The End of the Journey~!


It's been a long journey!  

In October of 2012 we relocated back to America and are currently living in Chicago Heights.  It was bittersweet saying goodbye to The Morning Calm, Korea, and it will forever be in my heart.  I owe a special gratitude to the wonderful friends who have loved us and accepted us and become like family to us.  You are the most dearest and precious people I have known and I mean that from the bottom of my hearts.  We can never thank you enough for your kindness and prayers.  We are so grateful!

Life changes~  it twists and turns like water finding a new path as it seeks it's own level and forms a river.  Throughout it all,  God has been faithful and I sit back and reminisce over the last year as if it was just a dream.  I watched God do miracles, not in everyone else's life, but in my own.  It's as if I'm on the outside looking in.  I'm so grateful for all that Lord has done and I sit here (nearly) speechless.  (I said nearly!)    

In the last day in March in 2012 my husband suffered (what we knew then) 2 brain aneurysms and 1 brain hemmorhage.   Life was turned upside down and there were many times I wondered if life would ever be normal again.  At that time, I remember praying and asking the Lord if He could just show me a glimpse into where we would be a year from then.  Not knowing the future was a difficult thing, but had I known what I know now, I would have never had the opportunity to grown in faith and grace.  My husband went into emergency surgery and came out with every ounce of sarcasm and humor.  Where I once rolled my eyes at his jokes and sarcasm,  I was so thankful that his whit was still there and that he was by my side!  I was/am so grateful that there was no brain damage.  Thank God.  About a week later they found a third aneurysm and in June 2012 he went back into surgery to coil the third.

Through trial and hardship life takes on a different filter and we see with new eyes.  Gratitude is ever present.  The normal things that are taken for granted have such wonderful meaning.  Life is sweeter and every moment has wonderful depth.

God has been so faithful to us and has revealed Himself faithful to us in so many ways.  Through the kindness of fellow Christians, friends and family  His sweet presence that gave us strength to simply take a step. 

When I was driving to the hospital to visit my hubby, I was streaming music through my ipod to the car stereo,  It was then that I heard the song 10,000 Reasons.  The words fit like a glove.  No matter what was about to happen in life I knew that there were always 10,000 more reasons that I could praise the Lord for.   It's so true.

God has been good to us!  And so I close this chapter of my life.
I've got 10,000 reasons for my soul to sing!  Bless the Lord!




Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name


The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes


Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger

Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find


Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name


And on that day when my strength is failing

The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore


Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

CQ~ A Newsletter for Crazy Quilters

Hmmm... I wonder if anyone reads my blog anymore. =)

Does anyone remember the CQ Newsletter? It started out as a magazine and graduated to CD format that was mailed out to subscribers. I have the first 7 issues and 6 CD's (from 2003) with articles, projects and inspiration too~

I have been going through some stuff and have decided to give them away. Instead of doing a random number 'pick' I have decided to do the drawing a bit different. If you would like to recieve them please leave a comment INCLUDING your blog link OR email address telling me why you would like them and I will pick a winner. Please remember to tell me HOW to contact you!

Love and Hope Orphange



I have been visiting the Love and Hope Orphanage in Daegu. It is an orphanage with either (or both) mentally and physically handicapped children whose parents have given them up. Each and every one of these children are SO precious! Their eyes light up when we walk into the room to visit with them. Their faces are riveted when we read to them. We love to play with them and simply hug and cuddle them. It is such a precious experience. Seriously, these kids are like little sponges absorbing any affection you will give them.

I don't know this little one's name but she is so pretty. On my first visit I caressed her face and told her how beautiful she is. She promptly nodded her head no. I continued to tell her how pretty she was as she emphatically nodded "no" each time I told her. Finally she stopped saying no. I just pray that she can realize that she is beautiful in God's sight and in mine.



This is 11 year old Sang Woo. He is such a cutie with his infectious smile and wonderful personality. Today he sat on my lap and hugged me. As I hugged him he was full of giggles and wiggles! As I patted his back he patted mine too.



Content and Happy. I call him Smiley because that is what he does best. When we arrived at the orphange today I sat down a good distance away from him. He is unable to walk (as most of the kids are in this area of the orphange) so he ROLLS across the floor to come and visit with me. =) What a doll!




More pics to come and video too. It is truly a blessing to be able to visit these little ones. Your prayers are coveted for these dear children.

Chin Hae and Cherry Blossoms~











Happy Anniversary!!!

Our anniversary is the 19th of this month (which falls on a Sunday) so we celebrated today by driving to Taegu to a lovely little French Mediterranean restaurant called Dijon.

Our menu consisted of:
French Bread with a Vinaigrette/Olive Oil dip
Bruschetta
Escargot Cream Soup
Roasted Stuffed Chicken Breast with Mushroom Duxelle and curried rice in Coconut Butter Sauce

We didnt order the soup but it came with the meal so, of course I had to try it. How often do I get the opportunity???? It was good and I can at least say that I have had escargot. It really did taste like chicken- but very very tender.

With French Music playing in the background hubby gave me his best serenade of 'Volare' (ISN'T that ITALIAN???) and he gave his best shot at speaking French that he possibly could muster up including and limited to: "Parles Vous Francais?', "French Fries", "Au Jus", and "Monsier". Oh- and "Pepe Le Pugh" We can't forget THAT, now can we??? =)


We strolled around- it was a beautiful day- and happened upon some lovebirds. (Awwww!)


Last but not least he bought me a hair clip that I had fancied a while back at a small boutique.


Anyhow, it was a lovely day!

If you have read this far I am quite surprised... haha.... I have toyed with the idea of 'putting my blog to bed'. Not sure yet but giving it some thought. If I do decide to start another please leave a comment and subscribe to that comment so I can post the url if that is the way I decide to go.

Thanks for stopping by after my pathetically long absence!!!

Merry Christmas!






Excitement is building as we prepare for our Children's Church doing a Nativity Play.
Here are the pics before all the action takes place... will update soon!
I have to laugh because the provender is not 'straw or hay' but it is (tee hee) leftover stubble from the rice harvest here in Korea.

Merry Christmas to all! Jesus is the reason for the Season!!!

Land of the Morning Calm




I took these this past summer and have wanted to upload them for a long LONG time. This was at a rest stop when I took the bus to Pyeongtaek. Pretty, eh?

Have slide will travel...

I have seen these slides coming out of some daycares in Korea and always thought they were for the kids to exit. Imagine my surprise when I found this and this. They are emergency exits and would you take a look at the INCLINE of these slides??? Incline? Incline???? I marvel! I truly marvel!

Remember Our Veterans!

They put service above self to protect our country.
They risk their lives so that we may live free.
This Veteran's Day we remember the fallen and honor those who serve.
To America's Veterans... THANK YOU!

Election 2008

Hope everyone gets out to the polls and votes or has already voted via absentee ballot! I have voted in every election since I turned 18 and count it a privelage and an honor to represent my county! Every vote does count! God Bless America!