A Brand New Life

Dear Diary,

Well... here I am again... one month after I promised to update you more! O how I have failed... =/ Ah well... this is me updating you. ;)

How different my life is now than it was just a few short months ago! Almost every single aspect has completely changed. From a different bed to a different country, this has been an interesting transition. However, I am finally feeling as though I am settling in. I can sleep in the strange green room without my Thailand lamp on, and I can enter the fridge without feeling awkward. Things have certainly improved. =)

Sometimes I start to feel like I've always been here, that the life in Mongolia belonged to another girl entirely. What a strange feeling it is! I look around and get confused about where I belong. Sometimes I even feel myself beginning to slip up and call my guardians, Mr. and Mrs. Schrader, "Mom" and "Dad"! This has resulted in much inner chuckling.

All this has simply gone to remind me once again, that this world is not my home. This has been the lesson of my life... and now it is an even more concentrated lesson than ever! I only pray that it will serve to make me more heavenly minded and bold in my efforts for the Kingdom.

Til next time,

Love,

Naomi

The Birthday Blues

Dear Diary,

I find myself slipping down into the dumps. You would think that with a birthday on the way I would be excited to say the least, but my birthday is only adding to my melancholy. As the day draws near, my homesickness grows and I can't help but be a little blue.

When I was younger, I never understood how a birthday could be sad. Sure, I understood how growing old and gray was not exactly cloud nine material, but how could a birthday not always be magical? Now I think I understand. It's not just growing older, it's the memory of happier birthdays of long ago that takes the shine away from the current one. How could anything compare with the birthday you had when you were seven? When everything was splendid, down to the last crumb of cake. But the older you get, the more gaps you see in the faces that surround you. Loved ones who should be there, friends who used to make every birthday sparkle. Perhaps this is why my coming birthday is so daunting?

But the trick is to not look for the gaps. Look instead at the people who are with you! And unless you're trapped on some desert island, I'm guessing there is at least one someone who is going to wish you happy birthday. And as I look around, (mentally of course) I discover bright, joy filled, new faces that will make my birthday just as magical as it was when I was seven.

So even though I haven't completely shaken the blues, I believe I've come to a good conclusion.

Love,

-Naomi

How Long Has It Been?

Dear Diary,

My, my, my! How shamefully I have neglected you!

I know not when you slipped out of my mind. Perhaps it was the busyness of life, the moving through different countries, or the slow internet of Mongolia? Nevertheless, I forgot about you and I forgot about you completely. It wasn't until just a little bit ago when I decided to post an indignant comment on someone else blog that, lo and behold, I myself had a blog! Wonders of wonders! For two years you have been dead to me and now, in the fall of 2011, I choose to bring you back to life.

How much has changed! In the time that I have been away I have started a band, ended a band, gone to school, graduated from school, gone to Thailand, and last but not least, moved to the good ol' U.S. of A. Lakeland, Florida to be precise. Talk about new developments!

The past few months have been ones full of change... full of struggle. And yet, the Lord has remained completely and entirely faithful. My older sister is in Oregon, and the rest of my family is still in Mongolia. What a spread out brood we are! And soon it will be my younger sister's turn to fly the nest...

So, hello again my old friend. I look forward to getting to know you once again, and I am sure we have many more exciting times in store for us... =)

Love,

Naomi