Hello from Orlando. Just wanted to put up a quick post as it is late here and I am tired. Things are going well and I have met most of the staff, had some good conversations with Greg, and am actually doing well at processing through all the information. (Sometimes I tend to process slowly, but then I have had the past two months to think on this!!! :) ) I have had my big questions, up to this point, answered without having to ask them and that has been a positive. Tomorrow, we will continue to talk details and I will have the opportunity to see more of Orlando...keep praying. Sending my love from FL.
P.S. It rained here today...I'm sure I brought some of that with me from the NW!
Steph ;)

The adventure continues...and I am being diligent and faithful to walk through doors that open before me. I don't believe in coincidence, but I am also a "calculated" risk taker. (Which may mean I'm not even much of a risk taker!!:) ) It has been such a great encouragement, for me personally, to have an opportunity like Florida come along and to process with each of you through what that might mean.

I told my friend Sara, over Chez Jose enchiladas before I left for Costa Rica, I feel like I'm falling in love. Don't get any ideas...there isn't anyone in particular, just this wonderful feeling of freedom from striving to make life work. Sitting back and watching it unfold, as well as pressing-in in confidence of what God can do on my (our) behalf, it is just great freedom! I am living in that love and confidence.

A little story/life lesson...
I have a plant that sits in my window. It was given to me by friends who moved to Florida 3 years ago as they didn't want to pack it along and I had a new apartment that desperately needed some greenery. I don't have a green thumb, but was especially determined to make this plant live after someone accused me of killing my plants. (SARA!) This poor plant has been through the ringer...I had to cut it back to just a few stems and start to water it more regularly. I did this for two and a half years as it gradually grew more and more. At one point, it was knocked over and basically uprooted, but I put it back in it's pot and kept nuturing it. Back in October, after emerging from a walk through the valley and beginning to really make plans for time in another culture, I noticed a new little sprout. This one looked different and I kept my eye on it. It was the flower! Hadn't blossomed in all the time I had been caring for it, but in time it appeared. I was killing it off in order to bring it back. What a great insight into life. How God arranges life's circumstances, painful, hard, cutting off, uprooting in order to grow and bring about the beauty inside that only He is often aware of.

So, I am off to Orlando tomorrow and am looking forward to the experience whatever happens in the end. I love you all and am so very blessed. Blessed in order to bless...keep passing it along. I will try to post Friday or Saturday if I can get a computer and internet. Thanks for following!
Much love,
Steph

Hey Hey! Well, today I spent a bit of time at Barnes and Noble trying to find something to supplement the Spanish that I did learn in CR. I love going to that place...I lose track of all time wandering through there looking at all the books. "Spanish for Gringos" is the workbook I ended up with.! :) I was excited as I looked through it and realized I did learn something in CR! The past month has been so full of activities and people. What a joy to see so many friends and family...Stanford's with the girlfriends, lots of coffee dates with hearts like mine, Powers, Easter with my family who I deeply love! I have told many of you about the opportunity that "popped up" at the close of my time in San Jose. For those that I have not yet shared with...I am flying to Florida over Memorial Day weekend for an interview!!!!!! GASP, I KNOW, FLORIDA!?!?! During my last week in San Jose, I spent a day playing tour guide for one of the speakers of the convention, at the end of which he said he'd like to explore the idea of creating a place for me on his staff. What timeliness on the Lord's part as I was (and am) processing through what the future might hold. I don't have details as to the job description, but that will be a significant part of my time/interview in May. The photo I am posting was taken that same day and I can still feel the refreshed excitement of possibility and a heart turned full toward Heaven's great purpose.

Let me start with sharing a quirk. It has "bugged" my type A since the beginning of this blog. "What's that," you ask. The blog doesn't allow me to (or I haven't figured out how to) seperate my paragraphs!!! All my thoughts seem to run on and I'll change from light-hearted to serious without a break in pace. Ms. Fronk (high school English teacher) would be so upset! Anyway, no use trying to start another paragraph so here goes... I am home and physically settled back into the life I left, apartment & neighbors, meetings, work, traffic. I haven't sat too long to reflect on the trip much, but it has been coming in bits and pieces. This last week I washed my flip-flops of the last grains of sand reminding me of those beautiful sunrises and peace in the morning. The rose my mom gave me at the airport is still in the beautiful vase, though it is not looking so good. I am unconsiously (now consiously) refusing to throw it away for then it means I am really home and my trip is over. The trip I dreamed and planned and worried over for the last year, year and a half. Saddens me, but I keep reminding myself of the gift that it was and that wonderful things are still in the future, not just in the memories of the past. In His faithfulness, the Lord has opened doors and I am allowing those to simmer as I sift through them. I was flipping through Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest" this evening and "happend" across January 2. Please, this is so good, take just a moment to read. This explains why I went to Costa Rica and why I don't know what He has in the future...there is no logical answer! (Smiling!!!) All I know is that God knows. The link http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php?month=01&day=02Thanks again for following along and praying for me. Your prayers were heard and answered! "May the Lord continually bless you with Heaven's blessings as well as with human joys." -Psalm 128:5 My love to you all!

Tuesday Night Ladies. We had Costa Rican cuisine tonight and they let me download and share many of my experiences from the past two months. Tuesday nights have become a wonderful highlight in my week. I will be writing again, but it is late and I am now a working girl again!

Diego, Alex, and Pablo. These three are part of the worship team at the Los Guidos church.

Caterine, Alex, and I.

Caterine and I at Virginia's. She has a neat story...met a family who was on a work camp a few years ago and they invited her to spend a year in the states with them. She spent her senior year here and is now back in San Jose area. She speaks English fluently and we spent some wonderful time together.

Avenida Central in San Jose...on a quiet day!

Playa Herradura. The "day off" trip to the beach for the Roseburg group...the ladies from the kitchen came along. Off in the distance, a major hotel is going in and this little quiet cove won't be quite so secluded.

Samara Beach from the perspective of a crab! Tons of the little critters ran around, especially after dark.

Volcan Arenal-still very active, as you can see. We did get close enough to hear it rumble, but no luck seeing any lava.

Eloise (Quebec), Damien (California), Anita (Switzerland), Ian (England and now Costa Rica)
Classmates from Heredia...what a fun group!

My friend Eloise...poor girl broke her arm at the beginning of her time in Costa Rica.

At Virginia's with her daughters.


Kathi and I in Limon.

It really is as peaceful as it looks...sunrise, the dawning of a new day...a new day shall come.

Graduation from language school! What a relief!

Hello family and friends. I have arrived safely home! I will be posting some more pictures soon so check back in a few days! Thanks for following along! Love and blessings to all!!!
(My last Sunday at Los Guidos with Luis)