Dear Blogosphere

Dear Blogosphere,

I have missed you and I apologize for my lack of communication. It's been awhile since October 9th and as you could imagine, a lot as happened.

I know I make a promise to you about three times a year that I will be a faithful blogger and about three times a year, I fail. It's not the new year yet, but I'm going to get a head start on my resolution and resolve to blog more. Considering my blogging record, it's ambitious. I know.

Here's a few updates:

Soon after my road trip to North Carolina, I headed south to Florida over Fall Break. I went to visit the University of Florida for graduate school. I got incredibly sick, lost my voice for the first time ever and to my great disappointment, didn't get to meet Tim Tebow. I did get to go to a football game, hang out with some great friends, and enjoyed my time with them. They might not agree considering I coughed and whispered at them the whole time.

And in case you were wondering, no I did not cheer for Florida nor South Carolina at the football game. What kind of Kentucky fan would I be?

Remember my friend Abe Parker? He made it to the Eddie's Attic Shootout and when I was invited to road trip to Atlanta to see him play, of course I accepted the offer. Seeing him surprised and happy to see us was worth the drive. The competition was tough. He did amazing and played well, but sadly didn't win. Here is a video of his last performance of the night.

Last update: When I was in Honduras in July, I blogged about a girl named Genesis that needed glasses. I wrote to Mrs. Patterson to get an update and she gave me great news. Genesis got glasses!

An American mission team came to Honduras to do an eye clinic and was able to give Genesis glasses. They are not exactly what she needs, but will work until she is able to get ones that are. The church had some money left over in the missions budget from our trip in July and is able to purchase her new glasses. God is good.

 
Grace and Peace,
Janah

An "Engaging" Spontaneous Trip to the Beach

It all started while studying in the library on Thursday.

Sharayah, Heath and I sat in a sea of chemistry and communications notes in a study room discussing how much we did not want to be studying. Productivity was nonexistent. Sharayah kept talking about how much she wanted to be at the beach for the weekend with her family, especially because her sister's boyfriend was proposing on Sunday.

Then she had the bright idea of a road trip.

We were reluctant. Twenty-two hours in the car and 20 hours at the beach over a 42 hour period? If you've been in Kentucky over the past week, you know it's been frigid. Running in the ocean on a warm sunny beach was a very tempting offer. Heath and I both fell into the temptation and agreed to go.

We left in the late afternoon on Saturday and arrived at Holden Beach, NC at 2 A.M. Sunday morning. It was late, we were tired, but too excited to not splash into the ocean.

Sharayah's family is amazing. Not only did they fund the entire trip, but they're just so much fun to be around. We woke up Sunday ready to hit the water, but not before we ate delicious homemade chocolate chip pumpkin bread and sang hymns during breakfast.

Photo taken by Sharayah's mom

The Travelers

After breakfast we headed out to the beach to play volleyball, body board and throw the football around. There were lots of face plants and diving into the water, mostly by me, but others looked ridiculous as well.

Throughout the entire day it was VERY difficult to keep the proposal a secret. I was just too excited. I've known Sharayah's sister Whitney and her fiance Tyler since freshman year. They've been dating for about three years and it's that time of year and life where every other friend is getting engaged, so we were all expecting it to happen sometime soon. Heath, Sharayah, her parents and I were the only ones that knew it was happening that day.

Tyler told Whitney that he wasn't able to come to the beach, because of practice and school. There were many other lies told so she wouldn't see it coming, but it was all in the name of love. We told everyone else that we were going to take pictures on the beach before dinner so we got everyone to dress up.

I was given the daunting task of taking pictures of it all. I was honored, but very nervous. Thankfully the pictures turned out great and tell the story better than I can.
 

Note the small blue dot to the left. That's Tyler

Still clueless

She was shocked

As you could probably guess, she said yes and the ring is gorgeous. Good job Tyler.

The whole thing worked out perfectly and although we were exhausted returning to campus at 8 A.M. Monday morning, it was worth it.  
 

  

Northern Ireland

A small piece of my heart resides here. I have never seen a more beautiful place than Northern Ireland. I took the above picture at Giant's Causeway. This place screams God's exsistance. People often say that a proof of God's exsistance is through his creation and this place made that statement real to me.

I have been twice and my last venture was the summer of 2010. I worked with some wonderful kids and although it was probably the most challenging two weeks of my life, I wouldn't trade it.

Places to visit/return to:

Tollymore Forest: where C.S. Lewis was inspired to write The Chronicles of Narnia

Giant's Causeway

Belfast

Murlough Beach: because dune jumping is awesome

Maud's ice cream shop: Pooh bear with nutella ... so good

I wanted to return this summer, but that wasn't God's plan for me, but one day, I will. The summer team leaves this week and although I won't be there, I will be praying a lot for them. 

God is good.

  ¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)