Nebraska

Stroke Conqueror – It’s been NINE years!

Antarctica, explore, faith, Uncategorized
KJ_1618.jpg

Build your hopes on things eternal.

“Time is filled with swift transition,
Naught of earth unmoved can stand,
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.”

It’s hard to believe that it’s been nine years since my family got the news that I was being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. My mouth was twisted. I couldn’t say my name without slurring or stuttering.  My right side was limp. No laughter. No wit. Very little strength. I was having a mild stroke.

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Mini-Mogul | Major Impact

explore, faith, travel, Uncategorized, worldview

mo·gul1

ˈmōɡəl/

noun

1. an important or powerful person, especially in the motion picture or media industry.
synonyms:  magnate, tycoon, VIP, notable

S C E N E:  Aksarben Suites |  Omaha, Nebraska

Characters:
A brilliant, well-read, confident, striking, bronze, shapely mother.
A bubbly, curious, handsome whiz kid.
A student of the aforementioned characters. (Me.)
mini-mogul.jpg

Never too old to be a student. Never too young to be a teacher. – unknown

Every adventure begins at home. The adventure I partook in this weekend swept me away like never before.  Let me ‘splain.

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Arabic AND English?! This is No Joke!

Antarctica, explore, travel, Uncategorized, worldview

I thought about releasing my book today. And then I thought again.

KJ_1887.jpg

Sometimes thinking twice is the right thing to do.

I realize that my readers are not just from English speaking countries. They’re from all around the world. My former students at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia inspired me to not only complete my eBook in English, but

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Dear Young, Old, and Somewhere In Between Traveler,

Uncategorized

Dear Young, Old, and Somewhere In Between Traveler,

I took my first trip abroad at 26. I had the wacky, crazy goal to see all seven continents by 30. And it actually happened.

snow angel

Once I got to Antarctica, I promised myself that I would make a snow angel.

A stroke tripped me up in 2007.  I graduated from college four years “late” in 2011. Yet, I arrived in Antarctica in 2015 at the age of 29.

The roadblocks came. The tests came. Removing and replacing these words helped me in a major way:

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Silly Prayers, Stupendous Answers – Gospel Today Magazine

travel

Since I’ve returned to the States, it’s been an honor to speak to various groups of people back in my home country. Today, I was gifted with the opportunity to speak to “God’s Covenant Prayer Partners” and share my testimony right here in “The Heartland.”  During my presentation today, I mentioned that I write for Gospel Today Magazine.  I’ve been writing for Gospel Today Magazine for about a year now and it’s been such an honor and joy.  I’m excited to share my newest article with my Seven by 30 subscribers and readers.  Please let me know your thoughts on this and share the wealth.

Silly Prayers

Dear Diary,

Sometimes I pray silly prayers. I mean really silly ones. Prayers like, “God, please let there be at least one Black person on my cruise in Antarctica.” Prayers like, “Lord, I don’t want to have to buy sunglasses for my expedition. Can someone on the ship have a spare? I want to save my coins.”

– See more at: http://www.gospeltoday.com/blog/2015/09/16/silly-prayers-stupendous-answers/#sthash.bmusHCU8.dpuf

This Sums It Up

travel

It´s my first night back in Argentina. I think I´ll get some shut eye and digest what just happened a bit more tomorrow. I want to write more. Really, I do, but I can´t seem to find the words. Oh, and this keyboard is a bit strange too. I´m using the hostel´s computer and I have to figure out the correct symbols in the morning. No energy for that mystery tonight.

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My Saudiversary – Friday the 13th

travel

It’s Friday the 13th and it’s been one year since I came to Saudi Arabia and one month since I started this blog. Thanks for helping me reach nearly 1,000 visitors, 2,000 views, 31 countries, and six continents in just one month!

A special thanks to all of you who have supported me and cheered me on from my first teaching assignment three years ago in China. You add fuel to my fire in the most amazing way. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.   I can’t write about all of the things that I’ve learned in this past year, but here are a few that came to mind.

What I’ve learned:

  1. Cheddar Bay Biscuits from Red Lobster are treasured wherever you are. Thank you, Riyadh, for giving me a taste of home.

2. The sand dunes here are just like the Windows desktop screensavers, but even better.

Sandboarding in Riyadh last year.

Sandboarding in Riyadh last year.

3. Water is more expensive than gas ‘round these parts. Hearing about it is one thing, seeing my friend fill up for just a few bucks blew me away.

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