big decisions.

i'm still alive.

my name is still carly miller.

i still live in korea.

i'm a terrible blogger. :)

anyways, i truly am sorry for not keeping up this blog better. i just wanted to write a quick update on life over here. i have been here over eight months now! it has been a great eight months. i'm so glad i came, to this strange country so far from my home, wherever that is. :) those of you who know me know that i am a bit confused in respects to this matter.

i didn't know what i was getting myself into when i came. i knew i needed money and wanted to travel. so i ended up here. at times, it has been uncomfortable. it has been lonely. it has been discouraging. it has provided me with opportunities to make plenty of blunders and mishaps (buses to wrong locations, strange hair dye jobs, etc.). it has been filled with delightful people who i've come to care for deeply. it has been SO MUCH FUN. it has been such a gift, financially. it has been full of awesome, God moments. it has been full of learning. it has been full of strange smells. it has been full of yummy, korean spicy food. it has been full of kids! it has been full. i am thankful.

eight months in, and i'm still really excited to be here.

seeing cute little socks on my middle school boys.

hearing "teacher-i-love-you's" from my students (only in korea).

seeing firsthand that kindergarteners are not always the sweet little thangs i thought they would be.

feeling deep love and connection with people i just met a few months ago.

finding a church that feels more like home than a church has felt in years.

having short, broken, silly conversations with taxi drivers in my terrible Korean.

these are things I have come to love about this place and my experience here.

i am realizing that i am far from being the person i want to be, but that i am right where i need to be. doing life with God. as we walk together, i stumble. i wander. i go too fast and wear myself out. i forget He is there. i look at my feet instead of looking at the breathe-taking scenery around me. i look at him. we have beautiful talks. he shows me things. i have moments of realization.i cling to him. i feel the stillness and security of being with a close friend. and each moment, He stays next to me. never leaving. i am so confident He has been with me and continues to walk next to me, as i stumble along and find my way, here in korea.

and so, i’ve decided to stay another year. :) i prayed and thought and journaled and talked a lot with friends and people i love. i feel this is a good place for me now. it’s a bit scary to commit to another year. a year feels so long. but, i’m trusting in Him, and choosing not to worry. He has already proven himself faithful. and the scariest part is over…i’m already here. so start saving up so you can come see me!!