Wednesday, September 26, 2012

September Celebrations!!!


The month of September has always been one of my favorite months.  Obviously one of the reasons that I like September is because it is my birthday month, but it is also the birthday month of my niece, my Aunt Lynnie, my brother, my Mama and other people who I love.  Living in Guatemala also brings another celebration in September because the 15th is Guatemala’s (and Central America’s) Independence Day.  This year we also started our DTS in September.  Here are some pictures from our celebrations of the month…
Celebrating our friend Sara's birthday

 
Happy Birthday Sara!


DTS
Independence Day Parade
If I were Guatemalan I would have totally rocked this in school!
Guatemalan Flags
Birthday lunch!
Lucky to share my special day with these great friends
Birthday cake

Thanks for reading!!!








Tuesday, September 18, 2012

28

On the eve of my 28th birthday I thought it fitting that I make a list of 28 things.  I have seen different friends make lists like this on their blogs and I always love to read them, but I think to myself, "Is it really possible for me to make a list of that many things?"  Today I started thinking about it and I decided that if I want to do it, I better do it soon because I am not getting any younger.  So, here you go... 28 of my best memories while growing up (in no particular order)...

1. My Aunt Lynnie scratching my back with her LONG fingernails  and begging her to keep going even when my back was bright red.

2. My mom giving me a Bible on my 17th birthday and telling me how proud of me she was.

3. Watching Making the Band (You remember that show that produced the super talented band O-Town) on Friday nights with my friends at my mom's house.

4.  Playing "Band" with my sisters at my Grandma Irene's house and unscrewing the decorations on her bed frame to make microphones to sing along to the Stand By Me soundtrack (side note: I have NO clue where the soundtrack came from because to this day I have never seen the movie).

5. Playing (okay if we are being honest this should say cheering from the bench) in basketball tournaments with some of best friends in Jr. High.

6. Going to my friend Layne's house on fog delay days and painting our faces half black half white and then singing and dancing to Michael Jackson's Black or White (a little prophetic, wouldn't you say?)

7. Going with my Mama to pick out and purchase a purity ring.

8. Summer time swims at my friend Denise's house.

9.  The Dr. Pepper flavored chap stick that my Grandpa John and Grandma Irene always had in their camper.

10. The Pink Book that my friends and I wrote in all the time in High School- it was the ultimate diary.

11.   Learning Spanish from a teacher who cared about more than just my grade in High School.


12.  Going fishing and getting "lost" and stuck in the mud while borrowing my Grandma's boots.

13.  Making up dance routines on the trampoline in my back yard and thinking that no one could see me.

14. Sleeping in my sister Becky's bed at night when I was scared.

15.  The year I went away to camp and my mom not only cleaned but painted my room and surprised me when I got home. 

16. The time I was riding my Grandpa's quad around the fields and accidentally flipped it over.  I tried so hard to pick it up myself but I couldn't so I had to walk back to his house and ask him to come help me.  He flipped it over and then made me drive it home with him on the back.  What a great man!

17.  Performing the Jonah program in the children's choir(Go, go Jonah, go Jonah go go... anyone?)

18.  The day my brothers and sister came to live with us and the way I couldn't stop turning around to look at them on the way home.

19. The time my best friend Erin told me that her mom MADE her come over to play with me and that she really didn't want to- that woman was definitely a wise lady!

20.  The time I tried to be like my Grandpa and spit outside the truck window only to find out that the window was rolled up.

21.  Learning tap dance at Linda Larmas Dance when I was in 1st grade.

22.  How my mom had to throw me into the pool at the swim meets because I was afraid of the starting gun.

23.  Going to Mexico and singing Flamin' Mamey with Dale.

24.  Being baptized.

25. Wearing my pink cowgirl boots with fringe.

26. Visiting my sister Leann when she lived in England.

27. Sitting on my Grandma Irene's counter and "helping" her cook.

28. Helping my Mama make cookies at Christmas time.

Okay, so I finished the list, but I am pretty sure that not everyone will appreciate it as much as I do, but thanks for reading it anyways! 

Thursday, September 13, 2012

First Day of School

I miss being a teacher.  I miss the first day of school and I even miss having the first day of school nightmares weeks before school starts.  Well, I am able to fulfill my desires in a round about way through the DTS, nightmares and all!

Our DTS started Wednesday September 12 and it has been a great first few days.  I definitely did have nightmares a few nights before the school started, but thankful they were just dreams.  The whole thing has been complete a God thing. 


We have 9 students and 6 countries represented in this DTS- pretty incredible if you ask me!  In case you are wondering we have these countries: USA, Guatemala, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and Holland- again, such a God thing! 

We had a first day of school breakfast and then a teaching that Mario and I gave yesterday morning.  I just love working alongside my amazing husband and hearing his heart transmitted to these eager students!  He is also translating me when I teach and he is doing a great job!  If he were my student he would definitely get an A+! 
We ask that you would please continue to pray for us as we continue on this new adventure!  We are super excited about all the things that God is going to do in our lives and in the students lives.

Thanks for reading!

Changes




We started our DTS on Wednesday and I had something I wanted to do before the school started, so we made plans and went to Puerto San Jose.  We enjoyed the beach, the company, and the food like usual, but there was something else that I really wanted to do.  I called my friend, Wendy, who works in Puerto San Jose and asked her if she could help me with something.  What was the something?  This...


I have wanted to cut my hair short for a while now and I knew that if I didn't do it before the DTS started that it would have to wait another 6 months, so I decided to go for it!  I must admit, I was a little bit nervous as we pulled up to the salon, but I am so glad I did it.  I haven't had my hair this short since I was 15 and it was time for a change!

Here is another picture of our trip for your enjoyment :) 
It was a great trip, indeed!

Thanks for reading!!!