Insane-o Week!!!

Last week four of my friends from the States came to visit me in Korea and it was such a fun time but when it came to say goodbye I was ready to hop in their suitcases and go home with them. So Sunday I spent some time telling God to calm my spirit and help me be content with where I am and be able to enjoy my time here. And He did. He is so faithful!

This week has been crazy for sure. The kids have been NUTS all week! I thought this was due to the fact that they had a holiday mid-week and were just anxious for a break, but today was more of the insanity. However, it's been a week I will remember.

*Monday I had no classes (except my before and after school classes) because the students were reviewing their mid-term test scores, sweet! I was presented with my new contract papers...I have 3 weeks to decide stay another year or go home. I also got a new co-teacher that I am in love with...she's like my long lost Korean soul mate friend. (I haven't been able to get much work done b/c we've talked every moment we're in the office together.)
*Tuesday the kids were off the charts...even good classes were almost uncontrollable...but the day ended with a KELLY CLARKSON CONCERT!!! She is off the charts too, but in the "Oh my freaking gosh, she is a flipping A-mazing singer!!!" kind of way!
*Wednesday was Children's Day, a national holiday. I stayed home and did three loads of laundry, made 2 games for next week's classes AND packed up my winter clothes for mom to take home when she comes to visit next week. I made my decision...headed to the states next year, my journey in Korea will come to a close in August.
*That brings us to today, Thursday...first I had a girl come ask me what I would do if I had no friends in my class and boys always teased me...my heart literally broke over this precious child. I said, "but you are always smiling!" and she said, "outside I smile, inside I cry." Oh my gosh, sweet girl...she's such a beautiful and funny girl it made me so sad to hear. Next I had a 8th grade boy draw a very detailed picture of a mother giving birth in pictionary for his team to guess "birthday"...ahh middle school boys, gotta love 'em! Following lunch I had a fist fight in my 9th grade class that I had to break up (b/c of course my co-teacher had vacated the room!) That was tense, but I have to admit a little fun! (Am I going nuts???) Finally, three of my sweet K-babies came over and hung out for a few hours. We went and got fried chicken and brought it back to my place to eat...love feeding my kiddos! And one of my sweets asked me to pray for our dinner...at the end of the prayer I had to say "finish-E" because they didn't know how it ended in English (cute!). During dinner one of my gals (the one that wanted me to pray) told me she really wanted to go to church but her father is Buddhist and won't let her go to church until she is an adult. It made me so thankful that my parents let me and my brother pick our own church and have our own faith when we could drive...for me, it meant owning it and making it personal, not a ritual that doesn't mean anything to me. I just pray her heart continues to want to seek and work out her own faith. I love this baby and already pray for her every day!!!

Anyways, it's been a week...one more day left to enjoy the insanity! Lord only knows what next week holds. But one thing I know in my deepest parts...it will be painful to leave these children I so desperately care for. I told the three that were at my house I would be going home in August and they said they wait at the airport and hold me down so I couldn't go. Ahhh, K-babies!!! They are one of the greatest things I have ever been blessed with in my entire life. My life is forever changed because of them.

love from Korea :o)