UK

I bought my ticket to the UK last week. Super stoked to be heading out to my favorite place for a week. Everything about it just makes me smile!! :-)  And with all the flights and jetlaggedness I will be sleeping a lot—so even though its such a long way to go….I will be able to rest on my week off quite a bit.

I told my students that I would be going to England over our Fall Break. Their first thing they said was…"You’re leaving us? Who will come and be with us if you aren’t here!” I love my students!

jeremiah 33:3

Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

just thinkin'

just thinking about how God answers prayers.

Sometimes you pray for something with a very specific outcome in mind. You can pray and pray and pray for that specific outcome but it never comes.

I've been quite guilty of this and recently I've just been taking a step back and God has been every so gently showing me how HE has answered my prayers, just in completely different ways than the desired outcome I thought I desired. God has fulfilled desires and needs in my life, only in His way, not mine.

Isn't it funny that we (and we think we're so smart and know exactly what we need) ask God (creator of the universe, knows how many hairs are on our head, can see the entire picture) for something and then complain when its not answered the way we want it!

goodness!! Another example of why God calls us sheep. I'm so thankful God hears my prayers, answers them, and gives me so much better than I ever would have known to ask for.

Sometimes you just have to take a step back to see it all.

On another note, I went to see the David Crowder Band on Thursday night. I have a new favorite song called Shadow.

"When shadows fall on us....we will not fear...we will remember......when all seems lost, when we're thrown and we're tossed...We remember the cost....We rest in Him....the shadow of the cross."

a cuppa

I had afternoon tea today at the Cypress Inn in Carmel. Doris Day's hotel, a very dog friendly place to visit.

We went there to celebrate Janet's "Baby #2" aka Isabel Grace. I was able to get caught up on all the exciting news with the girls. Nobody remembered their camera, except the guest of honor, so hopefully soon I'll get some photos of today!

Congrats Jaime and Janet!

another summer day

Another Summer day at 51 degrees in Monterey. It has been so cold here! I am loving my summer more than ever before, and I am fully taking advantage of the fact that I am on vacation. Resting, reading, hanging out with friends. I can’t get enough!

My friend left last Thursday and I dropped her off at the airport and then continued to drive down to LA and then to San Bernadino County. I was able to meet with my dear friend Aaron for some lunch, catch up—and then continue on down to Rancho Cucamunga. My friend Hannah who lived with me a few summers ago came out with her family for a 3 day layover to visit Aunt Martha and Uncle Jeff. I had visited Aunt Martha and Uncle Jeff in Las Vegas, so when they invited me down, I had to go! It was a really fun time---swimming, hanging out and of course catching up! I hadn’t seen Hannah’s mom, dad or sisters since her little sister, Jess’s wedding 3 years ago!

From there I drove up to Costa Mesa and got to meet Gracie Moo. What a beautiful lovely little girl! Jaime had motherhood completely under control too! Congrats David and Jaime!

So now, after driving down to hot weather and then back up to cold, my sinuses didn’t really like that too much. I am fighting another sinus infection, but this time I am not going to do the antibiotic route! Should be slower but as long as its gone by the first day of school, I’ll be alright!

things that make you go hhmm

1. talking with people who know ( aka think they get it) see your point of view, but really have no clue. You know those people who think they get what you are trying to communicate but have missed the boat by a mile? Those conversations go no where fast!

Summer Break

People keep telling me to enjoy the season that I am in….so this summer I am doing just that! I’m being productive as well as enjoying my break, i.e., sleeping in until 10:30. But then the same people who keep telling me to enjoy the season I’m in right now—give me crap about sleeping in until 10:30. Seriously? :) Don’t be a hater. lol

I went to IKEA this week and bought a chair and a bookshelf and a lamp. I successfully put together the chair and lamp last night, but need to do the bookshelf. It should be a project but I’m ready to do it!!

Yesterday I took 3 former students to Jamba Juice and then to petsmart. All little boys who have such a difficult home life—so I gave one my number and told him to call me if he wanted to get out of his house this summer. He called on Monday night and said, “Miss Dobie can we go to Jamba Juice?”

We oooohh’d and aawww’d over every fish, snake, lizard, chinchilla and cat in the place at least 3 times before making it out the doors.

I just LOVE summer vacation! I feel like I’m on vacation every day living where I’m living!

$18

Even with a washer and dryer, my electric bill is only 18 dollars!!  YEAH!!!!

So much cheaper without quarters in my life!

once again for its beauty.

"You are My Hope"

In Your Presence Here I bow, I am aching for you now

To touch you with Your love somehow, You are my hope.

And when my hands have gotten weak, from the empty things I seek

As I crumble here, You Speak, You are my Hope

And God most high, come and be near me now.

And Draw me nigh to your heart.

God of Life, fill me with your presence now

(Where I am humble, Where I am free)

When I'm hurting for a friend, I see the marks upon your skin

And they tell me once again, You are my hope.

Closer than a brother stays, the one who holds me in His grace

Forever, Yesterday, Today, You are my hope

Who have I have in heaven but you?

And beside thee I desire, nothing on earth.

sometimes it sucks!

what a week.

I had to have a conversation with someone yesterday that I did not want to have, but needed to be had. I wanted to respond via email, but wanted to honor the person by going face to face.

it was really hard to do even though I knew God’s will needed be done—and His ways are higher than mine. I think they got it, we’ll see.