bittersweet.

I’m reading an incredible book right now called Bittersweet.  It’s written by Shauna Niequist, and you should definitely check it out.  I feel like she is sitting across her kitchen table sharing her heart with me, and the Lord has shown me numerous things about my own heart through her words.

But the book aside, these days (and I know the weeks to come…) can be described by no other word than bittersweet.  Sometimes I don’t even understand how my heart can feel two entirely opposite emotions at the same time.  Because part of me absolutely cannot wait to be back in America, tightly hugging the people that I’ve missed so much.  Emails and few and far between phone calls just aren't the same as being in the same room with family and friends.  But there is another part that dreads the moments when I have to say goodbye.  While I know that I will be back before I know it, these people have stolen a part of my heart that will be left here when I get on that plane in a couple of weeks.  So I find myself within one of the most bittersweet seasons, full of beauty and difficulty and mostly just grace.  Grace to say those goodbyes and grace to trust that the Lord is always holding His sons and daughters here in the palm of His hand and grace to be able to see people at home who I ache to see and grace to be able to rest and be filled up.

I'm flying back to the States in less than two weeks and I really am so excited and blessed to be able to spend some time with family and friends.  Before we leave the country, Emilee, Christine, and I will be moving.  We are moving closer to one of the orphanages and into a neighborhood that has been on my heart since last fall.  I cannot wait to share more once we have moved, but we would definitely appreciate prayers over the next couple of weeks.  The three of us are spending some much needed time in America before coming back here in late July/early August.  I'm also excited to share more about what next year holds, but for now, here are a few photos...

Sunset in Jaibon

Jochi.

Albenis and Malvin with fake SNOW at school!

An old picture from Christmas time of one of my favorite families who I will dearly miss.

...love.

photo booth.

This weekend is the presidential election and everyone is more than excited about it.  There are caravans almost every day, trucks that drive around with insanely loud music about the politicians, political flags outside of houses, and most conversations include some sort of question about who you are voting for.  On Monday none of the schools are open, and although our school is open today, very few students showed up.  So me and my six kids that came this morning have been having some fun with photo booth.  

Enjoy... 

 

 

...much love :)

weekends.

Weekends are for...

...making bracelets with my favorite little twin girls. 

...watching Carmelo eat a HUGE fresh papaya.

 

 ...posing for pictures with a sucker.

 ...sister love.

...celebrating our moms from across the ocean.

 ...laughing too hard to take a picture.

...special occasions and a black and white dress and spending time with some pretty incredible people.

...freshly picked cherries from a friend's tree.

...old wooden rocking chairs and appreciating special moments where friends become family.

 

...big smiles and reminders of how blessed I am to be here as they grow up.

kindergarten graduation.

This morning, my 20 incredible students graduated kindergarten.  I love them with my whole heart and will miss them a ton.  Here are a few pictures from an awesome graduation day...

Yulianny... or Julie-Bulie :) 

Christine and I attempting to get their hats to stay on their heads.

 John Keith... always ready for pictures.

The whole class... minus Melany.

Melany... refusing to be in the group picture.

 

 Another group picture... this time with Melany included :)

John Keith receiving his diploma.

These kids have blessed my life more than I ever thought possible.  I've learned so much from their giving hearts and their laughter and their honesty.  I've been blessed to see life through their eyes and I'm going to miss seeing their smiling faces every day.

18.

Eighteen years.  It's a big deal, for sure.  I've known Jochi since the first time I set foot on Dominican soil 5 years ago and a few days ago he turned 18.  If you know me well, you know I love celebrating birthdays and I'm so blessed to have been here for his.  The day was full of all kinds of special-ness and I can't wait to see what this next brings in all of our lives.  

...So here are just a couple pictures from the day...

 

Emilee, me, Jochi, Ariel, and Christine... I'm crazy blessed by this family.
 

And cake!

dependence.

Life has been crazy and beautiful and full.  Full of laughter and love and tough decisions and joy and hard conversations and grace.  I would never trade the moments and days spent here with these precious souls.  The Lord has taught me more in this past year than I could have imagined and blessed me to no end.

Monte Cristi is a pretty small town and we mostly just walk everywhere we need to go.  Walking to school in the morning has become one of my most treasured times to process and pray and honestly, just plead with the Lord.  Pleading for Him to break through and change hearts and bring peace and redeem all the brokenness and restore all shattered hearts.  Because He really is our only hope.  

The Lord has taught my independent self an entirely new sense of dependence this year.  Because when I wake up in the morning and when I go to sleep at night, my peace comes from knowing that He keeps His promises and and that He loves these dear brothers and sisters and friends and mothers and fathers and children of mine more than I could ever imagine.  And so I trust and depend on Him.  And I plead for redemption and restoration already knowing that He makes all things new.  And He always will.

...

And here are some photos from a couple weeks ago.  Elizabeth (mine and Christine's other roommate when we lived at the orphanage) came to visit and stayed with us for a while.  We absolutely LOVED having her and are sad that she had to leave.  The family we went to visit back in January came to visit as well and it was an amazing few days.  So here is a glimpse of their beautiful faces...

 Christine and Joanni eating pizza.

 

A bunch of my favorites :)

Nena and I walking back from eating pizza. 

 

A huge kite at the orphanage that one of the boys made.

Domingo flying the kite.

Bringing back old times when I used to braid Elizabeth's hair for church every week :)

...peace and a whole lot of love.

semana santa.

It's spring break... known here as semana santa! I have been so incredibly thankful for a week off from school and a chance to see some of my favorite people this week. My heart is full and it has been such a blessing to spend time with people who I haven't seen in a while. It's hard to believe that March is over and that Easter is in just a few days. The month has been full of birthdays and celebrations and salmonella and conversations that were only by the grace of God. Special moments at the orphanages and teaching math again in Spanish. Late nights and early mornings and lots of coffee and homemade cookies and smiles and joy and laughter. Bible study and ice cream in styrofoam cups and teaching my five-year-olds how to subtract. March was full of the Lord's grace and glory and I continue to feel overwhelmed with gratitude. He is good.

Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks...

One of my students coloring a map of the Dominican.

Another one of my students with an "S" worksheet.

Paper beads... Dominican style :) A friend of mine is now making these to sell down here.

We finished up these bracelets by candle light one night when there wasn't power.

Emilee, Jose, and I in Jaibon.

Hope each of you are doing great :)