Hi everyone. I know I haven't written in awhile. But my mouse was on the blink and I've been working WAY TO MUCH!!! So here is an update of myrtle beach , my classroom, and part of my room.

I'm doing good. I like my school and class, I just can't seem to get caught up before there is more to do. My church is good! Elevation church- I help out wih the kids and am in a small group midweek. My townhouse is nice for the most part. I have two roomates- though they are rarely home. That's about it!

Hey everyone. Here are some picts of when we went rafting a couple weekends ago. My first day of school went well today. Good kids, I think it will be a good year. Thanks for all of your prayers, I really appreciate them! Everyone here has been so supportive and helpful- I've really been blessed! This morning Susie came to my school before it started and brought me the coolest helium baloon and a vase of roses.

The water is lower in the one picture than it was when we went over it a few hours earlier because the water is Dam released and they had closed it by the time the picture was taken.

More to come later.

You Are An INFJ

The Protector You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity. Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is. You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience. You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them. You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher.

What's Your Personality Type?

Yet more amazing insights from my Bible Study group. Psalm 125

But all the time, as we read of Israel's up and down faith history, we realize something solid and steady: they are always God's people. God is steadfastly with them, in mercy and judgement, insistently gracious. And as we learn that, we learn to live NOT BY OUR FEELINGS about God but by the FACTS of God. ...Neither when my faith fractures or my feelings bruise does God cast me off and reject me. My feelings....are essential and valuable. THey keep me aware of much that is true and real. But they tell me next to nothing about God or my relation to God. My security comes from WHO God is, not from how I feel. Discipleship is a decision to live by what I know about God, not by what I feel about Him or myself or my neighbors. -----Eugene Peterson

God is NOT like MEN, He is not fickle, does not lie, does not cast us away from himselg on a whim or if We hurt His feelings. He steadfastly pursues us and loves us and draws us to himself. If only we could grasp the smallest measure of that love and committment.

Isaiah 43:25 "I am He that wipes out your sins for MY OWN SAKE, and WILL NOT REMEMBER THEM." (emphasis mine) He doesn't forgive us for us, but for himself.

I'll admit I'm struggling with not having a job, but I know I can trust in Him and rest in Him.

Isn't Carson just cute??! That's his Cubs outfit with overalls. He's starting to coo and talk to himself...it's really sweet.









David and Jonathan (one of his youth) planned this father son wheelbarrow kickball thing. It was so much fun and they ended up playing in the rain. This was the T-shirt made for it.


No job prospects yet.....but I saw the townhouse I can move into if I get a job and it is nice!

Ok, so I'm back to being content and cheerful...I was tired and the enemy was chipping away at me the other day. Really encouraging Bible study "A Long Obedience in the Same DIrection" by Eugene Peterson. I meet with a group of ladies to discuss the book...it's good!
Quotes:
"But the content of our lives is God, not humanity. We are not scavenging in the dark alleys of the world, poking in its garbage cans for a bare subsistance. We are traveling in the light, toward God who is rich in mercy and strong to save. It is Christ, not culture, that defines our lives."

" Good poetry survives not when it is pretty or beautiful or nice, but when it is true: accurate and honest. The psalms are great poetry and have lasted not because they appeal to our fantasies and our wishes but because they are confirmed in the intensities of honest and hazardous living..... It is not a press release. It is an honest prayer."

And my personal relevant to me favorite:
"God does not treat us as alien others, lining us up so that he can evaluate our competence or our usefulness or our worth. He rules, guides, commands, loves us as children whose destinies he carries in his heart."

New Flash: My grandpa is engaged to his highschool sweetheart!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHe lost her husband to Louis Gherigs disease (sp?) a couple years ago and my grandma died last November and they reconnected... sweet romance in their 80's (grandpa is 84!)

Love you all!

So...although I think I've lost my core reader base...I'll write anyway! I don't have any new pictures, and although I spend a lot of time at home to keep from spending the money I have, I have done some fun stuff. Last weekend I went to Columbia, SC to visit a good friend. It was strange driving down the freeway and all of a sudden recognizing street offramps that sounded familiar but you weren't sure which one it was.... Ahhh the joys of returning to the land you went to highschool in. Anyway...good day! I got to eat a World Famous Rush's burger...yes, yes...I can see your mouths watering now. My brother was disappointed I didn't bring him one back- even if it sat in the car half a day! Then went to the river and went to see Cars...fun flick!

Today I went with Susie and 7 of the youth to eat at Applebee's (kids menu- for those that know my current rule about sit down restaurants) and ice skating. I hadn't been ice skating for a number of years, but had a good time. No Falls!!! Unfortunately, there was a limited number of new, good skates, so one of the girls and I switched off and shared skates. So, it worked out well. It was her first time skating and she picked it up pretty well. The old skates weren't sharpened and didn't stick in the ice well, making it very difficult to skate- especially for a new skater. There is a new ice skating rink being built down the road from our house, so I may be skating more often in the future. The new one will have 3 rinks in it, so hockey will have its own practice rinks.

I found an indoor waterpark online that is here in Charlotte..I'm interested in giving it a try at some point this summer.

Next week I may help out painting or cleaning the new offices my church has been having remodeled. It's a new church (born in April) and the office space was given to them, so it's now been remodeled into a ministry center since the church uses a senior center on Sundays and doesn't have its own space for midweek things.

Love to hear from you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hint Hint...

My weekend in Atlanta was fun! Steve and Niki (top left) were wonderful hosts. It was great getting the chance to hang out with them. On Saturday we all (including Steve's collegue, Angel, middle left) went out on the bikes to a bike shop 45 minutes away. That was a lot of fun. If you've never experienced riding on a motorbike, I recommend it! The wind leaves your face tingling after you stop.
Then in the evening (late) we went and borrowed Steve's sister's golfcart and nephew and rode around on the golf cart trails of peachtree city. You can get seriously lost on those trails...hence the need for their nephew to act as our guide. I think 4 adults and a child was a bit taxing for that poor golfcart though. Fun times!

It is so nice to have lifelong friends from Saudi that no matter how much time passes, are still close friends. It is such a blessing to have that in my life, and I'm thankful they are still willing to put up with me!

This was Carson's dedication at church day. Pepper in the sink was just a bonus. :-D


Things are going alright with work. The class has been rough, but after a melt down induced by tiredness, no paycheck and a student thief who stole from me...I got tough on Friday and the class shaped up a bit. Now this next week I'll be doing remediation for the students who failed their end of grade tests, so I won't be in that class much. Hope you are all well. Write me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My email has changed, if you need the new one.. let me know.

God is amazing! I'm forever amazed at how constant He is no matter how erradic I am. Before I came out here to NC, I prayed that He would orchestrate some new friendships for me. And He has!

That miraculous walk into the office with a resume' that landed me my current job, landed me in a 3rd grade class observing another teacher that first day. She's been to South Africa, is a believer and is single. She invited me to visit her church, so I did last Sunday. I enjoyed it and true to their word, was contacted to connect me to others by the next day. So that led me to a worship night tonight at a big church (later found out to be a Single's worship demographic service)... my teacher friend ended up going and afterwards invited me and others over to watch the Tivo'd American Idol episode of this evening. Which brought me to a house with 6 other girls hanging out and laughing. Amazing I tell you! God is truly amazing!

Love you all!

A couple of art pieces to share. Africa and Orcas Island, WA are the two shapes.

Today was a kick back day. I hung out with Carson for 3 hrs while he slept and Susie got stuff done. Tonight we went to church for a Sater (sp?) meal. I had never heard of it before, but it's to celebrate the last supper. Anyway, a Jew who believes in Jesus, was there and took us through the different traditions of the meal and explained the significance to each part. It was cool. Then everyone ate Lamb, hard boiled eggs and apple walnut salad. I didn't eat lamb, but that's because I don't like it. Of course if my brother was writing this, he would launch into the story of how I was traumatized on the 3rd grade desert campout when the Saudi bus drivers slaughtered the goat (that had ridden to the desert on my classes bus) for their dinner. I didn't watch that process personally and I never liked lamb, so apart from that experience, I still don't like lamb! Enough said. However, the significance of the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) is very meaningful to me. He was sacrificed in our place so we can have forgivness of sins. I so don't deserve it, but am so grateful!
Love you all!

Well, I only have a day and a half left....getting a bit nervous to be honest. I'm nostly all packed, I just have the last few items to put away and hope they all fit. :-)
So here is a picture or two for anyone who cares. I hate good-byes! Just for the record.
This download is going to take forever................................... But, it is of the restaurant I worked at..friends...and Carson and Susie.
Talk to you all later!

Here are some pictures of my little island.

Hello! I don't have any new pictures, wait I do!!! Just not of me. :D So, here is the news from my world. I'm an Auntie!!!!!! Carson David was born March 3rd at 2:05 AM (why do they always come out in the middle of the night??). I have to admit, newborns usually aren't the cutest till the birth stress wears off, but my nephew is cute and only a couple hours old! Can you tell I'm proud? I'll get to see him April 4th (since my flight gets in at midnight of the 3rd).

Other than that, I don't have any work lined up this week yet, but am hopeful that some will come my way. I worked at the restaurant for the past 2 weekends and subbed a bit last week.

Yesterday there was a School Benefits concert (at the school). The Orcatraz swing band played(makes you want to dance) and the school bands. My parents community Choir sang as well and did a fabulous job. They wear all black and the women wear pearls. My threatened to put on pearls too, which of course led to a quote from "Good Morning Vietnam". I sat next to some fun people from church, which always makes a concert more bearable- good as it was.

Here's a fun game for you to play: Go through the alphabet from A- Z and alternating people, make up sentences. For example: A- Alfred Alligator ate ancient apples after Andy. B- etc... You get the idea. This game works best if you are slightly slap happy and laugh a lot or if you are in a long line at an amusement park.

That's all for now! Love you all!

This past weekend was a lot of fun. We went up to Aldergrove Canada for my cousin's baby's dedication. It was nice to have a chance to sit and talk to my cousin and catch up. He and I have a the most in common of all my cousins, I think and I enjoy getting to hang out with him. Oh and for anyone who gets excited about Smallville, it's filmed two farms down from them (the farmhouse scenes anyway.

Other than that, God has provided some extra work for me so that when I am not subbing, I still have some other income. I feel blessed.

I just finished reading The Blue Like Jazz and it was an interesting perspective. I started it last summer but opted not to take it to Japan with me, so just finished it last week. I was sure exactly where the author was going for most of the book, but he made some profound insightful statements at the end. It was a good challenge.

Just got back from Missions Fest last night. I went up with my dad for the weekend. Missions fest is Vancouver Canada's Urbana. It was a good weekend. I got to hear the Watoto Children's Choir sing. It was a little piece of Uganda and I loved it! It was like being back in my African home. I miss it. We also heard some speakers share about their personal experience in the 10/40 window where they were from and have experienced persecution in horrific ways. One man was the same age as me and he was imprisoned 4 yrs ago and tortured just for his faith in Christ. The Word of God is living and Breathing and it is alive in the world no matter how much people try to pretend it doesn't apply to themselves, or that they aren't accountable for the poor choices they are making. The Word of God is straight forward and it doesn't leave room for "whatever works for me" philosophy. We are accountable and I pray will learn to care more about what is going on in the world.

God Bless everyone, He truly loves and cares deeply about each and everyone of you who reads this and wants to be in a close relationship with you.

Hello everyone,
How's the New Year treating you? I have no complaints. I've been working a little and also getting into an heirloom project which is kind of fun. Also kind of frustrating since when I get going, I don't like to stop and wait...which is what you have to do when you need pictures copied and you live on an overpriced island so have to wait until you travel to the mainland. Eh, such is life. On that topic, I found all these pictures of my Heath ancestors and have matched them to our family tree, so now am putting together an album. Not one album, actually four albums. BUT I need my grandma's side too and we don't have her family tree and yet have old unlabeled pictures. You see my conundrum? Well anyway, it's fun.

I get to sub this afternoon so that's great. I only need 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 more days to sub this month to reach my goal...not sure I'll make it. Maybe next month will produce more work.

On Saturday mis padres y yo are going to see End of the Spear on the mainland. All of you readers should see it. It opens Friday (today) the 20th. Next weekend is Missions Fest in Vancouver, BC. My dad and I are going. The watoto children's choir from Uganda is singing, I can't wait. I know the church they are from and may know the tour leaders. I miss Uganda....Then Majid somebody is speaking. He's a former muslim and I've heard him on the radio. It should be informative.

Today my dad has an interview for a part-time tech position at the school. I really hope he gets it!

Do you ever feel that no matter how hard you try to be a friend to people, it's never enough? Not that people require a lot, but it just seems so easy to mess up. Once messed up, it's really hard to repair. I'm not very good at mingling for instance and sometimes that is the only impression some people will ever get of me. I'm rambling, I'll close.

Take Care and hope you are all having a great New years!

I love the reminder this time of year of God's loving gift to us. Jesus is so much more to us than a little baby born in Bethlehem...He was born to be the intercessor for us with God and to die on the cross for our sins (those mistakes we make daily, intentionally and unintentionally). He is the only way we can have forgiveness over our sin nature. I'm so thankful for Him. I pray daily I can learn to be more like Him and focus on His business instead of my own agenda that falls so short of what He plans for me. My Christmas was good. It was just Mom, Dad and I. I got up early to beat my mom to the kitchen and made Aebelskivers (Danish pancake ting) for breakfast. It's a family favorite and every other roomate I've introduced it to favorite ;-). Then we opened presents and rushed off to church. Then Deer Harbor Inn( where I worked this summer) puts on a free Christmas dinner, so they asked mom to play the piano and dad and I helped out with tables, then we ate there. It was nice. Other than that, I'm currently listening to Casting Crowns. I am 8 pictures away from finishing my Uganda Scrapbook. I ran out of glue. :-( Now I'm not sure what to do with my left over pictures. Unfortunately I still have Japan to do.....keeps me busy I guess. I'm not complaining. Hopefully I'll have a lot of subbing to do when school starts up again next week. My mom has a cist behind her knee so has been in pain so is looking at surgery (no insurance) and dad has interviews next week since his current job ends on Friday. Dave has a principal at his church he's supposed to get me a phone number for. The principal told me to call him directly- it's a public school there in Union County where Dave is. So that's a possibility for the fall of next year. But Dave and Susie and Baby Carson (pending) are all doing great. Love you all! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

So, I'm feeling a bit down. I'm enjoying being with mis padres, but am feeling other absences. Perhaps I'll always be that way, I don't know. Mom took me to a concert tonight that took place in this little Victorian Chapel, it was all decorated for CHristmas and was beautiful. The concert was fabulous and had humorous parts too. All in all good. Still sad and bummed though. I need to snap out of this!

I am the boot camp director of my home. Low Calories for everyone and as much exercise as can be handled...which turns out, isn't much. I think it will be good though, we shall see. It gives me a project at any rate and helps me monitor myself.

So how is everyone else doing this Christmas season? Write me stories, I might find them entertaining.
Until next time...