November

Starting with a move I am now living in the GEMINI!  It's awesome.  I have two apartment mates, a big ole room, a big ole kitchen, A LOT of space and a little to fill it.  I love it.  After a few years of living in 400 square feet with a camper sink and a loud frig, I feel as though I am blessed beyond my comfort! 

Basketball is back in action.  I have an AWESOME group of girls.  I blame myself for their performance, but I am trying and they are trying and we are doing our best.  And as I have always told myself the best is the best you can do, and the best is yet to come but where you are now is the best you can do now.. But reach for where you want to go.

I voted.  I'm team white.  Listen to Pastor Furtick's Red, White, and Blue message from November 3 and you'll understand!  White is surrender.  I surrender to Jesus.  He has it.  He still moves.  He still works.  He can still heal, mend, and restore!

Costa Reunion is coming.  I do think there will be a blog on that meeting!!!!!!!!!!  I honestly CAN'T wait!

October... Already?

Can you believe 2012 is rapidly coming to a close?  I can't.  What a year.  I have officially fallen off of the blogging wagon but for the few of you that occasionally ready my blog happy reading. 
School is back in session, the kids are in a routine, I am in a routine, but my life is anything but routine.  I like it that way.  Makes it interesting.
I really am loving the year so far.  The Spirit of the Lord is really filling the hall I am working on.  It's amazing the difference in the atmosphere as compared to last year.  Mrs. Jones and Myself pray in the mornings for the Lord's presence and I know that is what the difference is. 
I also have the best people in the world to work with.  In August I was given the opportunity to work in the UAE at an all girls private academy in Abu Dhabi.  I had the contract, I had the paperwork, I had the job but I said no.  I know!! I said no.  40,000 dollars a year, tax free, expenses paid, round trip ticket, 20 kids to a class, job of a lifetime and I said no for the sole reason I ain't supposed to.  At the moment I didn't know why, and I still completely don't know, but I do know I'm glad I'm here.  I love America.  I love the people I work with.  I love my church, I love being an American (I'd had to be an ex-patriot if I moved to the UAE), I love Friday night football, I love my truck, and I love to see God move in the life of Abigail.  I knew it wasn't right, so I stayed. 
Last week Maw Maw passed.  That was a hard day.  Paw Paw died and that was a day from Hell, but Maw Maw was hard.  Thank you Lord for Apple Computers, iPads and iPhones for allowing me the chance to face time before she stopped talking, and thank you Jesus for allowing me to watch her take her last breath on earth and her first breath in heaven.  I cried.  I cried a lot!  But I laughed too.  Maw Maw was the funniest person I knew.  She never complained and saw the good in everything and everyone.  My cousins and I sat and talked about all the crazy things she did and said.  I miss her today.  On Friday, when I can't call her like I normally do.  I"ll miss her at Thanksgiving, Birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and all other times we eat and her asking for "just a bite."  I'll even miss her coughing in the middle of supper.  She was a tough!  The toughest woman I know.  I guess you have to be to be a farmer's wife.  I love her dearly, and hope to represent her and Paw Paw to uphold my name.
Now, what happens to the barn?  That barn was my daddy's life for many, many years.  He had no choice.  He was a Lasley boy, meaning he farmed.  I will say 600 dollars a month, minus paying your own taxes, minus health insurance for a family of 4, providing for 2 kids and a wife comes out to a spit in an ocean.  I figured up, my daddy made LESS than a dollar a day for over 15 years.  Worked over 100 hours a week, easy.  And never complained.  So what now?  What happens to the home he has know his entire life?  Good question, I guess it will come out in the wash. 

More blogging is to come.. I hope!  I have missed writing.
Oh I need to catch ya'll up on the panther in the road this past summer.  Say what?!?

yeah... sorry for the lack of updates...

There are two more weeks remaining in Costa this summer.  My goodness how the time has flew by.  I am continually shocked at how fast summers here go.  It's always a blessing.  This summer was a little different.  We had more people, better conditions, big God movements, and a lot of laughs (well, some of it is the same).  The Towart week almost did me in.  It took two days of naps to recover from that one.  Constant chopping, answering questions, refilling toilet paper, refilling water, answering questions, wiping tables, answering questions, picking up after kids, answering questions, washing and folding laundry, laundry and more laundry... It was fun, but tiring.
I was blessed to have the help of some world changing, college sophomores.  Watch out world.  I'm serious.    Here come your modern day disciples.  I do love these boys.  Griffin was my go to grill man in the A.M. Carter and Nick would wash a dish times 100.  C-Todd would do any and everything to stay in the kitchen, providing Germ-X and Sun Block.  Henry was my chopping, mixing, laundry partner dicing veg and folding clothes.  He also was my keep calm and carry on buddy.  Deep Breath.
But the summer is slowing.  We have gone from 44 people living on the mountain to 15.  Talk about EASY! Kathryn, Morgan, Erin and I have 2 easy weeks to work, relax, laugh and chill at the beach, or Whales and Dolphins!
Although the morning mountain runs kick my butt, I do think I've gained some pounds, the curse of being the cook, but hey it's well worth it!  We have had some good food!
Until the states I can fill you in on all the crazy mini adventures that go along with living in Costa Rica!
Love,
Flossie

a lil update... just a little one

This summer is flying by.  My days are pretty consistent.  Wake up, run, make coffee, cook breakfast, clean up, assign jobs, cook lunch, clean up, finish my assigned jobs and make sure the teams finish theirs, help with supper, clean up, Worship on the Mountain and sleep.  But there are a group of 19 year old college guys that are blessing my heart with their help.  They are so willing to serve.  I can tell them what to do and they do it, and do it with excellence.  The Faith Christian Group was Awesome.  There were two men, John Weber (J.Dubs) and Mark Lavender (Purple Java) that slaved in the kitchen with me every morning.  Little do they know, they were an answer to my prayer.  I was really wondering how I was going to take care of 30+ people everyday by myself.  Well, God sent these two men who not only worked along side of me sacrificially, but offered encouragement and wisdom from their years of life.
I also realize this summer is a little different from the past.  I am now considered Summer Staff. Summer Staff.  I don't know what to think about that title.  It's good, but I don't feel as though I should be honored to have that title.  Delegating responsibilities and praying over every person in the process.  I have a different prospective because the sacred ground I serve on is the same ground that changed me life and now I get to see the life change in so many others.  It's AWESOME!   
I think one of the coolest things for me, is to watch freedom come to young adults, teenagers.  It's neat to see where I have been in my life and now to watch people be released and experience freedom for the first time. I love it.  
More to come.  I'll do better blogging, just never get to the internet cafe that much.
Main thing, pray for strength.  Pray for wisdom.  Pray I can cook some good food!

I'm an American raised in the South, not Costa Rican.

As previously stated.  I love Costa Rica.  I think some of the prettiest people in the world live here, not just for their outer beauty, but their heart as well. But I am not a Tica (name of Costa Rican Women).  Not that being a Tica is a bad thing, but I am truly happy to be a Dixie bread american woman!  Thank you father for my skins ability to bronze but no thank you for the assumption from foreigners that I am fluent in Spanish.  I do know enough Spanish I can get by and survive but it takes a minute to process what was said.  So, when my look of confusion crosses my face, they think I'm either death, so they say it again louder, or dumb.  I don't know which is better?  Maybe I'll just play dumb!

Welcome to San Jose.... Don't touch my bag!

I love Costa Rica.  The people.  The food, the chill way of living. But one of the things I don't like is when you land in the airport, you are bombarded with Ticos trying to help you.  I like help, but don't force yourself.  Case in point, when you are carrying your luggage out of the airport they want to carry it for you.  .  Hello, I didn't ask for your help, so when you grab my bag and offer to carry it I think I'm in Mebane, and you're treating me like a lady.  Not the case.  They want a tip.  And when they look at you wanting money, for carrying a bag 10 feet, that you didn't ask them to carry, you instantly think, "I better give this dude money or he might send the mafia after me." So you drop a buck, for safety.  Well this year I was stern.  I was very polite at first, "no gracias." But that soon transformed into a teacher voice of, "DON'T TOUCH  MY BAG!"  Oh the looks I got.  But I kept my dollar!

Airports are the best!

Airports... I don't like them.  Don't like them at all.  The combination of stress, finding your way and the TSA (God bless em:) will put anyone in a tail spin.  But they are good for one thing, People Watching.  On my way to Costa, my connecting flight in Houston proved to be prime for people watching.  To say the least, I was not disappointed.  So I have a list:
1. Starbucks has a line no matter where you are
2. Is that girl really wearing Wedge flip flops, leg warmers, jean shorts and a wife-beater?
3. Japanese people have the best luggage.
4. Alright white, see-through pants lady, it's your third time through the Starbucks line, I hope you're sitting near the lavatory
5. I hope the man with the white cooler box is NOT on my plane.
6. Texas Ranger!  Do you know Walker?
7. The people on the flight to Guatemala are the prettiest people I have ever seen.
8. Where are the Cowboy hats?  I thought I was in Texas.
9. I wonder if anyone is watching me watch others.
10. Mr. Marshall would love seeing all these pilots.
11. No matter where you land, a car seat turned upside down will result in the dropping of lost cheerios!

But I'm in Costa Rica.  I love it.  I have always loved it.  The people. The Mountain. The simplicity. Even the Rice and Beans.

Pura Vida!

I'm just supposed to..

If you have known me for any period of time, you would know that I LOVE Costa Rica and have poured 3 summers of my life into the missions happening there.  Last summer I didn't go.  I can't explain why I didn't go, other than I wasn't supposed to but that is not the case this year.  This year I'm going for no other reason than, I'm just supposed to.  Being in the teaching profession has blessed me with summers "off" (for those saying it must be nice, let me remind you I work a good 65+ hours every week of the school year and when school ends each day, I still have homework, grades, and planning to do.  So 'off' is simply catching up on the overworked hours in the school year) allowing me to take grand adventures to the Mighty Rich Coast.  So, I'm going back to the jungle Monday and will return August 4th.  Pray for safety, guidance, and protection from all the dangers of not only the jungle, but living in a foreign country.
    

Back to the Jungle!

As I gear up for another adventure in Costa Rica, I thought I'd re-post one of my favorite blogs from two summer's back.  Now it is funny.. then, not so much!  One week Babe... and I'm back in the Jungle!


Below you will find a picture of the vehicle I am about to write about.
FJ PICTURE
I feel like I'm in Big John (our Christmas Tractor) when I was driving it up the mountain yesterday.  Here's the story... The FJ was stuck at the bottom of the mountain and needed a driver to get it back up.  Diego (the hardest working, smartest, can fix anything, reminds me of my daddy) tico asked me to ride down and drive it back up the mountain for him.  Honestly, I really didn't want to because one the FJ is like driving a tractor and two the road is still awful, regardless of the fact Diego, Humberto, and I worked on it all day (that's how I relax on my vacation... work! can't help it.. it's in my blood)!  BUT... I start driving the mountain in this big ole FJ and do great until I get to the last "S" curve.  I start up the S, with Diego following me in the Red FJ, when I start to spin.  Well Dag... It wasn't that bad of a spin but I wasn't going anywhere. With my foot pressing the clutch, one hand on the wheel, one on the stick shift, and the other foot on the break I stick my head out the window and yell, "DIEGO, yo tengo un problema  (Deigo, i have a problem)."  Luckily we were close to a flat spot in the mtn road, so Diego hopped out and came running to where I was.  He said I needed to back up and get more speed.  So I backed (slowly because on this incline breaks are not really good... it's the equivalent of breaking on ice) to the flat spot and get another running start.
Well... the good news is I got past the part I was stuck the first time... the bad news is I got stuck further up.. in the middle of the "s".  Here I am, not moving, spinning on mud (because we need strong rain), sandwiched between two mountain dirt walls, two ditches, and knowing I was going to have to back this thing around a curve, down a mountain, and to the flat spot.  Again...with my foot pressing the clutch, one hand on the wheel, one on the stick shift, and the other foot on the break I stick my head out the window and yell, "DIEGO, yo tengo un problema!!!!!!!!" with a little more volume.  I was starting the freak out.. just a little.  Here comes Diego running up the mountain to save the day.  I coach myself by taking a deep breath, putting this small tractor like vehicle in reverse, and pray to God.. in English and Spanish!  Foot off the clutch a little, on the break a little and... HELLO slide.  An out of my control, holy moly I'm picking up speed, going sideways, I'm going to hit the wall like a nascar driver... slide.  Diego is telling me which way to turn the wheel but my Spanish translation wasn't working at the moment, so... I had NO IDEA what he was saying!  I stop sliding only to be sideways in the road.  That's a fine position to be in, if sideways wasn't between two big mountain walls and on an incline that could result in a rollover at any moment.  So I sit sideways.  What do I do?  Well, a 3 point turn wasn't going to work.  So I start to go in reverse (thank you diesel engine and power) and move a little.. and slide more but the slide was good.  I started to turn in the direction where I could actually get down the mountain in a forwards motion.  The entire time Diego is on some side of the FJ providing some support to keep me from turning over!  Well... I made it back to the flat spot and told Diego I was walking back to Refugio!  He chuckled and told me to get in the Red FJ and he thought there was a leak in one of the seals causing the Green FJ to lose power!.. well that's good to know.. thanks for telling me now that I have almost peed in my bricthes!
Christine and Erin (the other interns) have been going to different places all week, going on "adventures".  Well, no offense to these girls but going to shops and looking at the waterfalls isn't very adventurous to me.... come talk to me when you're sideways in an "S" curve... that's adventure!

Second place is not for me

I like to win.  I like to beat everyone I am competing against.  Sometimes my biggest competitor is myself.  I compete against myself more than I compete against others, which is good for a long distance runner, but not so good in other areas.  It can make one crazy!
To make a long blog short, I am in second place.  I keep ending up in second place when it comes to relationships.  Second Dag Gum Place.  Now, that used to bother me because I just told you I like to win.  It used to make me feel very inadequate, wonder what my problem was.  Why not me? etc...  As time and age progresses I have learned to realize each time I land in second place, it's better than the second place before.  Each second place gets betterer and betterer. (thank you Chirstine Caine for the word betterer.) Which makes me think, if I ended up in First, the First time, it would not have been as good as Second place the second or third time.  Stay with me... draw a picture if you must.  All of this to say, First Place will be oh so sweet!  

Jesus told me to

Jesus told me to.  It pretty much sums up my life for the past four years.  I have moved to Concord, gone on several mission excursions, made friends with people outside of my comfort zone, and have lived in a very different way.  My only answer to all these changes in my life is, Jesus told me to.  Have I always been the best at listening to what Jesus has said?  No.  Have I learned His voice?  Yes.  I don't have to completely understand, I just have to completely obey.  When I obey I will then understand.  I think that's faith.  What may seem crazy, far-fetched, out of the ordinary, and make zero sense is okay, because Jesus told me to.  

Where've you been?

I was recently asked why haven't you blogged, where is your blog, do you still blog?  I must say I don't know.  I used to write all the time.  I loved writing.  But what once brought me joy became a chore in the blink of an eye.  I'm here.  I'm still alive and I think my creative juices are still flowing but it's been a crazy few months.  A lot of soul searching, a lot of accepting the fact there are people in my life that I love, but can't be around.  Folks that are good people but don't help me in my walk with God, but are toxic in bringing me down.  I wish I could say i was stronger than that but I ain't.  There are people who I see potential in, people that I know can do great things for God but won't leave their comfort zone.  It hurts my heart to say, but I can't fix that.  I pray.  I pray to the one who can fix it.  So with a broken heart I have to say So Long.  Now, am I cutting these people out? NO!  No Way!  Why would I cut out people who can see something different in me but, I can't invest as much time in these people.  By no means do I want to get stuck into a 'Christian Bubble' but I know I'm happiest when my focus is on God and there are some people who steal my focus.  If I'm focused on the wrong things, I tend to fall apart.

So... I'm here.  I'll do better blogging, I hope.  If you want to read what I have to say.  One last thought, "Often what we think is a due date is different from God's appointed time."  The waiting game continues in my life.  But I know in His appointed time all will be right.  I just have to wait for my appointment!