HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!

O – to the M- to the G!!!!

I have been here for 4 weeks. What better way to celebrate my One Month ShanghaiVersary then with a trip to the China Art Museum and KOOZA (https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/kooza) a Cirque Du Soleil show?!?! The perfect way! 

It has been a busy 4 weeks. Landed in Shanghai and hit the ground running. We had an immediate to do list for work, we have been ‘Onboarding (as they call it)/Training’ and observing classes since our arrival. I have moved out of Holiday Inn Express (where I stayed where I first arrived) and into my own apartment. I have made some great friends because of the beauty of social networking, attended ‘Game Night’ a couple times with friends, went to Disneyland, tried a ton of local food, caught a show today, celebrated Shanghai Black Fashion Week, and I am finally adjusted to the time change. I probably was about a week ago, but I feel fully adjusted now. 

I live in China yall! I know yall know that, but every day this past week I have said those words out loud! Some things will always take some getting use to – but for the most part – this life in Shanghai, is not too shabby! 

Just stopping by to say hello to you all. Let you know that I am still smiling and doing well! Disney has been good to me so far. I had my Visa interview today. Still finishing up this Visa process. My Visa will be switched to a residence permit within the next two weeks. That clears me to travel as I please outside of China while I am employed here and to legally teach. A tourist visa and/or the Z-Visa I arrived here with would not allow me to leave and return to the country multiple times so we have to switch our visas to residence permits. 

 

….its been a struggle finding hot coco…. oh the little things you miss from home! i think they know me at Starbucks now!!!!

 

So I aint complaining yall!!! I could complain, but what good would that do??? A Twisted Root burger would be nice — but I’m making it.

There are definitely daily adjustments – but I am happy and so thankful for this opportunity/experience! I am smiling. I am still rooted deeply in JOY!!! (–IF I COULD JUST GET SOME KRYSTAL’S HOT SAUCE–)

And….its Thanksgiving! At least it is in Shanghai. It is Thursday AM here. My Pandora notification just said ‘Dinner Jazz’ – Hosting-Toasting-Roasting- I don’t have concrete plans yet … so strange not being home with the family, but new experiences ahead!

Updated albums with new pictures coming in the next few days 

          Until next time yall!!!! 

                    Stay Thankful!!!! 

….oh i wanted to tell yall…. i went for a run…. but i ran so far and not around the block or in a line that i was lost… it was kind of pitiful because the street names were familiar to me but i didn’t know the end of the street I was on … so what did i do? I took the metro home…i was only one stop from home but that’s a long run when you don’t know where you are and you are racing the clock for work! haha! i’ll just go to the track behind my apartment next time….  holla!

__________________________________________________________

NOTE: PayPal is still open. You can always support financially:

godschile7@yahoo.com-Karla Gurley

__________________________________________________________

I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY!

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

#FearlessinShanghai #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJoy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #ChinaorBust #ChinaAintReady #LookOutWorldHereComesKarla  #KarlaGirlJoy #BlackGirlInShanghai

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE*

______________________________________

 

….three weeks in and only 60 more to go… but whose counting????!!!!?!?!?!?

Definitely Not Me!

-SHANGHAI IS SOMETHING YALL-

Every Single Day I have to remind myself that I consciously made the choice to have the ADVENTURE of a lifetime and move to Shanghai. Growing up in America can be great (and awful) at the same time. It can be great because I was exposed to so many different groups of people at such a young age that it was just normal to me. It never phased me meeting a Mexican American, Italian, Greek, Indian, Russian, Asian, or African person (yeah this list can go on). I was also raised to be kind as much as possible and to treat others the way that I want to be treated. I have come across, in my three weeks of being here, more rude people than I would like to have ever encountered. Of course, this isn’t the entire country of China or the entire city of Shanghai, but folks can be rude here.

I do not expect every one to know English. I get that I am in a new place, but the tone in which you speak to someone at your place of employment says a lot about you. People pretty much just don’t acknowledge me (totally not everywhere) and that really sucks! I walked out of one store today because I will not spend my money in a place where I am treated unkindly.

I have shopped since I have been here and worked with the language barrier. With my trusty Google Translate App, pictures, my tiny-ITTY-bitty Chinese and the employees little English I have been successful more than once. It can happen…. and yes! I plan on taking some communication classes soon.

—–

I do have recent pictures for you! I updated the last album and I made an album for

 

……

 

 

oh my gosh

 

 

…….

 

 

do you know where I went???

 

I WENT TO………………

 

DISNEYLAND

 

Yo! There really is something magical about Disneyland! I had the best day ever …. and not just because it was FREE TO GET IN! But- that was definitely a plus. We got there early. No one was at the castle so my buddy Christen and I took tons of people-less pictures. We walked around the castle. The parade was amazing. 😦 sadness the parade video wont post but I’m working on it. I met a princess and we caught up on old times and I even saw Captain America!! To top it all off I had dinner at THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY and yall know I been struggling with food so it was so nice to eat somewhere that was filling and satisfying! It was just a beautiful day all around!!!

And TRON…. the ride — so freakin’ awesome! I can’t wait to go back to get on that ride again! WHOA. So Magical.

Also I was on a search for Tiana the whole time. There was the most stunning (BELOW) mural of Tiana and her prince in the castle. Yall. I was so happy to see her. Now as far as merchandise…. Blah! I was on a search in every single store. I only found a small section with her items at a store outside of the park. And the workers didn’t even know who she was – I bought a doll! I wasn’t letting my girl go out like that.

….But this gorgeous art piece made me smile….

MISC:

-yall know im a runner- i ran around my neighborhood to help me get to know the area. I will probably start running more once I have a consistent work schedule and i’m gonna check out a local gym soon

-so excited to have made some friends during the first few weeks. my buddy Christen lives in my apartment building and on the same floor! we both work for Disney and we have been enjoying getting to know shanghai together.

-my neighbors are awesome! they are in college studying abroad. so cool!!!

-remember if there is every anything you wanna know just respond and let me know!!!! looking forward to seeing my first friend next week!!!! Donald is coming to see me. We went to GA State together and his job currently has him doing some work overseas and he has a few days in Shanghai next week. So Cool to see a friendly face from home!!!!

-next week is thanksgiving. what is im gonna do??? time to find a dinner, party, or something to go to!!!

__________________________________________________________

….. okay …. okay ….. i tried but wordpress isn’t allowing me to add anymore pictures directly in the blog ): or maybe its the wifi …. or shanghai …. or this apartment …. idk …. but here are links to more pics

https://photos.app.goo.gl/F0x5TM6q2W7WsCPF3 — Shanghai Month Number One

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hirPvacmQQVclCSt2 — Shanghai Disneyland Trip The First

Remember you will have to copy and paste the links to see the pictures! Enjoy 🙂 

 

__________________________________________________________

NOTE: PayPal is still open. You can always support financially:

godschile7@yahoo.com-Karla Gurley

__________________________________________________________

I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY!

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

#FearlessinShanghai #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJOy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #ChinaorBust #ChinaAintReady #LookOutWorldHereComesKarla  #KarlaGirlJoy

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE*

______________________________________

 

The $47 Taco V. The $1 Taco

 

 

 

 

I am not sure what I wrote in the last blog to make you all feel that I am unsafe. I do feel very safe every day. I have never – not one day- since I have been here not felt safe.

So I do want you to know that.

I am aware of my surroundings and use discernment when I am out.

I am just getting use to a new way of life here in China where they do things differently than back in EPA or DF-Dub-Ya!!!!

I am still learning the language, the metro system, and my neighborhood — but I do feel safe- people can just be a little -well a lot rude, I don’t like the staring- but whateva-sometimes I stare back- and they don’t use manners too much. That’s All.

I do appreciate all of your concerns and prayers and I receive that!!!!

__________________________________________

I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY! 

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

#FearlessinShanghai #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJOy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #ChinaorBust #ChinaAintReady #LookOutWorldHereComesKarla  #KarlaGirlJoy

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE*

HEY YALL!!!!! Over 1000 hits to the blog.

Niiiiiiiiice!!!!! Yall Make me Smile 🙂 Seriously

Quick Recap – I am sure if you’re following you already know, but there are a few newbies. I am in Shanghai, China for 14 months working for Disney English teaching English to young learners. I am not on vacation, although a 14 month vacations sounds amaaaaaaaazing!

I am 2 weeks in to my time in Shanghai. I have moved into my apartment and I am getting settled nicely. I am slowly trying spicy foods as they really like spice here. Yall know I can barely handle spice, but little by little am having foods with spice in it. Its rough yall.

DISNEY!!!! I am going to Disneyland Shanghai – this is work so I am not complaining. Pretty cool, huh? As far as the teaching part???? I can’t legally teach until my resident permit has arrived. Once in China us foreigners who are in the country on a Z-Visa staying for more than 30 days have to turn in their Visa’s/Passports and you get them back with a  resident permit. This allows you to legally work and to leave the country as you please within your contracted employment time. Most tourist visas do not allow this. I am currently doing classroom observations, and trainings with the team who arrived at the same time as me.

Anything Yall Wanna know? Respond and let me know. I do plan on seeing THE GREAT WALL which some people have asked me about. I have to plan that trip as it is in Beijing and not Shanghai. There is lots to see in Shanghai and I have not even begun to see it all. I have been working on getting my apartment, settling in, learning the Metro system, and finding foods that I can eat.

For the past two weeks when I wake up, I’m like – “WHOA BABY I AM IN CHINA. I AM LIIVING IN SHANGHAI”!!!! What an experience of a lifetime. Thanks Yall for following my journey.

 

 

MISC:

-Personal space is not a thing here. They roll up on you like they know you- or don’t. Shove into you and don’t even care. Taking the Metro is an experience in and of itself. Shanghai is a huge city with so many people and their manners, for the most part= nonexistent.

-Asians – stare and gawk at us. I know were magic, but were also real! Ha. I am getting use to the staring, but does one ever get use to it? I don’t like it. It’s annoying – and I gotz to be honest that sometimes I stare back. They also sneak and take pics and videos of you (like we don’t see them). Yo! I see you. I just really wonder what are they doing with these pictures, what do these captions say, where did you post them, ugh! It’s the worst. My Non-African American friends on my team have noticed it when they are with me, and they’re like “I saw someone take a picture of you, they don’t take pictures of me. Why are they taking pictures of you?” I don’t have much of a response for that, besides “Black Folks Are Amazing”…. But really after two weeks I’m over it and it aint stopping!

-People can also be very nice. GOOGLE TRANSLATE has been my best friend while out and about. It is an app where you can translate what you are saying. You can do speech to text or text to text. Sometimes I am out and I use this app to find locations of places I am going to and even an employee in my local supermarket shopped with me the whole time as we communicated with my app. That was extremely helpful and I was able to find everything I needed. Well – just about everything, cuz this aint America and there is no Kroger or Tom Thumb near by!

-We had a Halloween Party at work. I dressed up as Polly – the once Disney character no one knew

-When you eat out here are no substitutions with your meals. Yall know I’m the Queen of ‘I want this- not with this- but please add this’ I. Am. Struggling. They over here like ‘We make it the way it is on the menu’ …. OhMyGosh!!!!

-I have started a “#PantherPrideGSU “group here in Shanghai! Would you believe there’s a bunch of GA State Alum here?!?! We are planning a get together really soon!

 

…. Its Friday morning here and Thursday evening in USA …. Pictures and videos to come next week to the album….

NOTE: PayPal is still open. You can always support financially:

godschile7@yahoo.com-Karla Gurley

__________________________________________

I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY! 

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

#FearlessinShanghai #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJOy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #ChinaorBust #ChinaAintReady #LookOutWorldHereComesKarla  #KarlaGirlJoy

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE*

 

 

Hey Yall….

Copy and paste this link- ENJOY FOR PICS — https://photos.app.goo.gl/F0x5TM6q2W7WsCPF3) …. videos to come….cant do them at same time… i will upload videos for you tomorrow

 

I will upload twice a month to the same album.

Jing’an Temple- in Shanghai … wow a pic worked! I hope yall can see this

Happy Viewing!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/F0x5TM6q2W7WsCPF3 — this link should work.

__________________________________________

I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY! 

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

 

#FearlessinShanghai #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJOy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #ChinaorBust #ChinaAintReady #LookOutWorldHereComesKarla  #KarlaGirlJoy

 

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE*

THE FIRST WEEK IN A NUTSHELL:

 

Arrival Day – Day 1

Tired and full of energy at the same time. Wait. Nope. Not full of energy, but mustered some up to make it through customs and baggage claim.  It was a super long flight- left USA on a Tuesday and arrived in China on Wednesday afternoon. Another Stamp in my passport!!! Got my bags- all those bags- and maneuvered through the exit. Brooke, and a Disney English worker met me and another DE worker (who was on my flight) outside and a driver took us to hotel.

Dinner with Brooke @ a Singaporean Restaurant

I stay in hotel for 3 weeks while apartment hunting!

Day 2- Thursday (First Full Day)

This was a busy day. Lots of work stuff to do. Medical Check. Bank Card/Bank Account. Phone store for Sim card. Afternoon off.

So sleepy. The time adjustment is serious. I was tired by 4PM.

Day 3- Friday

Orientation for work. 9:00AM-2:00 PM. Afternoon off.

Sleep. I just wanna sleep!

Napped until late. Ate at “RAMEN”  — SO good here in Asia. I like ramen!!!! Legit Ramen Yall 😊

Day 4- Saturday

Day off!!!! Yeah! Lots of fun. Went for a morning run. Walked to the mall. Walked to grocery store. Game night with new friends in Shanghai.

The UNO game was seriously intense!

I am adjusting a little better to the time now. Forcing myself to stay awake so I can sleep through the night. First two days I was waking up between 3-4 AM – then Im up all day and tired early afternoon. Its getting better.

Day 5- Sunday

Another day for exploring. Jing’an Temple (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jing%27an_Temple)

Relax at hotel. Work tomorrow.

Day 6- Monday

Disney English! Off to one of the centers today! Looking forward to this.

Training. Lots of DISNEY information. The history to present day. I learned so much about Disney that I did not know!

Day 7- Tuesday

YAY! TODAY is the day that I have been waiting for. I find out what center I will be working at. Disney English has 11 learning centers in Shanghai and today everyone who arrived in my group of new foreign language trainers will find out which specific center that will be working at.

I will visit the center that I will be working at today and get to observe two classes at the center. Funners 😊

If you go online I am working at: Hongkou – HK Disney Center- you are welcome to Google or Bing search it online. I still have training and observations before I begin teaching. I will spend time at HK and at another center preparing for teaching.

 

Can yall believe that it has been 7 days since (well 8 really) I left Dallas, Texas? I can believe it. Everyday I wake up in this hotel room (Disney has paid for 3 weeks in hotel to give us time to find an apartment in the city) I know I moved, when I go out for food, or to the store- it is real – that I am in SHANGHAI, China!

-We walk everywhere and use the subway

-I need to learn Mandarin – like for seriously

-Getting use to the food here

-I have been trying lots of new foods. Some I like and some I don’t like. This food adjustment is tough. I’m going to find pizza tomorrow. Joes Pizza is a local place here. The owner is from NY. He moved here and opened a pizzas shop. I have heard very good things about it.

-Such a big city with so many people

-Pictures and videos to come soon. I promise. It’s gonna happen. I am putting a full album together for you all and trying to figure out how to best add it to the blog with my internet controls here in China. I have shared a few on Facebook. I don’t have IG or Twitter access. I hope to have pictures and videos added by the weekend 😊

-Wow I live in another country!!!!  #whowouldathought this girl from EPA would be living in China???

 

NOTE: If you want to still support financially- you can.

PayPal- godschile7@yahoo.com- Karla Gurley

Some of you messaged me and said you still wanted to support. My Paypal still works. I appreciate your desire to support me financially.

I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE WITH ME ON THIS JOURNEY. This is just the beginning. Anything you wanna see? Know? Curious about? Reply to this post!

—-Paz and Blessings—-

 

She Believed She Could >>>So She Did …. this is me. I believe I can so I am

__________________________________________________________

I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY! 

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

 

#FearlessinShanghai #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJOy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #EPARockingIt

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE* 

…..until next time yall….

… so cool right? I am here in Shanghai! The flight was super long. Anyone who is my ‘friend’ on FB/IG knows I was going Nutso on that flight. I slept a little and watched a ton of movies. Thanks for commenting, staying with my journey, and even telling me some jokes. I had no issues in customs and getting my baggage. Brooke met me and another Disney English (DE) employee at the airport. Get this yall … She is from Texarkana and went to high school in Hooks! Crazyness!!!!

…. WIFI connections have been spotty for me. I have not been able to log on to FB/IG/Twitter yet. If you left me messages/comments/posts there I will see them soon.

NOTE: If you text messaged me the day I left or since I left I haven’t seen it. A few message that did go through I responded through email or through a friend. I would love to stay in touch. If download the APP WeChat… We can text/call each other for FREE! That app has been working great for me. You should be able to find me very easily- Karla Gurley, there.

…. Arrival Day and my First full day were busy. Well they probably weren’t really too busy I am just getting use to the time change. Shanghai is 13 hours ahead of Dallas so the adjustment is real!!! Im sleepy during the day and wide awake at night. I need this to turn around quick!

….Food! The food has been tasty. China likes spice. The food has also been very large portions which I did not expect.

….Shanghai is a busy city. They drive wild here. We walk everywhere. The other DE Workers that I have met have been great so far. I need to practice my Mandarin. I have dealt with language barriers before, but this is totally different.

….14 months yall. 14 months….

….again thanks for the support….for following the blog…for financial support…for praying…for encouraging me… I am here…. #adventureofalifetime

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^This empty space is where all of the cool pictures and videos would be — but — they don’t wanna load — I can’t even post a song for yall to jam too — its coming though yall— its coming^

__________________________________________

I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY! 

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

 

#FearlessinShanghai #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJOy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #ChinaorBust #ChinaAintReady #LookOutWorldHereComesKarla  #KarlaGirlJoy

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE*

 

 

ISSA TRAVEL DAY

me right now: overjoyed-thrilled-blessed-jubilant-tickled pink-ecstatic-delighted

 

If you don’t know already– here it is….TODAY IS THE DAY…. The truck is packed and I am off to DFW Airport in T-minus 9 hours and counting. The world is so big and has so much to offer and I am so thankful to have this opportunity to live, work, and experience life overseas.

 Truck. Packed. YES. All Those Bags.

 Everything is packed in storage! WooHoo

A lot of you have had a lot of questions and I have done my best to answer them. Some things I just don’t know until I arrive. It is part of the adventure that awaits me. I will definitely keep you updating here on the blog with my experiences, pictures, and videos with my time abroad.

 

 

I can’t help but express my thanks to all of you! For praying for me, encouraging me, listening to me talk about Shanghai every day, following my blog, and supporting me financially. THANK YOU! I am so glad that we are on this journey together.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK. YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 

NO. SERIOUSLY. THANK YOU! It means the world to me that you support me! 

I am really looking forward to October 25, 2017. This day I will land in Shanghai and everything will be new. And, if nothing else, I know that there is nothing wrong with NEW. I love being able to attach history to real life. There is so much history and culture to experience in Asia and the surrounding countries. I get to go a step beyond Google and have a real life exposure to the world.

 

Many of you have asked if you can still support me. My Paypal will still be active in China. Feel free to support whenever your life allows.

godschile7@yahoo.com- Karla Gurley

 

I can’t sleep. The excitement is too much! You may get a “At The Airport” blog later! Look for me on IG – @misskarlamgurley or on FB- Karla Marie …. until later — paz! 

remember you can always respond to the blog with any questions or comments – i promise it will be more interesting once i leave!

__________________________________________

I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY! 

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

 

#FearlessinShanghai #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJOy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #ChinaorBust #ChinaAintReady #LookOutWorldHereComesKarla  #KarlaGirlJoy

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE*

 

…joie de vivre…..

QUICK UPDATE …….

YALL! We are at the 2 Week Mark! This is so exciting. Things are going well. I am packed. I have my Passport and my Z-Visa! Just a few things left to check off my>>>Gotta do this in TX/The U.S. list … and then I’m outta here!

 

STAY TUNED…. AMAZINGNGESS IS COMING!

PELASURE-JUBILATION-TRIUMPH-EXUBERANCE-GLADNESS

 

We have to embrace the obstacles to reach our next stage of JOY!

Joy- DEFINED- a feeling of great pleasure and happiness – I really do feel JOY as I prepare to leave for Shanghai. There is nothing like having the FREEDOM to live life! I am single. I am healthy. I am childless. Not if I was not those things I couldn’t do this, but everything is set before me to GO. My life is wonderful. My family is beautiful. My friends are the best. Now—I get to experience NEW. There is nothing like New!

May you find Joy in your everyday moments. I have decided to choose Joy every single day of my life. Not to say that there are not other moments that are not with joy because sure I have those, but I focus on the Joy.

 

Countdown is on!!!!

__________________________________________

I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY! 

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

 

#FearlessinShanghai #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJOy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #ChinaorBust #ChinaAintReady #LookOutWorldHereComesKarla  #KarlaGirlJoy

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE*