Where I come from

"Where are you from?" That is a question that is almost always asked when you meet someone new. You are also expected to tell where you are from on any kind of autobiography that you give to others. People want to know. Where you come from can say a lot about what kind of person you are.

In our small group we have been talking about how it is important to realize how our past effects us now and how it will effect our future. So, I have been reflecting on the many places I am from lately. I am proud of all the places I have come from and each place has played a huge role in who I am today. 

I am from Rockford, Alabama ... 

I don't really remember much about living there, but I remember the people. I remember the sweet faces of older men and women who loved on and spoiled me and my sisters. I remember the sweet nursery lady who watched us while my parents were at church. I am pretty sure I remember that she took us to the train tracks to play. I remember chocolate and lemon meringue pie. I remember being scared of dogs. Some of my favorite home videos are at the Rockford house. I remember my Kindergarten. I remember my principal pushing me on the swings. I remember the basement of my house even though mom says we never played there, I remember it. I remember Easter egg hunts with my cousins. I remember Rockford. 

I am from Auburn, Alabama ... 

Auburn will always have a very, very special place in my heart. Maybe it's because I love the Auburn Tigers, college football, and tailgating. Maybe it's because the Bodines who are so much a part of my family live there. Maybe it's because I had my first best friend there. Maybe it's because it's where I asked Jesus in my heart and got baptized. Maybe it's because it's where I fell in love with my 1st grade teacher and decided I wanted to be a teacher. Maybe it's because I got a baby brother while I lived there. Maybe it's because of Parkway Baptist Church and the wonderful youth pastor who impacted my life in more ways than he is probably aware. Maybe it's because it's where me and mom became friends. Maybe it's because it's where I saw that God is still in control even when bad things happen. Maybe it's because that's where I saw my dad's passion for the un-churched. Maybe it's because of the hole in our backyard where my sisters and I played non stop. Maybe it's  because of all the times I remember our house being of full of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins and good food. Maybe it's because of Chick-fil-a and Cracker Barrel. Whatever the reason, Auburn is special to me. A lot of my life happened there, and I will always remember Auburn. And I will always say War Eagle! 

I am from Orting, Washington ... 

Moving from Auburn to Orting was hard and good. And even though Orting is the kind of town you hope to leave once you can, I am still proud to be from there. RiverChase will always be a part of who I am. Going through what we did with RiverChase will always impact how I view church and others {in a good way}. My youth pastors/leaders while we there meant so much to me {and still do} and they were exactly who I needed beside me as I journeyed through high school. Not only did RiverChase impact me while I was there, but Orting is where I experienced my teenage years. I made new friends {one in particular who is my bestest friend to this day and always will be}. I went to my first dance. I learned how to drive. I had my first boyfriend. I went to the mall and the movies. I had my first job. I went to high school football games. Thanks to a certain PE teacher in 8th grade, I gave PE a chance {which Erik is thankful for ;)}. I met Ms. Davis who gave me a reason to try in math class. Orting is where I longed to come home to after I left for college. Orting is where I learned more about Jesus. I re-committed my life to Jesus while in Orting. While in Orting, I began to see that being a Christian isn't just about going to church - I wanted to live out my faith. I started to have a passion for the world. All in all, I would say that Orting is the place I grew up. I grew up in more ways than one. Most importantly, I grew up spiritually. Life happened while I was there (great and not so great), and I learned more about Jesus through it. Orting is dear to me, and always will be. I remember Orting. 

{... So many more things happened while I lived in Orting, I just don't really have the time to talk about them all, but one that is worth mentioning is the memory of sharing my room with my wonderful aunt. That was a good time}

I am from Salem, Oregon ... 

Even though I only lived in Salem for the 4 years I was in college it is a place that I would say had a huge impact on my life. I met Erik. I made amazing life long friends who love me for me. I dated Erik. I met Erik's family. I fell in love. I learned about how to be a great teacher. I learned about theology. I continued to learn what it meant to be a Christian on my own.  I met amazing older women who poured into my life. I pulled all-nighters. I got engaged. I think the main thing I will remember about Salem and Corban is that I had fun. Life was so good in Salem (not that is wasn't in other places). I remember an amazing boyfriend, wonderful friends, and an amazing school whose professors taught me about the Bible and taught me about being the best teacher possible. I remember Salem. 

I am from Pacific Beach, Washington ... 

Well kinda :). Even though I have never lived in PB, I consider it one of my homes because of who lives there. Erik's house will always be one of my favorite places. I'm in love with the way I feel when I am sitting in their living room on the most comfy couch ever, listening to boys talk and play, and smelling whatever Karleen has cooking in the kitchen. I have always felt at home when I am in PB, and it is all because of the Fry's - they make me feel at home. I can't wait to bring our kids to PB one day. Pacific Beach is a special place that I will always love and be thankful for. 

I am from Rapid City, South Dakota ... 

Even though Erik and I only lived here for one year, Rapid is where I consider myself "from" currently and a place that no matter where my parents are, will always be very near and dear to my heart. I got married in Rapid. We moved into our first apartment together. I had my first real, full time teaching job. I served in my dad's church as a grown up. I made even more wonderful new friends that I will have forever. I saw Mt. Rushmore and Wall Drug. I found my new favorite restaurant. I drove in the snow. I fell in love with the Black Hills. I met Buddy. Rapid City is where I look forward to going home to this summer. I look forward to lake days, Armadillo's ice cream, driving in the car with the windows down, and more importantly, spending time with the people who are there. I will always remember Rapid City. 

And now, I'm from Jakarta, Indonesia! A place that has in the past year and a half changed me for the better. Erik and I have made amazing friends, grown closer as a couple, learned how to be better teachers, traveled the world, and had the opportunity to serve and love on the people God has placed in our life here. No matter where God takes us next, I will always remember Jakarta. 

Phew! That was longer and more "wordy" than I was expecting, but fun to write and reflect. If you stuck with me this long, thank you. 

All in all, I am from love. I am from a loving family who made every place home to me. And now, I am with a husband who makes every place home to me. Every place I have lived has made me who I am today, and I am so blessed. God is so good <3 

We're going to China!

Yep! Erik and I are planning to head to China- but only for a little over a week at the end of the summer {July 19-28}. Keep reading to find out more about our trip and how you can support and pray for us ...

Towards the end of last year, I stumbled upon a video that Mary Beth Chapman had posted on Facebook. It was about the Show Hope 10,000 campaign. The video urged viewers to join others and be a member of Show Hope. The video really tugged on mine and Erik's heartstrings and we began to sponsor Show Hope. {You can watch the video here: Show Hope 10,000 Campaign}

Anyway, at the beginning of this year I heard about an opportunity for Show Hope sponsors to go on a trip to China and visit Maria's Big House of Hope. I was SO excited! I watched the video {that is below} and was very emotional thinking about the orphans in China and I was so excited about the possibility of going there. After watching the video and reading up on the trip, Erik and I felt strongly that we should go. But, there was a little problem ... We had to be back at school by the time the trip was scheduled for. But little did we know, we actually didn't. Because of the Ramadan holiday here, we actually don't have to be back to work until the end of July. When my principal told me the date we had to be back to work, I did a little joy dance because the China trip is scheduled right during the last week of our summer. SO ... we applied towards the end of November and just heard that we have been "accepted" and are officially part of the Show Hope mission team! :) Even now as I am writing this, I am so amazed at how God worked out all the details leading up this opportunity for Erik and I. God is good all the time. All the time God is good.

Below you can read some information about Show Hope and specifically about the trip we will be taking. You can also watch the video! Erik and I will be raising support to go on the trip. If you would be interested in supporting us, please write me a private message on Facebook with your address. We will be sending support letters soon. And we will of course need lots of prayer and I will do my best to update you on the process :)

About Show Hope:

"Recognizing that adoption is a perfect picture of what God has done for each of us in making us His children through Christ, ShowHOPE has been established to care for orphans by engaging the church and helping Christian families reduce the financial barriers to adoption. Psalm 68:5-6 tells us that as the Father to the fatherless, God delights in setting the lonely in families. It has been our experience that the scriptural mandate of caring for orphans, such as the one found in James 1:27, is really a wonderful invitation to experience God in a profound way by being a part of His sovereign plan for His precious children. Working from these foundational truths, ShowHOPE exists to enable children living without the love and hope of an earthly family to be adopted into "covenant homes." These families can provide not only the love and support needed for this life, but also provide a child with the knowledge of God's plan for his or her eternal life with a forever family called The Body of Christ." {taken from http://stevencurtischapman.com/about/adoption} 

About our specific trip: 

"We will spend the majority of our time at the Show Hope Special Care Center, Maria's Big House of Hope, a six-story medical care center for orphans with special needs located in Luoyang, China. Activities will include coming alongside the nannies to play and interact with the children, small work projects as needed at Maria's Big House of Hope. We will also spend time together as a team daily, growing in our understanding of our calling to care for the abandoned. In addition, we will visit various tourist sites in Beijing, go shopping, and enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine." {taken from www.showhope.org}

For more information, this is a great video to watch ... 

Oh and by the way, Erik and I will still be visiting the States from June 14ish until we go on the trip. We are SO excited about the way this opportunity has worked out and our WAY pumped about our summer! :)

Thanks for you interest in our lives and for your constant prayers.

Bye for now.

It's almost February? What?!

Seriously. I can NOT believe it is almost the end of January. It really doesn't seem like it was that long ago that Erik and I were getting settled into our new apartment. But here we are, at the end of January and already more than halfway through the year. That. Is. Crazy. Since we have gotten back from Australia, things have been extremely busy. The first week back in school grades were due, along with other things that had to be done in order to "close out" term 2 and move onto term 3. Erik has been really busy getting ready for season 2 of sports to start (which started these last 2 weeks), and he was also busy planning sports day which happened this last Thursday (January 17). After a crazy week with those things, last week ended with a lot of rain and a flood alert for the Jakarta area. We had Friday off of school and even though the surprise 3-day weekend came at a good time, we were burdened to see all of the people around us without homes or missing. Thankfully, the Kemang area where we live wasn't that flooded, but surrounding areas weren't so lucky. Here is a picture of downtown Jakarta: 

Thankfully, it doesn't look like that anymore. Even though we have definitely still had rain over the last few days, it hasn't been as bad, and we have even been blessed enough to see the sun on a few days. Even though roads have cleared up, there is still a lot that needs to be done and villages/homes that are in need. I am so glad that we work in a school with people who are willing to serve, and choose to ACT. Yesterday, some teachers got together and packed up bags of goods to take to a village/school nearby that was flooded badly. Tomorrow {Saturday} a group of us are planning to deliver the bags to them. I am excited that we are able to be a part of this and blessed to be a part of such a great school.

250 bags in under 50 minutes. Many hands makes light work :) 

Okay moving on from the flood stuff  now...
Yesterday, Erik and Chris took their basketball team out to a tournament/clinic out in Karawaci. Karawaci is an area near Jakarta where the bigger and oldest campus of SPH is. During the business that had been going on since we got back from Australia, I dropped a couple {or lots} of hints to Erik about how nice it would be to stay at a hotel out in Karawaci. We went there once last year, and it is such a nice get away, especially when we feel like we haven't spent lots of quality time together. So, Erik told me on Wednesday that we were officially going to go stay on Thursday night. I was obviously very excited, so after I helped pack bags at the school for a bit, I had a much needed coffee date with Katie, and then headed out to Karawaci to meet Erik. Even though it was rainy most of the time, we really enjoyed our one night little "get away". It definitely refreshed me and makes me feel more ready for more craziness coming up in February.

After some dinner at Burger King {we go all out} we checked into our room and enjoyed the night by the pool. 

After some time at the pool, we ordered some dessert and enjoyed American Idol :)
Room service was about $6. Can't beat that! 

This morning, we enjoyed a yummy breakfast and then because of the rain ended up just relaxing in our room, reading. 

Our Cabana. Cute little place. 

It was really exactly what we needed as we get ready for the next couple of weeks. Erik still has a lot going on with sports and he will also be leaving with some other senior school teachers and students for a trip to Malang (a city in Indonesia). February 4-8 is a week that our school is focusing on service. The older kids are taking trips for the whole week, while younger ones are taking day trips with their classroom teachers, or doing retreats, or like me, just staying at school and doing service projects/lessons. In my class, we will be raising money for Habitat for Humanity, and also being visited by a national school nearby. I am excited to help my kiddos realize how "good we have it" and to teach them about how they can serve even at a young age. So you can be praying for both of us during that week. Erik, as he goes on the trip to Malang with 30 other students, and me, as I will be in Jakarta for the week. Thankfully I'll have friends that will also be husband-less to keep me company :).
After service week, my class will be busy with Valentines Day parties, etc. Before we know it, I am sure we will turn around and it will be spring break already. Please continue to pray for our students and for Indonesia. God is good and life here is great right now. I definitely have my "I want to go home right now" and "I hate Jakarta" days, but overall, I continue to feel the peace of God in being here and even through these busy times, I feel God's presence and love. Thank for you your continued prayers - they mean so much and we definitely feel them. We love you all.

Bye for now <3

Christmas in K1 and K2

Christmas time is definitely one of my favorite times of the year. I love decorations, hot drinks, peppermint, Christmas music, giving gifts, Christmas movies, parties ... etc. And of course, the most important thing of all - the reminder of Jesus coming to earth in the form of a precious baby. I love that in my classroom, I can share about the main reason for Christmas!
Today was our Christmas presentation. We have been working since November on a few songs and also a Christmas ABC poem. I was so pleased with my kiddos today - they worked hard and it showed! They were fidgety and silly, but they're so cute it doesn't really matter ;) We had many parents come - which makes me happy, because they are able to hear the real Christmas story. After our "concert" we came back to the classroom for cookie decorating and a gift exchange! It was a fun and tiring day!

Waiting to get our costumes on .. love these cuties! 

Singing away

Decorating cookies!  

 We love frosting! Perhaps a little too much!

 Getting ready to get some presents. All the kids brought in a different book. They loved it.

The rest of the week will be filled with other fun Christmas activities. Wednesday, we get to enjoy watching the other primary student's Christmas concert, then Friday, parents come back into the classroom for Christmas crafts. A fun way to end the 2nd term and head into Christmas holiday! Woo Hoo!

Happy Birthday Mama

December 7th. This is a very special day. It's my mama's birthday. I don't know what I would do if my mom was never born so I am SO glad there is a day I can celebrate HER and her life! Here are just  few reasons why I am thankful for my mom and why I love her so..

First and foremost, she loves Jesus. What a great example she is of a godly wife and mother. I can't wait to be a mom and to do the things she does. I love talking to her about God and about what we're learning. She challenges me and encourages me. She isn't afraid to say when she's struggling, and she is constantly pursuing holiness.

She is truly one of my bestest and truest friends. I can talk to her about anything and everything. Rarely does a day go by where I haven't texted her about something. I love to tell her what's going in my life and I love knowing what's going on in hers. She listens to me and she laughs with me. I have so much fun hanging out with her and I look forward to every minute we spend together - just like best friends would :).

She is like me. My mama and I have a lot of the same struggles and "bad habits". We joke about it sometimes, but at the same time, we challenge each other. I love that mom understands me and knows exactly what I need to hear. I love that we get each other!

This one is simple, but I'm real thankful for her ability to pick men. She picked a great one :)

She is such an amazing homemaker. She cooks the BEST meals - she even knows how to cook up left overs just right. I rarely remember a night growing up where she didn't have a plan for dinner. I also love her amazing ability to keep the house so clean and organized. Her OCD about neatness has definitely rubbed off on me, but I love it! Not only does she keep the house clean, it also looks beautiful! I don't know if I will ever have her ability to look at a room and know exactly where furniture and frames should go to make it look awesome- but she can do it. And on top of all that, she does the laundry, drives us places, works part time, is a good friend, serves in the church, and is now a mommy to a 3 year old. Dang, I think she might be super woman ;).

She keeps up with times. I love that I have a mama who knows how to use Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Instagram ... etc. It makes it easier to keep up with her all the way over here in Indo and it also means that I have a pretty hip mom!

She has a great sense of style and she dresses real cute.

She is HILARIOUS! We have the same sense of humor - so that's probably why I think she is so funny ;)

She shares in my addictions to caffeine, naps, sleeping in, college football, bedroom shoes {aka slippers}, sleeping with a fan, counting the hours of sleep we get, and crime shows.

She is musical. I love when she sings around the house or when she takes the time to sit down at the piano and play a hymn.

She's proud of me. I have never doubted my parents faith in me. They have supported me always. I love that mom takes the time to text me that she is proud of me. It means more than she knows.

She gives good hugs

She says sorry, and she forgives.

She loves me for me!!


I could go on forever about all the little things I love about my mom. She is seriously so wonderful, and you're missing out if you don't know her! She doesn't claim to be perfect, and I know she isn't, but that's what I love about her. She's real. My mom is my hero, and I want to be like her. I know that I am blessed to have such a wonderful mom and to even have a mom in the first place. My heart goes out to close friends of mine and others who's mama's are no longer here.

So, mom, this one goes out to you. Thanks for being the best mom I could ask for. I am so glad you were born ... what about 29 years ago? ;) ... But seriously, I don't know what I would do without you. You're the best mom! I wish I could be there to take you out and to give you a birthday hug. I love you so much mom! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! :) 

Thankful and Blessed

I have loved reading peoples' status updates over the last month about things they are thankful for. I think it's great to stop and think about the things God has so richly blessed us with. I hope that I don't only think about it and acknowledge it during November - but still, nothing wrong in using this time to specifically voice the things we are thankful for :) Here are some things that I have been thankful for over the past few months here in Indo ...

Technology - I don't know what I would do without it. Seriously. I can text my mom every day from my iPod, we FaceTime/Skype at least once a week, and I can use Facebook/Twitter/Blogger to keep up with everyone. It helps me feel connected even while being so far away. Oh, and this year technology has allowed us to watch our favorite shows and keep up with college football and NFL :) 

Our apartment/location - I know I have voiced this before but moving into a new apartment this year has been beyond great. It takes about 2 minutes to walk to school which we love. We are right in Kemang Village so we have a mall {which has a movie theater, Starbucks, and much more} right next door. We are also an elevator ride away from a grocery store - which makes shopping much less of a chore. 

My kiddos - I LOVE my 21 kiddos this year. At the beginning of the year I was missing my kiddos from last year and didn't see how I could love my new class as much as I loved my last -but of course -I do! I still miss my class from last year, but I have fallen so in love with my new kiddos, and they bless me so much and I know it will be another hard and sad goodbye when they have to move up to K3. I am so blessed to be doing what I love doing everyday! 

Friends - I could have never imagined how many close meaningful relationships we would build while we were here. This year, we have built upon the relationships we made last year, and made new ones. We meet once a week with a solid group of friends who challenge and encourage us as we walk with the Lord, and I also meet with an amazing group of girls to study the Bible. The staff at our school is amazing to work with and we love them each so much. My co-teacher Mia is amazing and I don't know what I would do without her as a friend or as a co-teacher. Having such real relationships definitely makes being away from family easier - and it for sure makes life here fun :) 

Vacations (or Holidays as they call them here) - We have been SO blessed to be able to go on so many trips. This year we have already gone to Bali, Vietnam, and Singapore. We are pumped about our next trip to Australia during Christmas time! We will be visiting old friends from when I lived in Auburn, and also staying with great friends we made last year who moved back to Australia at the end of last year. These holidays definitely give us a much needed break from work and from Jakarta- God is so good! 

Growth - Since being here, I have grown in many different ways. Erik and I have grown closer as a couple for one. It is so cool to look back and see how much closer we have come over the past year and a half. Like I shared in a previous blog, I have also "grown up" myself. Having to pray about the decisions we have to make this year have made me feel like such a grown up. I will admit that "growing up" stressed me out a few months ago, but now looking back I am so thankful. God used that time to grow my faith and trust in Him. While I am on the subject of the decisions we will be making, I will take the opportunity to share our plans for next year {2013-2014} ...
As most of you know we have been praying about what we would do next school year since we moved back to Jakarta in July. Through lots of talking, praying, and some tears, we both have an overwhelming peace from God about his will for us. Before we go on Christmas holiday, we will be signing our contract to teach here for another year. Erik and I feel strongly that our time here at SPH is not yet finished. There are many reasons we believe staying is the right choice for next year, and although being away from family for another year is hard to think about, I can honestly tell you that I have incredible peace about it, which is exactly what I have been praying for. Come next December, we will make this decision all over again and we will deal with that when it comes :). Thank you to all who have been praying for us and for this decision. Please continue to pray for us as we have many months left in this school year and as we look forward to another year here as well! 

New opportunities - With that being said, Erik and I are both thankful for the new opportunities that the next school year brings. Erik has been working incredibly hard this year with our sports and PE programs at our school. Being a new school, it's a lot of work! Next year our school has opened up an official Sports Development Coordinator position and Erik has applied and has an interview on Monday {November 19}. Of course, we are not sure he will get the position, but we are excited about the possibility of that for next year. 

The little things- Daily I am thankful for the little things. Erik and I try to find little things we are thankful for each day - it helps our attitudes and it helps us realize on a daily basis what we have to be thankful for. Here some little things that made me smile today ~ sleeping in, rain, cuddles, socks, Skype, college football upsets,  Coke, Harry Potter, chats with my Mama, brownies, and laughter. 

I am overwhelmed by how good God is to us. We don't deserve all the good and wonderful things he gives, and my hope and prayer is that I never forget the cross and what Jesus did on it so I can experience all of God's wonderful blessings. I am under no illusion that life isn't hard. I definitely have bad days and weeks. I know that there are people who are hurting all around me. I think Francis Chan says it well:

"Maybe life's pretty good for you right now. God has given you this good stuff so that you can show the world a person who enjoys blessings, but who is still totally obsessed with God. Or maybe life is tough right now, and everything feels like a struggle. God has allowed hard things in your life so you can show the world that your God is great and that knowing Him brings peace and joy, even when life is hard."

My prayer is that when things are good, I enjoy my blessings but still show the world how obsessed I am with God. I also pray than when hard times come that I am just as obsessed with God. In all things, I desire to give Him the glory! 

Thank you all again for your love and prayers - they are definitely felt all the way over here in Indo. Please continue to pray for our school, students and for the work we are doing here. Please pray for us during this holiday season - it's hardest to be away from home and family during these months. Thanks again and we love you all! 

Bye for now <3

Where did September and October go?

I can not believe how fast the past 2 months have gone by. We have had a lot going on lately from organizing sports tournaments/practices, grading, planning, watching sports tournaments, staff fun days to Bandung, and field trips. I can not believe that it is already October the 16th. Tomorrow is the last school day with kids of this week, then Thursday and Friday are PD (professional development) days here at school. Jordan (Erik's brother) gets here on Friday! We are so excited! Then on Sunday, we head to Vietnam and Singapore for a much needed holiday! Then when we get back, Jordan will still be with us until the middle of November. We are so excited to show him around Jakarta. There is something so great about people you love experiencing your life with you. That's pretty much the latest in our life .. Just working hard and planning awesome vacations. Ha! We are heading to Australia in December and can't wait! :)

Today like I mentioned above we went on a field trip. In K2 we have been learning about plants so we took trip to a garden type place. The kids loved it and we got to see lots of different types of trees and flowers and had a fun picnic in the field - something we don't have in Jakarta (a field that is).

Ready to learn about plants!

We collected leaves and other plants - they loved it! 

Ready to head home after a long, hot, fun day!  

Lots going on in the next few weeks/months in the life of the Fry's. I'll be sure to post pictures of our adventures in Vietnam and Singapore! Thanks for your continued love, prayers, and support. We love you all.

Bye for now.