These are a few of my favorite things.

I hear the bright yellow kettle on the stove, starting to hum quietly, not yet screeching...
I think of Callie Gordon, who pushes me to choose yellow... to choose happy... to choose life.

I decide it's time to get the hot chocolate ready... Which mug should I use tonight?
My Scrabble mug from Randi?
The mug Caty gave me for my birthday from her favorite coffee shop in Chehalis?
The one I received from Anna as a bridesmaid gift (that I accidentally ruined in the dishwasher but I can't bear to part with)?

I finally decide on the one from my mom, just for a little taste of home tonight. But all of them make me smile and reminisce, each paired with a sweet memory.
I have lesson plans waiting to be made, a cold rushing its way through my body, a brain that feels foggy, the Seahawks live updates coming to me on my phone...
But all I can focus on is the song stuck in my head.

"Christ alone, cornerstone.
Weak made strong, in the savior's blood.
Through the storm, He is Lord, Lord of all."

As the apartment lays quiet, I reflect on the day. The Skype session I got to have with Anna. The friends I sat next to at church tonight. The students I will have with me each day this week. The life that, two months ago, didn't even exist in this city...

I sit in awe at His faithfulness. His provision. His great and mighty love. Lord, may I lay it all at your feet... Continue to guide me closer and closer to you.

One year.

It has been exactly 8,760 hours.
365 days.
One year since I stepped on a plane in Seattle, WA headed out on the adventure of a lifetime.
My Ghana-versary.

Today, as I walked into Cottonwood, I remembered... Today's the day.
The day I cried in the airport talking to Devin as I was so nervous to leave. The day I looked forward to and thought about for months on end leading up to it. The day, ironically, my best friend also moved to Germany for three years. The day I finally listened to God's call of "Go."

I didn't know that Bismark would be the first kid at CORM to give me a hug, and I didn't know that Florence would capture my heart and I would miss her every. single. day. after I left. I didn't know Mary was going to move me and I didn't know that I would become friends with Robin Beebe. I didn't know that I would visit one of the poorest communities I will likely ever see and I didn't know that my heart would be filled to the brim, but also completely drained, and sometimes on the same day.

As I look back on this year, it is incredible to see the ways God has moved in my life. I had NO idea what I was getting myself into when I left for Ghana and He provided for me in all possible ways. I continue to cling to little glimpses of life there, whether it be pictures from Stacy or texts from Autumn or challenges from Robin. I also remember the first 5 of so months of my time abroad that just felt plain HARD. I continue to tell people that at no point did I feel like I made the wrong choice or wanted to go home, it was just a struggle. But, come March, I felt more alive in that place than I ever had before, and it was beautiful. In this past year, I have struggled with parts of my past and cried out about parts of my future. I can't count the number of times I said "OK God, I really need you to hurry up and show me where you want me next year!" If you would have seen me on my walks/runs, you would have probably thought I was crazy because I would walk along STARING at the sky, just hoping to see some formation in the clouds that told me where I was supposed to end up (oddly enough, I never found anything).

I could talk forever about how much I love these children, how thankful I am that I know both them and the adults I met in Ghana, and how I long for the day when I will return. But, in the end, it all comes down to gratitude to the Lord.

I sit here, procrastinating planning for tomorrow, and I ache for this day, a year ago... I would give anything to be back on my way to Ghana to spend time with the piece of my heart that is there. But I rest in His plan, thankful for the beautiful Tri-Cities sunsets and rainbows, exhausted after a crazy day at work, and blessed by the way He loves me.

My little Florence lovebug... Words cannot express how much joy this girl brings me. Watching LIFE come to her eyes over her first year at CORM was the most beautiful journey, filled with so much laughter and love. Autumn & Stacy, keep loving on this little one for me!!

Not that I have favorites... But I do. Ok, I admit it. And little Gamali is right up there with my sweet girl. I can still so clearly picture his little giggle and his running hugs.

Ushering in little lovebug as I am preparing to leave... I would have kept it together if it weren't for this little one. But I just LOVE Raphael's face! It's so perfectly him! :)

And this little guy... My Bismark. He was stuck spending many, many, MANY hours working one-on-one with me. I still have a paper where it took us 5 days to write the numbers 1-9 3 times... But by golly, he did it! So thankful I was able to be there to make his transition to school for the first time go a little more smoothly.