Possible Purchase

Okay....here are some pictures of the possible new Moody house. Closing isn't until June, but we're still really excited about it. It's 1967 four side brick, 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, full backyard. Click on the picture to view the online album.

New Home

After 25 years...I lose a piece of me

Tomorrow I will officially change my name...that means that I am letting go of a HUGE part of my identity. All through life people called me Sara Terry. It was almost as if my first and last name were fused together and could not be separated. In third grade I was Sara T. not to be confused with Sarah S. As a teacher I've been Ms. Terry. Now, as I officially complete the marrital duty of taking on my husband's name (because I really want to), I'm losing part of who I have always been. I'm losing my last name.

Of course, as I lose my last name, I gain another name...a new part of me. But this new part doesn't have as much meaning as the old. The old ties me to my family. A family I'm very proud to be part of. The old ties me to my lineage- where I'm from I'm not sure- but it's a good history. The old starts with a consonant, has double letters, and ends with a y. And, yea, so does the new.

I guess going from Terry to Moody isn't that crazy. I mean, kids never made fun of Terry. There isn't much to make fun of. It's really plain. On the other hand...Moody...there's so many places to go with that. I'm not looking forward to the adult humor it will encourage.

I'm not taking the old with me. I figure that if I'm losing the old I should lose it completely. There won't be a Sara Terry Moody out there. That just sounds odd. But, Sara Marie Moody has a sweet ring to it.

It's time to work on my new signature and get ready to be Mrs. Moody in the classroom. It'll take some time for my ears to adjust to the new ring, but I believe I'll be able to do it. It may take the rest of the staff at the school to catch on. I believe I'll probably be Ms. Terry for as long as I teach at Tri Cities. But, I'll know the difference, my students will know the difference, and, most importantly, my husband will know the difference.

Secondary Solace

It seems that life offers very little solace from the craziness of work, love, and staying healthy. Every job not only ups the anti every other day to pile the work higher and require more hours and more effort for the same amount of money, but it also adds emotional stress and frustrations that lie beneath the surface and explode in moments of happiness and solace.
Love is a beautiful thing and I don't know where I'd be without my love, Matt. But, the idea of love is far more romantic than the actual act of loving someone. Love isn't easy- the patience it requires, the selfishness it repeatedly exposes, and the flexibility it builds- yet it is addicting. Planning a wedding to showcase the love is more stressful than being with Matt and simply loving him.
Health is such a relative word. Are we healthy if we're not over weight? Are we healthy if we can run 3 miles non-stop? Are we healthy if we ingest 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day? How are we to stay healthy with all the time we spend on our jobs and on each other (and on other random things like weddings)? How are we to measure our health? If we feel good? If our tests are all within the correct range? If we never outgrow our clothes? Am I healthy?
I guess today I'm just wishing that I had a little more time to focus on the little things that have nothing to do with my daily scheduled life but are directly connected to the health of my inner being and soul.

Engaged!!

That's right- I'm engaged. Of course, I spread the news like wild fire because I was so extremely excited, but it's not just a rumor you heard on facebook- it's entirely true.
It happened October 30, 2008 on Matt Moody's front porch. I went over after work and he was just sitting in the rocking chair waiting for me. I didn't think much of it because it was a beautiful day. We sat there and talked about our days and he suddenly had a reason to stand up. As we were standing there, he put his arms around me and started talking about houses. This isn't really anything new because we speak of futuristic things without being realistic about them. So, he mentioned that we need to have a house with a good view from the front porch. We kept discussing the matter until he said "don't hate me, but before we have a house" and he put his arm around me with a ring in his hand. I was in utter disbelief, laughed, and asked if he was serious. It took me over 30 minutes to actually believe what was happening. I was shaking and just kept repeating "Oh my gosh". He told just about everyone we know and no one gave it away. He was going for shock and surprise and he succeeded beyond measure. It's wasn't romantic, it wasn't some intricate plan to confuse me, he just fooled me into believing that he was completely incapable of saving money and then BAM--a ring on my finger.
I enthusiastically said yes once I calmed down and we started planning...there's going to be a wedding this June!!!!

Hiccup

I hate the hiccups. I believe sister Katy hates them more. Well, at least she hates when I have them. She yells at me to control them in any and every way possible. But, sometimes I just can't. Sometimes the spasms rack my diaphragm for what seems like an eternity with no end to the annoyance in sight. I think life feels like that too sometimes. Completely uncontrollable. The middle of a semester in school makes life a little crazy. The madness of students failing. The madness of students having to pass the Georgia High School Graduation Tests. The madness of our school not making AYP (annual yearly percentages) and the madness that causes for my free time. There are some fabulous things about working in urban schools, but there are also hardships that, when juxtaposed to my previous teaching experience, seem horrifying and uncontrollable.
I do not fear the uncontrollable, I'd just like a few days off to slow down.
I do get time with Katy and Christen this weekend. Maybe even a GT/FSU game!
Wish me rest...

Surprised?

Five months later I'm still alive. But, that's about the only thing that is the same since June.
Well, I'm still dating Matt- so that hasn't changed.

But, I have a roommate. A really great roommate. We met through a mutual friend, ate lunch together at Chik-fil-A, and signed a 6 month lease. She's really fun and sweet and I hardly ever see her because of our crazy schedules. But, the saturdays filled with football and boyfriends are really fun.

I also have a job. It's a crazy job. It's a job I'm technically not qualified for. But it's the job that God gave me. I'm working at an urban school in East Point, Ga. If you recall I live in Cartersville which is north of the city, and yes, East Point is south of the city. That means I drive 60 min everyday to work. And, I'm teaching ESOL (English for speakers of other languages). Luckily it's a literature class, but it's still to kids that are struggling to get a grasp of the language. Insane. Yet, somehow, I like it. Public schools on the other hand....not so much.

It's been cool to see how God has provided for me in ways that I wouldn't really imagine. He gave me a wonderful person to split the rent with, a great place to live, a steady job, and a boyfriend that is in the same city. God has shown time and time again that my plans are not his. He stopped me from getting a job at Starbucks. He stopped me from moving in to an apartment by myself. He has stopped me from being conceited because I'm in a new place, with new people, doing things I have no idea how to do. So, it's a complete learning experience. But, it's an awesome one. And, I'm so glad to be where I am. Everyday gets better (even though some days seem 10x worse). I'm in a good church, in a good small group, and getting to know lots of good people. I can't imagine being anywhere else right now. I know I'm where I want to be.

Quarter of a Century

Yea...the big 25...mid-twenties...I'm old.

I'm also in America again. I arrived a few days ago and have been getting back into the life here- although I don't really have a life here. So, life here is hard to get back into. I don't feel too far gone, there are still Starbucks on every corner and more stuff than I could ever need in the Target facing north and the Wal-Mart facing south. But, I'm adjusting and loving the fact that I get to be with my family and friends here. Loving that I get to be with Matt.

I still don't have a job or a place to live. Those are pretty high on my priority list right now. In fact, I'm a little nervous about both. I know God will provide. I know things will work out, but I'm not super excited about the rough process. I think it's already been harder than I imagined. I think things are 'falling into place' a little slower than I hoped. It's not even been a week since I landed on this side of the ocean, so I'm not freaking out. I'd just really like to have a job, have some security and have a place to call home...those are my prayer requests and my greatest needs.

On the other hand...it's great to be home!

The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon

Brothers Grimm

For a picture overview: look at the album. To know what happened in the play: read on.

For those of you who have never heard of The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon before- here's a brief synopsis.

There are two narrators who present the stories, although they often find themselves involved in the stories. Rapunzel is a rebellious teenager whose mother made deals with the devil, and enchantress and Rumplestiltskin. Rapunzel is locked the tower by the enchantress, meets her prince, is banished to the desert, finds her prince, and runs away with him.

Rapunzel's mother used to be known as Gretel. Classic tale- kids eat house, witch tries to eat kids, kids kill witch. simple.

The witch from H&G used to be a fishergirl who caught a talking fish who granted her two wishes: to never go hungry again and to have magical power- thus- a witch in a candy house.

The Talking Fish used to be friends with the Frog Prince. The frog prince becomes human again when, you guessed it, he's kissed by a princess (after much coaxing).

The grandson of the Frog Prince and Princess was a dwarf- who worked in the mines. One day, he and his friend found snow white under the spell. However, this snow white is an emancipated princess and kills the wicked witch and takes her prince.

Snow white has a daughter who is kidnapped by a needy old grandmother. This daughter becomes Lil Red. Sharing and Rainbows is the moral of this story.

And the final scene: Cinderella. Except we're out of actors. Oh well, Matt will just have to play everyone in the show. Cinderella cooks and cleans, and birds bring her a dress and she walks to the ball. After the shoe is lost, the step sisters end up cutting of heels and toes to fit in the shoe-but the prince figures it out. So, Cinderella gets her prince.

And the finale- in 3 minute the entire plot is told again in reverse order.

I had a great time working with these kids. As you can tell from the pictures, everything looked great. Not only did everything look great- but the kids did a super job. I'm so incredibly proud to have worked with them. Do I ever want to direct a show again, that's up in the air. But I sure am glad I did this one!

Insanity

Life lately has been insane. Luckily, it calmed down a bit after the Eger field trip and NHS induction ceremony passed. Yes, the NHS ceremony was last Monday and it went well. No complaints here. Well, one- only one boy was inducted- where are all the high achieving, servant leaders in these 10th and 11th grade classes?!

Following these adventures, I've been insanely overwhelmed by the ominous cloud of the high school play. Of course, it's been more fun than I could have imagined- but also much more stressful. Saturday we put in 9 hours working on set. When I left, I felt as though a lot had been accomplished. Included in the pictures below are those of our working set; it isn't completed yet but it is nearing the final stages. For that I am pleased.

The other couple pictures are from the toga-wearing 9th graders. They 'performed' (I use the word lightly) the greek tragedy - Antigone. They just read from scripts and dressed up, but I think they had a pretty good time. It sure was more interesting than sitting in chairs all class long.

So, I'm looking ahead to the craziest week of my life. Our show opens Thursday night. There's a lot to do before then. Keep my actors and my sanity in your prayers. As ridiculous and crazy as this show is, I still believe God can be honored by our effort and senses of humor. I push forward hoping that the final production will bring smiles to a few peoples' faces and a laugh or two out loud for the actors to thrive on.

Spring Updates

9th Grade Battles

After reading the novel Eclipse of the Crescent Moon by Geza Gardonyi, I decided to take the ninth grade class on a field trip to Eger, Hungary- the site of the novel. While it was a very educational trip, it was also fun. We visited the castle/fortress where the Hungarians fought off the Turks for 30 days and won.
We also visited McDonalds.
And the last stop on our trip was Geza Gardonyi's house. It sits on the hill above the fortress and has an amazing view into the walls of the fortress. It was inspiring to see his rows and rows of books and the exact desk where he sat to write Eclipse of the Crescent Moon.

It was stressful to plan and lead a field trip, but I'm glad I got to go. Not only did I learn a lot, see a lot, and enjoy the 9th graders...I got experience just a little more of Hungary.

Eger

Excitation

Exciting things are happening.
1. I get bagels and Starbucks coffee for breakfast because it's teacher appreciation week- and I'm a teacher! Amazing.
2. Yesterday, I was driving to church on a two lane road and was passed on both sides at the same time- clearly my little red isn't fast enough for the swift Hungarian drivers- especially the motorcyclists.
3. We sang- "I'm desperate for you" in Hungarian in church yesterday...it's not that I love that song- but it reminds me of my good time in New Orleans- and now I've experienced it in Hungarian...awesome.
4. I have a month until the play goes in front of a crowd...I don't know if that's exciting or scary
5. My glasses broke. The only way that fits into the category is that the event instigated more excitement in my already crazy week. Plus, now I get to wear Hungarian glasses- that is after I have an eye examination on Friday and order them ;) Contacts for now (also not exciting).

Cheers and Happy Monday!

Matt and France...but not together

2008-03-20, Paris

Life since January- it's been a whirlwind. School is going well. Classes are crazy, but I'm still enjoying it a lot. It's challenging to keep the kids enthusiastic- but some of the ridiculous things I come up with (rock/paper/scissors game) are a good break in the lecture monotony. They're fun for me too.

I've cast the play I'm directing- The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon. I'm very very nervous and very excited about how this whole thing is going to happen.

During Matt's spring break, he was able to come visit again. Aside from my parking somewhere that caused me to get a boot on my car, we had a really good time together as the picture above proves.

This past week has been my Spring Break, and I took the opportunity to travel again- Paris, France. It was a very welcome break from the craziness that life had built up to be. The other pictures in the album are from that trip. Our 4 nights there were filled with metro rides, kilometers of walking, historical sightings, and amazement with the size and beauty of the city. The people were especially nice and never rude. We were very pleasantly surprised with every aspect of the trip.

I still have 4 days left of break..I plan on working hard and resting a lot. I'll keep you posted...

I Don't do Resolutions

I don't do resolutions because I can't keep them. I lose focus. I lose determination. I fail. So, instead of resolutions this year- I'm setting goals. I'm not calling them resolutions because I fear the failure of not being resolved. But, if they're called goals, I'm able to mentally psyche myself up to achieve the end result, to complete the task, to conquer the goal.

So- this year's GOALS are as follow:
1. I will designate my daily quiet time for certain focuses. My 10th grade girls' bible study is reading Galatians- one day will be for that. Matt and I are going to read through a gospel together- one day will be for that. I want to pray more specifically for my students and school- so one day will be spent with more focus on prayer. I want to read through a book on Discipline that Christen gave me- so one day will be for that. I'm sure I'll double up one or two- but you get the idea.

2. I will pursue and master (maybe) Biblical Integration. I'm determined to figure out how Biblical Integration works - really. I've understood the concept for some time. And, I'm sure I've actually done it once or twice. But, I want to be more intentional and more consistent with integrating Biblical truths into my classroom content (even drama!).

3. I will find a job in America. I guess you understand that to mean I'm coming home this summer (for good). You'd be right in that assumption.

There are many more things that I want to do this year (including Paris), but these are the top 3 of the goals I long to meet throughout the next 12 months. Of course, I'm going to start pursuing them now so that I'm not procrastinating. But, my goal is to look back at the year 2008 and be able to say that I challenged myself throughout the entire year always seeking to be more disciplined, to be a better teacher, and to be a more faithful follower of Christ.

A Terry Family Christmas

Family Christmas 2007

For some reason, my family took multiple pictures this year during Christmas. Perhaps it was because we're not all together that often. Perhaps it was because Katy was determined to get the 'perfect' family picture. Or, perhaps it was just because we actually enjoyed being together. The truth of the matter is- I had a really good time with my family this Christmas.

It's not that I've not enjoyed my family in the past, but this year was special. I'd been away from home with little communication for quite some time. Plus, my little brother and sisters aren't so little anymore- it makes being around them much more bearable. I think I laughed more and just had pure fun this Christmas season- for that- I am very thankful.

News Flash: It's December

Matt in Vienna

SO much has happened since Nov 1st. Let me attempt to summarize:

1.) School- it's progressing. I think I'm moving at a slower rate than last year! How will I ever get everything done? This whole timing thing is ridiculous. I should be handed a yearly schedule that plans every month for me that lets me know exactly how much time should be spent on every topic and subject...why don't I have one of those? Are you telling me I have to create that myself?

2.) Matt came to visit. The pictures here are from his visit. We had 8 days together. We were even able to visit Vienna, Austria. Since this was Matt's first visit to Europe, I had to make sure he saw at least one other country. I was just there the previous month, but I thoroughly enjoyed my second visit. We had a teacher from Vienna Christian School escort us around the city. She did a wonderful job showing us the things that a resident would know and understand. I really enjoyed her perspective of the city.

3.)Thanksgiving: I spent time with Matt, and we cooked our own T-day meal. Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and biscuits provided us with a genuine Thanksgiving meal. I was very thankful to spend the day with Matt- we had a really good time.

4.) We have 3 more days of instruction before exam review and exams. I am unable to consider the idea that this semester is over. I am also unable to comprehend the fact that I’ll be in the states in 11 days. Truly bizarre.

I’m announcing my arrival to Tallahassee on the 20th. I’ll be there only until the 26th when I’ve the opportunity to go skiing with Matt. Then, I’ll be leaving the country again on the 1st to arrive back in Hungary for my ReachGlobal conference.

I hope to see many of you on my brief landing in the states. But, if by chance our paths do not cross, I wish you a very Merry Christmas. I hope this season brings you joy as you celebrate the birth of the man who was God providing us with eternal life. I hope this Christmas season offers you many opportunities to offer back to God that which he has so generously given us: Life.

Main attaction: Starbucks...But I walked away with so much more

Vienna- October

Hungary celebrates their freedom and the victory of the 1956 Revolution in late October. The country takes two days to celebrate, and ICSB provides the students both American and Hungarian time to celebrate with these days off of school.

Mary Orr and I decided to rest for a couple days and then take an overnight trip to Vienna. The two hour drive is simple and direct, and Vienna is a beautiful city well worth the visit. In fact, after having been there- I'm dying to return.

Mary and I walked A LOT. The city is accessible by foot but not small. We saw St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Opera house (but no opera), the parliament building, St. Mark's church, 5 Starbucks, 4 H&M's, and many more beautiful buildings. We even took a short side-trip to view the Danube as it runs through Vienna. While Vienna is quite wonderful, Budapest can brag of it's beauty related to the Danube River.

We also visited the Hofburg palace, the Music House, and an authentic Austrian resturant. All in all, our 24 hours in the city were well worth the trip. I learned that there is so little that I know about the architechture, history, and culture of Europe. The greatest part is that I can visit and observe and never really understand it all. It's such a mystery, such an adventure, and such a great way to spend a long weekend.

Memorizing Micah

HS Retreat

I love working at ICSB for many reasons, but one huge reason is the emphasis the school puts on the students' spiritual growth. Of course, not all our students are believers; however, this does not stop the leadership from providing an environment where spiritual growth is possible and strongly encouraged.

One way ICSB fosters a spiritual environment is through the annual High School Retreat. A speaker is invited to challenge the students- this year the theme was Micah 6:8. The back of our shirts say "Walk On." The goal was to encourage the students to evaluate their relationships with others (do justice), with themselves (love kindness), and with God (walk humbly with your God).

The 3 day retreat was an excellent time for me to relax with the students. I didn't have any responsibilities beyond counting heads at meetings and praying for the students as they debriefed in small groups. While I found it difficult to balance my own spiritual introspection with my desire to pray for and challenge the students, it was the first time I really understood what it meant to be a teacher and a spiritual leader for my students. I've been bombarded with Biblical integration at school, but I haven't been able to step back from the classroom to see my students simply as spiritual beings. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to watch them worship and spur one another on toward more meaningful relationships.

Even though the focus of the retreat was God and his glory, opportunities for fun were all around. The cold lake beckoned about a third of the student population after a 'boat' race. Soccer and volleyball filled free time. Freshman initiation woke 22 kids up at 1 am for face painting and boot camp. A bonfire allowed students to recognize meaningful relationships. One afternoon a head shaving rampage occurred as about 10 students and teachers decided to buzz their heads. About half of them look better for it.

God is working in students' lives at ICSB whether or not they are aware of it. My prayer is that I would be following his hand, pursuing his glory and keeping myself open to be used as a vessel however he wills.

Beginning New...Writing on your feet

ICSB Sept 2007

The 2007-2008 school year has been quite different than the previous, yet it's been exciting and so much fun.

The highlights of the first month and a half:

-New 9th grade class--they're funny, they're interactive, and they're really sweet.

-I'm assistant coaching the middle school soccer team. Head coach- Austin Branson. I'm having a great time. I even got to go to Vienna last week. We're not the most skilled team, but they try hard. Their size (extra short) keeps them from being able to run alongside bigger, faster teams. We've only had one goal scored, and sadly it was scored by the other team- for us. Oh well- we're improving and having a good time.

-I'm tutoring a girl named Lulu (well- that's her English name) after- school 3 days a week. It's a side-job for me because she doesn't go to ICSB, but she desires to go to university in America. I'm trying to help her with SAT practice. This is also a huge prayer request because I'm not completely sure what I'm doing...but I'm doing it- and I'm having fun.

-New roommates: We're having so much fun living together! It's busy with 4 people in the house, but cooking together and watching movies together is great.

-Drama Class: I have no idea what I'm doing- but I'm doing it. I love plays, and I have an incredible appreciation for theater even if I've never personally performed on stage. The class has 21 people in it (I was expecting 8) and ranges from 9-12th grade. We're learning the history of theater right now, but we're moving toward monologues, duos and eventually a stage performance.

-The new year scared me because I loved my classes so much last year. God has blessed me once again with awesome students. The students I was worried about not connecting with have become a joy to teach. The classes I worried about have become my favorite.

I love my job. I'm tired, and my weekends are full of school preparation; but I love what I do. I am blessed to be in such an encouraging and supportive environment. I couldn't ask for a better place to teach and better people to work with. What an immense gift to be in a place I love with people that inspire me all the time.

Arrival....Back to Budapest

That's right...I'm back in Hungary. I arrived in the country at about 11:00 am local time. For all you state-side in EST that's about 5 am your time. Thus, my travel time was approximately 13 hours. Not bad. It went by pretty quickly. I slept a little on the plane. I got here, had lunch at the school, was welcomed back warmly, and started the routine of re-entering my home and culture. It's been busy. I've already unpacked and gone to the grocery store. I've hooked the internet back up. And, I've slept in my bed again. Sleeping wasn't hard, waking up was.

Of course it's good to be back here with all the familiar people and places I love. There are a few things I miss about being home:
1. Starbucks
2. My mom's homecooked meals- I was spoiled over the summer ;)
3. My boyfriend (he should probably be higher on the list)
4. My car- but driving manual is kind of like riding a bike - it wasn't hard to get back into it
5. Laziness

As I anticipate school starting, I'll keep you updated on how all the planning goes and what needs prayer. Right now- I'd love to just cover my students with prayer. There will be a few classes of students I've never taught before, I'm really excited about this but also a little nervous. So please, pray for my unconditional love for them and their readiness and willingness to learn!

Minneapolis, MN

That's right- I'm in Minneapolis. It's my first time here. I can now check another state off the list of 50. I've still been to more states than countries...we'll see after this year.

I've been through a day of training here at the EFCA and ReachGlobal headquarters. So far so good. I've taken in a lot of information. Some of it has been very helpful and some I might never think of again.

The highlight of today: I updated my support schedule and we were able to decrease my projected budget considerably. I was initially supposed to raise around $31,000. I'm now working on about $22,000. As of right now, I believe I have about %50 of that promised or pledged. So, I'm still working, but at least my end goal isn't so high. Let me assure you that I don't actually need $31,000 to live in Hungary for the next 10 months. That was a budget with a lot of excess. We've worked my salary back to what it was this past year, and I'm happy with that.

Continued prayer:
support raising!!!
Preparing to return- I think that's going to happen about August 9th
Mentally preparing to start a new school year.

I cannot say thank you enough- but thank you for all your prayers and support!!!


If you'd like to participate financially in educating students in Hungary- send checks payable to ReachGlobal to

Reach Global
901 E. 78th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55420

in the memo line- 1452 (that's my donor number)