to the things I honestly could be starting a load of laundry or starting one of these projects instead of looking at these things, but are just so stinkin' funny I must check them out:

Toilet Paper Origami 

I tell ya, I can't make this stuff up!

I do have to say though, I will be practicing my toilet paper origami when visiting your house!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

The Jacket that is also your TENT!

Okay, this one doesn't seem so odd if you're a camper - it could be handy. 

Be honest, to think your jacket is also your tent does seem a little silly at first.

The Yarn Tree

Okay, don't get me wrong - I'd actually consider making a yarn tree to decorate my house.

However, I'm not so sure I'd frame pictures of birds to put "in" my yarn tree.

Wouldn't it be just as cool to just paint the birds, 

or use yarn to create birds to put in your yarn tree?

Okay... maybe this idea should be in my "I'd like to try this some day" section.

Well, there you have it. A small glimpse of why I have three loads of laundry to wash and another three that have yet to be folded and put away. Maybe on my "things to do" list I should include "go through clothes because you might not really need all of these that make up 6 loads of laundry!" - of course that will be right under "make really awesome Christmas presents from trash!"

NOTE: If you have any magazines or junk mail (any paper with printing -languages other than English would be AWESOME!!!- or photos on it, but no newspaper) you would like to donate to my project for Christmas presents I would LOVE for you to contact me and I'll let you know where you can send it. Thank you for your help. My family will thank you once they see how I'm collecting trash to turn it into something really amazing!

Potluck Blog Post

I've been thinking about what I wanted to share in my blog and came up with three things I'd like to talk about - working, VBS and God's plan. Rather than making three entries I'm going to combine them all into one. Think of this as a potluck of blog posts.


It has been a while since I've updated my blog. Life has been a bit busy since I've started working in the office. It is so nice to have a set time of when I'm working and can "turn off" my mind when I'm not at work. This was one reason it was so difficult for me to work and go to school at the same time and why I eventually stopped working while in school (besides a few hours in the church nursery once a week). It is also nice not to have the ever looming homework assignments awaiting my attention. I do think about the office when I'm not working and have small projects I'm working on that are in the back of my mind, but overall it is nice to know if I'd like to "turn those off" I can if I want. My current projects include cleaning out every cabinet and drawer. It's more so organizing than cleaning out, but some things that are obviously trash (like wrappers... who sticks wrappers back in a drawer??? and crinkled copy paper that if used will jam the copier) do get thrown out. Although I love organizing and making sure everything has a place and like items are together it is also nice for me to go through and learn what is already here so I don't go out and buy more. Overall, I love my job. I love I'm serving my church in a way that helps it run smoothly. I love I have time to visit with people when they call or come in. I love I get to send letters to people and hope it brightens their day. On a personal level I love I get to think of outfits to wear to work (something I didn't do when going to school, because it's school and who really needs to get dressed up for school?). On this perticular day I thought Retro Wednesday seemed fitting and tried a new hair style I'm digging!

Retro Wednesday

Side story: I had a little four year old visitor in the office that pointed out she has a red polka dot dress and we should match on Sunday. Who can resist that cuteness??? I'll be matching with a four year old, but it will be so darn cute!

Here's my hair from the back.

When my hair is longer and can all go into the "nest" it will be a cuter hair style, but I think I pulled it off. 

The other thing that is nice about working in the office is as the VBS director for this year's Vacation Bible School I'm in the office four days a week, so I can get a lot of things done while in the office. This year's theme is Incrediworld Amazement Park: A Thrill Ride Through God's Creation. I'm really excited about this year's VBS. I have to be honest though, at first I was really hesitant about being the director. I didn't want to take on this responsibility alone. Vacation Bible School needs a lot of volunteers to run smoothly and I was afraid I'd be heading it up alone. After praying about it I realized if this is what God wants me to do he'll provide the help I need. I still didn't say anything to the pastor because I was hoping somone else would step up and say they'd be the director.

As I was cleaning out the paper closet (which it makes me so happy to look at the organized closet every time I need paper) I kept noticing a pack of neon colored cardstock paper. I wondered when we'd ever use this cardstock, but thought of VBS. Last year I had used cardstock to make the nametags by glueing the name tags on the cardstock and attaching yarn for the kids to wear them around their necks. Although it wasn't the best name tag and some needed repair throughout VBS, it worked for the most part. Well, I figured we could use the neon colors for VBS if the colors matched up. A while later my pastor asked if I'd like the VBS catalog and put it in my mailbox. A few days after he did this I finally took the catalog out of my box and looked through it. What I didn't expect was the colors of a VBS theme to be the EXACT color of the neon cardstock in the closet I had already thought of using for VBS. At this point I knew I needed to be the director and went to my pastor's house where I talked about needing volunteers. Within 10 minutes there was a name for every area of VBS for someone to lead. I knew I was directing VBS and got planning. It has been so nice to know there is time to plan and get everyone on board. The first VBS meeting is in a few weeks and although February may seem early to start meeting for VBS in the summer, it is nice to know everyone will be on the same page.

I'm almost half way finished making the name tags for VBS.

(The green and some of the orange still need to be glued. All I have left is to attach the yarn.)

I like the bright colors of this year's colors.

The last thing I wanted to blog about is how God's plan is so good! I was really sad about not getting the job with MeySen and going to Japan to teach English. The more I think about it the more I realize how much I'm needed right here. Not only in the office and VBS, but to be here with my family and friends. I know someone else could have taken this office job and done just as awesome as I'm doing. I know somone else would have stepped up for VBS and make it just as rockin' as I'm planning. I know someone else would have been here for family and friends. But as I look around at my life right now I know I'm right where God wants me. I may never understand why God wanted me to apply for MeySen knowing I wasn't going to get the job, but I do understand I'm right where He wants me and I can't tell you how sweet this is to be here doing God's will in the plan he's planned all along. I could have moped around, cried, threw my arms up, and threw a tantrum after finding out I didn't get the job, but instead I mourned a little and then asked Him what I was supposed to do. If you feel like you're fighting in life I encourage you to stop fighting and listen to the direction God want's you to go. It's not only much easier this way, life is so much sweeter than ever imagined.

Good-bye College Life, Hello the Rest of My Life

It's been a few weeks since I've last posted to my blog. I was a bit busy finishing up my last semester of college. This semester was quite the crazy semester, but looking back on previous semesters they all have been quite crazy. I should just consider this level of "crazy" as the new "normal" since I haven't had a "normal" period in quite a long time! This past semester my school work was put on hold due to the fact I only had one hand to type assignments. If you haven't read the posts about those you should consider going back and reading them. Although before reading the previous posts I would caution you to the fact I'm a whiner when I'm injured and there were a few I was quite drugged while writing - which someone should have monitored those posts. Anyhow, I'm better now and even crocheted for the first time since my arm was casted for 6 weeks. My wrist was the longest to heal after falling down the stairs and typing with two hands has been a slow recovery, but I've made it through and can type just as fast as ever.

Regardless of the many assignments turned in late I am proud of my grades this semester. I got an A in my Old Testament class, B in my history class, B- in my biology class (which I have NO idea how I pulled that off except to say, "good job me on the lab reports"), and a C+ in my English Literature class. I'm a little disappointed in my English Lit grade, but by the time I was able to even attempt to catch up it was the last month of school. There was a point where I wasn't sure if I'd pass that class, but I have and it is finished so I can't complain.

I've been asked a lot about what I'm going to do now that I'm finished with school. My original plan was to go to Japan to teach English, but since I wasn't accepted to the program that is put on hold for at least a year (or maybe longer, I'm not sure yet). I'm not sure what God has planned for me, so in the meantime I'll just keep listening and following where he leads. Actually, what happened a few weeks ago is quite awesome!

I was studying for my finals and I got a call from a man at my church. He asked me how volunteering in the office has been going and I told him great. He asked if I'd like a job working part-time as the church secretary. I told him since I'm not doing anything else that would be great. To make a long story short there was some talk about me taking this position before it was offered to me and everyone was giving me a high recommendation. I didn't know this until after I accepted the job and was telling people I will be the new secretary in January and person after person said, "Oh, I know. I gave you a good recommendation." I was a bit overwhelmed with the love people have poured out over me. I can't explain how loved I feel to know so many have so many nice things to say about me.

I love how I went from the excitement of following what I thought God wanted me to, to the disappointment of God having something else in mind (think along the lines of Abraham preparing to sacrifice Isaac on the mountain and God providing a ram, but I had no ram), to God providing a ram in the secretary position at my church! Sure I'm still disappointed about not going to Japan this next year, but I know God has a plan.

I know I'm disappointed in not going to Japan, but after I found out a good friend of mine has just been diagnosed with cancer for the second time I now understand why she was saying God needed me here this year. I couldn't see it before, but I know she's going to need support and I'm glad I'll be here to help her in any way - even if it's to shave my head for the second time (the first was when my mom had breast cancer).

So, as I close the book on college life and begin writing the book on the next stage in life I know one thing... I'm not going to leave God out of going ahead of me and showing me where to go and what to do.

Trans Cultual Kids

As a sociology major I'm interested in the way people relate to society. After reading a Facebook post from a friend who is a missionary in a small village half way around the world who is coming "home" later this year I was wondering how easy it will be for her four children to adapt to this culture they are familiar with, yet it is so foreign to them. I wanted to check out some statistics and although Wikipedia is not the most scholastic source, it does give a general idea. While reading through the Trans Cultural Kid's article I realized... dude, this describes me (minus the language part)! Who knew I was a trans cultural kid???

My response to each statistic is in parenthesis and bolded. Everything else is straight from Wikipedia. 

Statistics (U.S. TCKs)

Research has been done on American TCKs to identify various characteristics:[10][17][18]

[edit]Sociopsychology

• 90% feel "out of sync" with their peers.[19] (I'm not sure if this is the same out of sync as a MK would feel, but there are times I don't feel like I "fit in" with those of my same age)
• 90% report feeling as if they understand other people and cultural groups better than the average American.[20] (I do have a wider sense for other people and cultures, thus the reason I chose sociology as my major)
• 80% believe they can get along with anybody, and they often do, due to their sociocultural adaptability.[20] (I do get along with anybody.)
• Divorce rates among TCKs are lower than the general population, but TCKs marry at an older age (25+).[21][22] (Divorce rate... that's a good thing. Marriage at an older age.... well I am in the 25+ range now)
• More welcoming of others into their community.[18] (The more the merrier!)
• Lack a sense of "where home is", but are often nationalistic.[18][20] (Well, I do consider OC my home, but I'm totally cool with moving to another country and never returning to the US. I'm just waiting to see what God wants as far as where I'll be going)

[edit]Cognitive and emotional development

• Teenage TCKs are more mature than non-TCKs, but in their twenties take longer than their peers to focus their aims.[19] (What? You mean being in advance classes and told you're a mature teenager doesn't mean that you'll take 10.5 years to get your bachelors degree? I thought that's how it was suppose to be!?!)
• Depression is comparatively prevalent among TCKs.[19] (Could this be due to the fact it takes so long to "focus their aims?")
• TCKs' sense of identity and well-being is directly and negatively affected by repatriation.[23] (I don't have experience with this... but shoot I'm surprised since everything else seems to be describing me!)
• TCKs are highly linguistically adept (not as true for military TCKs).[21] (oh, well, maybe I'm not as much of a TCK as it seems)

• A study whose subjects were all "career military brats"—those who had a parent in the military from birth through high school—shows that brats are linguistically adept.[24] (but maybe my parents were secret military people for part of my childhood???)

• Like all children, TCKs may experience stress and even grief from the relocation experience.[25][26] (And this is where the comparison stops.)

[edit]Education and career

• TCKs are 4 times as likely as non-TCKs to earn a bachelor's degree (81% vs 21%)[27] (Check!!!)
• 40% earn an advanced degree (as compared to 5% of the non-TCK population.)[21] (Um, no thanks)
• 45% of TCKs attended three universities before attaining a degree.[21] (What, you mean it's NOT normal to attend three universities and one junior college?)
• 44% earned undergraduate degree after the age of 22.[21] (HA HA HA HA... and we thought the comparison had ended!)
• Education, medicine, business management, self-employment, and highly-skilled positions are the most common professions for TCKs.[21] (Well, I'm still not quite sure what I'll be doing, but apparently I should look into these careers)
• TCKs are unlikely to work for big business, government, or follow their parents' career choices. "One won't find many TCKs in large corporations. Nor are there many in government ... they have not followed in parental footsteps".[21] (Well, that's for sure! Even though many with my degree go to work for the government I'm hesitant and I'm not fully sure why... apparently it's because I was secretly a TCK)

Obviously in any study one can find themselves in what ever it is they are studying, but it just made me laugh at the "later in life" stuff. It reminds me of when I was taking my abnormal psychology class... I was convinced I had schizophrenia for half of the semester! Funny how after that class all my symptoms of schizophrenia went away... let alone the fact that I’ve past the age where schizophrenia first occurs in women so it would have shown up earlier in my life not just during this class! Anyhow, I found this funny and interesting and thought I’d share.

The Gideon Test

Judges 6:36-40

Then Gideon said to God, "You said you would help me save Israel. I will put some wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the wool but all of the ground is dry, then I will know that you will use me to save Israel, as you said." And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning and squeezed the wool, he got a full bowl of water from it.

Then Gideon said to God, "Don't be angry with me if I ask just one more thing. Please let me make one more test. Let only the wool be dry while the ground around it gets wet with dew." That night God did that very thing. Just the wool was dry, but the ground around it was wet with dew.

My sister told me about the Gideon test a friend of her's has for his future spouse. I think this is a great idea! Rather than wondering who the right girl is he has three things he's looking for as signs she's "the one" when he meets here and gets to know her. I think this is a great idea! Why not ask God for clear signs of a future spouse?

I have a list (ABC's of Love posted on my FB account) and that's great and all, but at the same time I hate that feeling of meeting a guy and for a split second having the thought wondering if he could be OTIS (Out There In Someplace). I feel like I'm wasting my time with that and then going through my ABC list and trying to see if he has these qualities, but with the Gideon test I would clearly know! I feel by going through the ABC list right away I try to fit any guy into that list and that's not what it's all about. I like the idea of the Gideon test because it allows me to not go straight to the ABC list and just get to know a friend first rather than seeing where he measures on the ABC list. With the Gideon test God will clearly give me a sign when I meet OTIS.

Like my sister's friend I won't tell anyone what the Gideon test things are (to prevent someone from trying to fulfill the Gideon test - not to mention a friend might be a part of the Gideon test), but I've prayed over one thing and have one so far. I don't know if I'll have more than one Gideon test, but for now I have one.

Just to give you an idea of what an example would be think of Abraham's servant at the well who asked for a sign of a women who would water the camels as well as get him water. The test is specific, but mine is not super odd like asking for water for my camels... because my camels are a special breed of camels who have a continuous supply of water in their humps and don't need to be watered. Then again, he could ask to put gas in my car... if only I could figure out how to make my car like my continuous water supply camels.