Jesus has been really good to me....

my dad got here on sunday! this was literally only moments after i saw him! we probably hugged for like 2 minutes and then got this photo snapped.

i was very happy to have him here. even lugging his bags through the parking garage was magic.

i'll describe our every waking and sleeping moment together another day. right now i'm just beat.
i had to drive and drop him off at the airport last night. well, i didn't actually drive, but i was along for the ride in the car which basically counts...
it was after midnight till i got home.
i've had to many late nights and early mornings since last thursday. i can tell i am on the edge of a sinus infection but i'm fighting with all the ooomph i have in me.
i'm not in the mood to be sick.

this morning i picked up my visa from the home affairs office!! i'm no longer illegal.
while there, two arab men were behind me. they noticed my accent and asked where i was from. i answered them in arabic (you should have SEEN their eyes!).
i really love speaking the little bit i know of other languages because your native language is like your "home," and just communicates so much more than mere words.
i guess i shouldn't have let on that i can read arabic and make very small talk.
within 5 minutes i was offered my pick of the single men in the town.
i was told: "doctors, lawyers, electricians, whatever you want we find for you tomorrow!"
i was flattered (i think?) but not interested.
they kept persisting and saying how marvalous this was.
after them wanting to know why i kept saying no, i finally said
"i love Jesus."

not only did that shut them up, but they literally turned their backs to me.
granted it wasn't probably the nicest move i have ever made, and will probably have closed any door that might have been opened to be their friend but its the truth.
but i don't think anyone has ever gone from being my friend to finding out i love Jesus and turning their back to me.
they turned their backs to me and didn't acknowledge me the rest of our shared line waiting time.
i guess i don't have my pick of the single men anymore....
bummer.

having my dad here to show my favorite foods, places, people, and
least favorite food, places, and people
was wonderful.
i don't really have "least favorite people." but if i did, i wouldn't introduce him to them anyway :)
it was my worlds meshing.
i loved having him see me functioning and thriving. but more about him and our time together later.

tonight was our RAG Christmas program. to say i've been stressed and nervous is the understatement of the year.
my boys sang and it was amazing.
they were adorable.
i wanted to share with everyone how much the Lord has blessed me in bringing me here but i couldn't stop the tears from falling and that was without opening my mouth and getting up off the table. so i thought it best to stay sitting.

but really.
this is such a healing place for me.
every day i am built into so much i don't know what to say or think most times. its too much to even process and digest.
teaching these little rascals has been the biggest joy i can muster to think of...
having the full confidence from my bosses is something i don't take for granted a second, but they really let me go and do what i want in the school;
because they believe in me.
and i feel it.
and i know He is using all this to restore to me worth and value and i just am so blessed to be here.