Unexpected things

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last blogged. Time goes by so fast. It's been a strange few weeks. A portion of yesterday was spent watching tv. If you live in Oklahoma, you know why. Possible tornadoes. There were a few tornadoes that touched down in southern Oklahoma. That wasn't unexpected though. Everyone who lives in Oklahoma knows to expect them.

What was unexpected was the earthquake that happened around 9:45 p.m in the middle of the thunderstorm. I believe it was a 4.7. I thought it was just heavy thunder until the house kept moving.

We have had earthquakes in Oklahoma before, at least that's what my friends on the other side of town have said. The night before, we had an earthquake that was a 5.2. The officer and I were just sitting in the front room talking. We heard a rumble and thought it was the super loud exhaust trucks that drive through the neighborhood. Then the ceiling fan started to shake and my daughter started to cry. It was a very strange feeling. Unexpected.

Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

My mother came over yesterday for her weekly reading books time with my kids. She brought over this strange thing. She says she's pretty sure I "can't kill it" just because she hasn't killed it yet.

I remember seeing plants alive in our house as we grew up. My experience with plants has been this and this. Also we had a garden box which yielded several sunflowers and two zucchinis. They survived because I didn't have to take care of it. I have long thrown the aquaglobes away that my mom gave me. Fortunately, I've heard that I don't have to water this plant very often. There may be hope yet.

I Corinthians 3:7
So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but only God who makes is grow and become greater.

There is other big news in my life.

No, not pregnant.

I find it funny that I am sharing this news in my blog post about earthquakes and my lack of a green thumb, but it falls under the "unexpected things" category so it fits.

If you've followed this blog very long, you probably know I was adopted. You can read the story here. My mother adopted my sister and me from Korea. I was left on the steps of a police station. I never knew how big of a role policemen would play in my life. They knew how old I was because I still had my umbilical cord. I am often asked if I would ever want to find my birth parents. Truthfully, I have never had that desire. Part of it may be because of the way I was found, I think it would be next to impossible to find my birth parents. God may have not made that desire so strong in my heart because of that reason. I don't know.

A few years ago, my mom found out the orphange, Ilmagwon Orphange, was still around and contacted them. They had new pictures of my sister and me that we had never seen. It was amazing.

My mother shared with me a couple of weeks ago that she would like to take me and my two sisters back to Korea for a visit. She has contacted the orphanage again. The man who runs the orphange today is the son of the woman who ran it was my sister and I were there. Our Korean last name was Park (much like "Smith" and "Jones" in America). It was the last name of the woman who ran the orphange. She is 90 years old and still alive. Today, Ilmagwon Orphange is based upon Christianity. All the children who live their now go to Sunday school. Unexpected.

We may get the opportunity to go back to orphange and do some kind of mission work. Many people have asked me whether I have wanted to go back to Korea. Again, this has never been a strong desire of my heart. I may be Korean looking on the outside and except for my love of kimbobs, I am completely westernized. Since this trip is becoming a reality, the desire to go back to Korea and see where I came from is growing. Amazing. Unexpected.

We plan to go sometime in June for ten days. I am already working on trying to get my passport. I am the only one of us who does not have one. Outside of being born in Korean and going to Mexico for 1 hour to eat lunch, I haven't been out of the United States. The rest of the plans are being still being discussed, but the excitement for each of us growing. I cannot wait to see what God has planned for us.

Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

Psalm 89:2, 8
I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself... O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

Isaiah 25:1
O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.