Becoming one with the nature

Easter Sunday was a new experience this year! I hiked up a ten mile mountain  with a random group of people, while silently praying and singing praise songs of course.  No egg hunts, no turkey dinner, just 10 people who didn't know each other, coming together for some exercise while they couldn't be with their own loved ones.  It was definitely a fun day.  And out of those ten people of varying ages and ethnic backgrounds, would you believe I met a former US Army Ranger? I mean, what are the odds? Hiking on the other side of the world, meet a Ranger! Especially on that day! I knew it had to be a good sign, and turns out, it was! Adam is officially finished with Ranger School come this Friday! (pause for applause).  To some of you, this may seem like not substantial news, but to most of you, you know that this has been my life for the past 6 months.  Adam and I share our lives now, so what he experiences, I feel like I experience.  This has been really tough on both of us, but through the grace of God and our awesome family love and support, we are finally finishing up this week, and I could not be more happy! The long distance love letters have been so romantic and joyful, but it will be amazing to hear his voice again, and see him when he comes for a visit. Needless to say, I'm super excited and proud of him :) Proud of us, for staying together, for trusting each other, for trusting God, and knowing that there is nothing we can't overcome.  So, I look forward to our skype conversations over the next few weeks, but back to my Easter hike.  Remember St. Patrick's Day and the Irish bar where you had to spin the wheel and either drink a shot or buy a shot? Well, I had to buy two, and decided to give one to Douglas *random guy at the bar reading a book, not socializing--lame*, and it is a good thing I did, because Douglas runs the hiking group that consists of reporter/journalists doing work in Korea, as well as some Chinese people, other English teachers, and regular Korean people.  It was a nice connection to make, because now I have a whole new group of friends, (most of them in their 40's or 50's) outside of just English teachers living in Ansan.  It is because of Douglas that we were invited to join the hike on Sunday.  I met some lovely people, most of whom have been here for a few years on work, and one happened to be a teacher living in Itaewon who is a retired infantryman.  Awesome.  We had a lot to talk about.  The hike was nice, the weather was perfect, my body is sore today from all of the physical exertion.  It was lovely to be outside for so long, being one with nature, making new friends.   Afterward we feasted on Korean Bar B Q and ice cream :) Easter was as great as it could be, minus the ones I love! We have plans to join the hiking team again on their next adventure.  Yay for great things happening in my life.  So blessed, and incredibly happy to be able to experience the world and all of it's glory! Saranghay!