Mangos

This week, mangos were on sale at Costco and the ladies of Conkling went crazy for them. We bought a whole box-full and have eaten them with almost every meal. The first night we ate them, I said "Wow, this reminds me of South Africa!" To which Blair responded, "It reminds me of India" and then Katie said Indonesia and Megan brought up the rear with Sierra Leone. Oh, how wonderful it is to have a houseful of girls who love to travel :) The mangos are divine though. Only one left.

Hopefully they'll go on sale again soon.

An Official Seattlite

Well, I’m an official Seattlite. First piece of evidence is the red North Face jacket that was purchased today and is now hanging in my closet. Also, my current address includes a zip code of 98119.

I live in Seattle now, and love it.

Granted I’ve only been here about five days, and real life hasn’t even begun, but there is just so much joy in my heart right now. I pulled up to my new house on Friday and ever since, it’s been a whirlwind of meeting roommates, unpacking everything, trying to get organized, making constant trips to Fred Meyer, and re-visiting all my favorite Seattle places. It’s been so much fun.

I’m living with four other girls, and I’ve known Katie and Megan for years, but just met Krista and Blair…already love them both. :) They are just so sweet & fun, and hilarious. Every “family dinner” we’ve had so far, we are always just dying laughing. It’s wonderful.

That word could sum up my entire experience so far: wonderful. Everything about it is so sweet. My first night here, I was laying in bed thinking about the fact that I’m actually here, and got tears in my eyes. This has been something I’ve wanted for about five years now, and it’s actually happening. It’s rather surreal. I just feel so blessed to be here. It’s exactly what I needed and exactly where the Lord wants me right now.

I was thinking yesterday about how I wanted to come here two years ago, but truthfully, I’m glad that I didn’t. Even though the past few years have been filled with challenges and changes I would have never expected, it’s still a sweet memory because God used all that to bring me to this moment. And if I had come up here sooner, I don’t think it would have been as sweet. It’s such perfect timing, and I keep finding myself just praising the Lord that He has plans for our lives, and such rich plans.

As fun as it is just hanging out, I’m pretty excited for classes to start. Because I’ve visited Seattle 3 times before, that’s what this feels like: a visit. Like I’m on vacation and eventually going back to Ventura. So I think it will be nice to find a job (fingers crossed) and start classes, to have a routine and a normal life up here.

Needless to say, I’m in love with this city and so thankful to be here. As you all can probably tell. If Seattle ever needed a spokesperson to boost their resume and convince people to move here, I’m their girl.

But I’m happy. I’m extremely happy and just feel like my cup is overflowing right now. It’s a sweet place to be :)

The Big Move

Today is my last day in Ventura before I leave. It's strange that it's actually happening. When I got home from South Africa in May, it seemed like this day would never come. It just seemed SO far away. But here it is. It's all happening.

I went to the beach this morning, to enjoy Surfer's Point one more time before the big move (yes, I am pathetically nostalgic like that...I'll only be gone 3 months). I kept having flashbacks to the day before I left for South Africa...a lot of the same feelings. Excited beyond belief, fully confident this is where the Lord is leading me, but also thinking about all the unknowns: What will it be like? Who will I meet? Will it be as wonderful as I've hyped it up to be in my head? Who will I be when this experience is over? How will this season grow me and shape me?

The one thing that is just so sweet for me is being able to see growth in myself. Yes, I had all these questions before South Africa but tied to the end of them was this huge string of fear. In the last 9 months, I have learned so much about God's faithfulness. He is so good. So, even though there are a lot of unknowns, I believe God is faithful and the ultimate provider. I am never alone and He has the sweetest plans for me. Moving to Seattle is part of that plan and I just can't wait to see what He has in store.

Above all, I want this experience to grow me closer to Jesus. When I go up there, I don't want to forget or ignore all the amazing things He did in my life this past year. I don't want to fall back into routine or religion, but I want my faith to be more alive than ever. I want my life and my time up there to be marked by the Spirit and to reflect Jesus. I want to grow closer to Him and know Him in new ways. God ordained this path for me before I was even born and I want to fulfill every plan He has for me up there. I don't want to waste any days or opportunities. I want to take hold of everything He has in store.

Seattle, here I come! It's gonna be a great ride :)

Chloe and Kian

Yesterday was my last day nannying Chloe and Kian. It's kinda strange to think about, because I saw them 5 days a week for the past 4 1/2 months. It's just normal for them be part of my life. But to celebrate, I thought I'd share one last "Kids Say the Darndest Things"

1. I was inside making them lunch when I heard them screaming and laughing outside...I went to see what was happening, and they had the hose on and were spraying it into the sandbox. Chloe is soaked and Kian is sitting in the wet sand, both of them fully clothed. I asked what they were doing and Chloe said, "Alex! We're playing beach! Want to sit in the sand?" Points for creativity.

2. Kian was playing with these rubber band type toys....hard to explain...but he lost one of them and was getting upset. Chloe stepped in to help and said, "That's okay. He has lots of rubbers." :)

3. Me: "Do you need a Kleenex? Do you have boogers in your nose?"

Kian: "I did but I took them out cause I didn't need them anymore."

4. Kian was playing on their backyard jungle gym and when he was climbing up this wall, I went over to help and he said, "No, don't help me. Boys don't need help. Boys can do anything they want."

5. Chloe: "Does God hear us?"

Me: "Yes, He does. He hears everything you say."

Chloe: "But how? He's all the way up in heaven...(then answering her own question)...I guess he just has really good ears."

Hope

Exactly 3 weeks from today, I will be starting classes at SPU. I leave in 10 days to drive up there with my parents. After such a long summer, it seems almost surreal that it’s happening soon.

I’ve had a lot of people lately ask me if I’m getting nervous. And the thing is, I’m not at all. For such a long time, moving to Seattle has been so far off. It’s been almost five months of summer, just waiting for this day to come. And I thought, as it got closer, I would start to get nervous. But I’m really not.

I’m excited for this new season in my life. This summer has been a hard one. Don’t get me wrong, there’s been good things: I’ve had an amazing job with kids that I just love, I’ve had such sweet growth in the Lord and gotten to go to Reality consistently, which has been a huge blessing. But coming home from South Africa was difficult. There were so many things to deal with this summer that I honestly just felt inadequate to handle. There were many days that I felt overwhelmed and, as a result, shut down so I wouldn’t have to deal with it all.

But I absolutely cannot wait for this fresh start in my life. That’s how it feels. Going to a new school, living outside of California for the first time in my life, meeting all new people…it’s a brand new season. I feel a deep sense of hope. And I believe that hope is from the Lord. In July, I went up there to visit, and while I was there, I wrote this in my journal:

“I just feel so full of promise and hope here, which is such a blessing from you, Lord. For the past year, my life has felt so chaotic. And I’m thankful for that because it has brought me closer to you. I have gotten to know you in new ways that have changed my life and perspective. Thank you for that, Jesus. But it has been difficult, feeling like so many of my plans and dreams died. Which is another thing you’ve been teaching me…about putting my dreams in things of this world…but I really believe that the hope I feel here is from you. Because me being in Seattle is part of your plan, part of the plans you have to prosper me and give me a hope. Thank you Lord. Praise you for having plans and letting me feel something as sweet as hope.”

10 more days. And I’m hopeful for the sweet blessings God will give me when I’m up there.

Happy Birthday, Dad

It's Mike Gennaro's birthday today...the big 48. When I saw him this morning, I said happy birthday and he responded, "Ole!" :) What a guy.

All he wanted for his birthday was to watch the UCLA game today and BBQ for dinner, which is currently what we're all doing. So hopefully they beat Kansas State!!!

UCLA! Fight! Fight! Fight!

And happy birthday, Daddy :) I love you