Well... welcome to the blog. Some of you have expressed interest in staying updated with my Israel plans - or lack thereof. I think the best way to keep you updated on my life is to start the blog thing again. I'll try to end those annoying mass emails. For those of you who have my old blog address, please update it. I'll be using this one from now on. New year. Clean slate.
Here's the general update in chronological order. If you've heard it a million times feel free to skip it.
June 2008: I am presented with the opportunity to go to Israel for 2 months and nanny for an American family with two boys and a girl on the way.
August 2008: I meet the family while they are in Salt Lake City for a vacation. They are great, and their boys are amazing! They officially invite me to come stay with them in Israel January through March so I buy my ticket and start getting excited.
December 21st, 2008: I pack up all my stuff in Salt Lake City and move back to California so as not to pay rent in Utah while I'm in Jerusalem.
December 22nd, 2008: I receive an email from the family suggesting alternatives to coming in January due to unexpected health related issues with their newborn daughter.
December 27th, 2008: Israel launches an attack on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
December 29th, 2008: I cancel my ticket to Israel.
Presently: I live in Moorpark, California with my parents.
Some things to note: I plan on going to Israel eventually. The question is when. At present, I do not feel that it is the right time to go. The daughter of the family, Anavah, remains unstable in her recovery after 3 heart surgeries. Please continue to lift her up in your prayers. This precious little girl needs a miracle.
Some other things: It's been pretty miserable being in California away from friends and community in Salt Lake. I want to get back ASAP! I plan on coming back by the end of the summer, but I've been realizing that God has his own plans and his own timing. I just really miss home. Coming back to help take care of my dad has not been the easiest task. I think I underestimated the emotional toll. I have very few friends in Moorpark, which makes living here difficult. And it gets expensive to drive an hour or so to see everyone when there's no source of income. So I think I'll be applying at my local PF Chang's and resume serving delicious Chinese food. Not my dream job, but a job nonetheless... I've been toying with the idea of studying for the GRE (again) and applying for grad school in the fall (like I had originally planned). I just want to be sure that I'm ready for this endeavor before I actually begin. The good thing about both my mom and I being unemployed is that we get to do fun things. This past weekend we went to Bend to visit the sister in Oregon. Not to mention I got to see Jo and her new house in Medford! Tomorrow my mom and I are going to the Japanese American Museum. The last time I went for a class assignment the docent engaged me in a conversation about my ancestors' plight in Manzanar - an interesting conversation, but time consuming, and we were still talking when the museum closed so I didn't get to see the rest of it. And the best part of all is that my mom just bought us Phantom of the Opera tickets. I can't wait! So things aren't all bad while I'm waiting to figure out what God's plan is and how mine fits with his. I just wish he'd be a little clearer.
So that's it... there's my update! Hope you all are well, and I can't wait to get back to Salt Lake SOON!
Peace.
Oh, Cat, I totally understand the feeling of being frustrated with a lack of direction and not knowing what you're supposed to be doing. I just expressed these feelings at small group last night. We have been and will continue to pray for you in that way.
ReplyDeleteWe love you and miss you and wish you were back in Salt Lake too. I know you'll be back here eventually, so we'll try to be patient. :)
Ditto. You're most definitely missed, but I hope you feel that your time there was very beneficial (at least when you get back to SLC if not while you're there)!
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