My story (Thankfulness)

So here I am, sitting trying to do homework and study, but my brain is telling me to take a break again. So while I'm sitting here, I decided to write my story. Not a story that is made up, but a story of where I came from. How God changed my heart, the people that impacted my life big time, and made me walk in the truth.

Not sure where to start from, but if you really are interested, this is going to be pretty short but yet long. So hang in there....

I was born and raised in a city called, Amman. It's located in Jordan. (Middle East) It's a beautiful country with lots to see, and a wonderful culture to experence. It's definitely different that any other countries, it's unique in its own way. You truly have to live through it to see what I'm talking about. But that's not a major detail. Anyways....

As I grew up I went to a school called New English School. It's definitely not new, not English, but sure is a school.  It was an arabic school with not much of English. We just had an English class but it did not really help me with spelling, grammar, pronunciation, or any of that. I went there from KG1-4th grade. Through these years, I had ear infections, listening problems, and a lot of crazy stuff. My mom felt that there was something wrong in me, and she kept going to my school to ask the teachers how I was reacting in classes and homework's... and all the teachers kept saying "what a hard worker your daughter is." But I kept failing in every homework and tests. Even though I did homework every night with my mom. So it's not like I was not doing my work. I was.

My mom decided to take me to the dr. to get my ears  checked out. He said that I needed to have a surgery because one of my ears was going deaf. So we had three other different dr. opinions and they all said the same thing. So my mom decided to take me to the hospital and get it all 'fixed.' While at it, they also took my tonsils out. The operation for my ear failed. So as a grew another year older, I had another ear surgery, and Praise God... I could hear again. (Thanks to my mom because she took the step and did what she had to do.) So after my 4th year of school, my mom decided to transfer me to another school. Of course I did not want to because I did not want to leave my friends and teachers and basically did not want to leave my comfort zone.

(LONG STORY SHORT)- I LOVED the new school, Whitman Academy.  I repeated 4th grade again because EVERYTHING was so new to me. It's based on a private small community school that helps the student achieve by having a one on one response with the teacher and students. For example, my 4th year of school at my OLD school consisted of 25-30 students per class. This NEW school consisted of 6-10 student per class. Awesome eh? HECK YEA! So I worked hard, I was tutored for 8 years strait, because Whitman Academy is based on American curiculum. So EVERYTHING was in English.... so I needed to start from A to Z. With Gods grace I pulled it through, and passed all my classes from 4th grade-12th grade. I made lots and lots of friends. They became my family.  My teachers definitely took a role in this, they worked hard with me and helped me to be the person I am today. Especially my mom. She worked hard to figure out what was wrong with me, and she knew what she had to do. (Not all moms do this) so I'm REALLY thankful for what I had and have right now.

So my 12th year, I meat a wonderful woman of God from SHSU/XA in Jordan. Her name is Lorie Chance. She was Gonzales by then though. My mom and Lorie meat during teacher student conference, and they both talked about my future (college career). And my mom asked her if she can help me with finding the right colleges and all that fun application stuff. So she came over many times and we hung out MANY MANY times.... and she told me a lot about Sam Houston State University and Chi Alpha. But I really wasn't into it yet. ( Even though I did a project about XA in Jordan) I just wanted to go to NYC (LONG STORY) so Lorie spent the nights helping me figure out what school I had to apply to, when to take TOEFL tests, all that fun International stuff. We just bonded a lot, she spoke truth into my life in many ways that i didn't see or knew before. But she really did the work that God asked her to do. So after I graduated from Whitman Academy, it was time to leave my family behind and go to college in NYC. When I left, I had a hard time living there, especially not having friends or church life made things even worse. (LONG STORY) Lorie had asked me in Jordan to be her bridesmaid for her wedding that was going to happen in October 2007. I was EXCITED. So my mom came and visited me in the USA and we both went to Lorie and Duncan's wedding. I was honored to meet there family and friends. But i still had no clue what God had in store for me.

So, when the wedding was over, Jade Kennedy had taken us on a tour around Sam Houston State University area. We decided to visit the campus because I had a week off of school, and so we decided to stay in Huntsville and check things out. So when we went to the International coordinators office, we spoke to her and told her everything about NYC, and how I wanted to transfer because what Lorie had told me about SHSU and XA. The lady was REALLY helpful. She gave me brochures and papers to fill out and told me how to apply online and so on. While we were still at the office, my mom asked her if there was a way to make these applications go in fast so we can know the results while we were in Hunstville. So the lady looked at me, and told me these EXACT words, " WELCOME TO SHSU, your a BAREKAT NOW!" My mom and I looked at each other and FREAKED out! We got up, HUGED the International coordinator and told HER MANY MANY THANKS.... and we left and sat on one of the campus grounds outside. We were EXCITED like CRAZY. I didn't have to apply or do anything! Is that from the Lord... I SAY SO! and HECK YEA IT IS. I mean... meeting Lorie was not an accident. It meant to be.

I had to finish up my semester in NY... then flew back to Jordan for Christmas, then came to HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS and got in XA in a heart beat. That's when my life CHANGED like CRAZY. Glory to God... I had to go through the international program at first. I had to do the whole TOEFL exam, and I passed after couple of tries with the help of Jessica Stanley and I finally PASSED it. As soon as I passed it, I was enrolled in normal classes. And that's how I'm here.

Looking back, I thought I had my life super complicated and useless... and looking at it now... Its what I needed... and I have it now. He is still showing me a lot, and there is plenty of more where it came from. ( and I know where it came from.. ) It's been a roller coster for sure, but an EXCITING one...
Couldn't be thankful enough.... so now as Thanksgiving is coming up, this is what I'm thankful for. For my life, for the gift He has given me and yet to give... and I will except no matter what the circumstances are.

Im truly thankful for the family He has provided me here in Huntsville, Texas. I'm a small group Leader at Chi Alpha, and my heart is all for missions. Im majoring in Photography and will be using it for His glory. He has gifted me this passion, and I wont give it up and wont quit.