I sure did

I made a board exclusively for floriculture on Pinterest. So the kids could access my flower Id pics 24/7, in theory. When I gave them time in class and then saw notices of other than intended repins, I decided to fight fire with fire... on in this case. Pins with pins.

8/24/11

In effort to implement technology into my everyday classroom I am requiring students to participate in a classroom forum/assignment/question every day when they first get to class. Today's forum asked the students to search the Internet for a floral arrangement they liked, post and explain why they like it.

One student followed my directions to the T but was selective in the cropping of the photo. Take note of his explanation of why he liked the photo.... I think I have my hands full.

8/23/11

One of my new students is Autistic. When he came into class the second day I asked him to come to my desk. I asked him if he liked his seat in class, because if he did this could be his place for the rest of the year. I thought I was being a super teacher being sensitive to his needs of routine and schedule and familiarity. He walked over, flipped his chair over, inspected it, sat down rocked and wiggled then looked at me and nodded..... I have so much to learn from this kid.

Phase 1 Out

Its official... I've successfully completed phase 1! That means I've gone two weeks with no simple carbs or sugar, including fruit sugar. Ok, so I might have had a tiny peice of Dr. Pepper cake last weekend and a double helping of biscuits and gravy this weekend. You know, if it wasn't for my wonderful boyfriend and his family I wouldn't be tempted to cheat near as much.

I realize food is AT every event and part of our life but food BINDS me with most of my favorite relationships. I love cooking and have learned that I love cooking for Kiley. Its been even more fun since I've realized how picky he is. When he says, "wow, babe this is really good" I barely contain myself from jumping up on the couch and dancing. One day maybe he'll get a dining room table until then our meals are shared twenty-first century style- facing the tv.

As promised some tips, tricks and recipies:

Cauliflower-likely the most boring and bland food substance ever, but then again someone probably said that about the coveted potatoes, once upon a time. In the South Beach Diet book they suggest treating cauliflower much like potatoes and make faux-mashed potatoes. I still havn't found my steamer since the move, pathetic I know, so I boiled the whole frozen bag in water then mashed with a little milk, I Can't Beleive It's Not Butter, Salt and Pepper. It was good but I wished I'd boiled a little longer. The next day I microwaved left overs and they were AHH-mazing! I guess a night in the fridge and a few minuets in the micro made it just the perfect texture. SOoooo, I got to wondering if this boring bland little white tree could be manipulated to mimic my oh-so-missed Malt'O Meal. The verdict: it was close, but not that close even after a night in the fridge. I'm going to try it again and really boil them and maybe even stick them in the Magic Bullet. Though, I will try it at my house this time because Mr. Picky thinks the boring bland nuetral veggie smells bad when cooked.

Corn Fed Girls

Like everyone else this week and for about... ohh another week or so... I am dieting because its the first few weeks of January and that's just what we do. This time I really needed to for my health and the three closets of clothes I can't fit in. Yes, I said three... I am single besides what else was I gonna do with all that space. As I've chatted with my fellow struggling dieters and tried recipes and tricks I thought to myself I wish there was a Paula Deen for South Beach. There are a thousand websites and even blogs that cater to the city slicker vegetarian types but what about us southern corn fed girls missing the foods that not only have packed on the pounds but have also shaped our memories, friendships, childhoods and relationships.

So, here we go I am going to attempt.... Paula Deen's yummyness, Rachel Ray's quickness, the health and great weight loss of South Beach and all the greatness of last month's church potluck. Might even toss in some Dr. Phil encouragement.

The post below is specifically for some Juniors and Seniors I am speaking to about Scholarships and Financial Aid at Iowa Park High School. Some of you have asked where my fun and goofy posts have gone. The answer is they are still coming, but I had to post the information somewhere for the time being.

Look for an update on my 5K training... soon.

get your education without being in debt for LIFE

Work a little now and reap rewards later

Below are links to that will help you get your education without being in debt for LIFE.

Article explaining types of money for school by Liz Pulliam Weston's new book, "Easy Money: How to Simplify Your Finances and Get What You Want Out of Life," is now available. Columns by Weston, the Web's most-read personal-finance writer and winner of the 2007 Clarion Award for online journalism, appear every Monday and Thursday, exclusively on MSN Money. She also answers reader questions on the Your Money message board.

MSN Article on Free money for school

THE VERY FIRST STEP REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOUR PARENTS MAKE
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Search Engines for scholarships: Remember for every $1000 scholarship is one less year of debt you will have (on average)

Scholarships.com
scholarships4students.com
fastweb.com

Finding the right college for you: search engine

Value of internships

Value of a degree

Gynnalyn's top picks: Tarleton State University and Texas A&M University-Kingsville

found more than I was looking for

God continues to fascinate me in how he works. I've seen him work so many times that I'm not surprised just... fascinated. He created a perfect storm in my life by loosing my mentor and friend Melinda, my mom's declining health, stressful summer at work, growing passion and love for the PSCOC teens, success in weightloss, enjoyment in nature hikes and training workouts, and a whole host of other details.
Its hard to explain the change in my life and every attempt to seems to discount the magnitude of how God has worked in my life emotionally, physically, psycologically, financially, and Biblically. All this climaxed on trek but I see God's mighty hand long before I began my 6 day stint in the wilderness, turning and using so many occurances- peoples words, additudes, my choices and additudes.
I feel empowered. I feel a burning guilt that I couldn't physically do what my heart and mind wanted to- for myself and the people I care about so much. I feel blessed by the guides we were assigned to and the family I belong to because of His blood. I am overwhelmed by the blessing of a job to come home to that I enjoy so much and can be so passionate about.
God has called me to make some changes in my life, not because I was following Satan, but because He calls all of us to our best and I've simply been going through the motions.

Lost the Office Won the Church

By a whopping .1% (yes, that one tenth of a percentage) I lost the office biggest loser. The good news is that I won the church biggest loser by a landslide. I was so proud to beat those boys! The best part is I was able to raise $250 for the kiddos.

Now, the challenge is staying motivated without public humiliation on the line. I've tried to think about the public humiliation of pooping out on trek but that only helps a little. Its so blistering hot outside I don't want to do a thing. Its only May and already 90+ degree heat all week.

I recently finished my training for CASA http://www.casatravis.org/ (Court Appointed Special Advocates) While finishing up the required court room observations I was intrigued by a grossly dynamic and dysfunctional case. Most people shake their heads in disgust at the travesty of the situation, but I petitioned the organization to let that be my first case. So I officially take the case on Thursday when I sit down and wade through the undoubtedly stacks of files and information. Travis County definitely holds a different caliber of cases in comparison to Erath County (Stephenville) where I'd worked before. I'm anxious to begin, God has given me an undeniable love for children and passion to make a difference. I am so thankful for CASA that allows me to use my talents.

Loosing the Biggest Looser but still a Winner cause I Lost

Yes, thats right we are almost 7 weeks into the office biggest loser contest and I have only won once! But no one won last week because we all endulged a bit for Valentine's Day. The good news is no one gained. I've lost a total of 22 lbs and almost 4 inches in my belly but since its based on percentage of weightloss the little pip squeeks in my office have been beating me with their 1 and 2 lbs loses.
I struggle every weekend to eat right and squeeze in a work out. The temptation is church friends and activites but last week I heard rumblings of a Pond Springs c of C biggest looser so I voluntered. Then I learned of the details of the contest which include getting sponsors for each pound I loose. Ok, not a big problem and the money goes to the kiddos for their summer activities. But I have to take before and after photos and publicly announce my weight. I was pretty panicked but reminded myself I need to loose it anyway, this is great motivation on the weekends to win the work contest and if your gonna loose it anyway might as well make some money for the kids while I am at it.

Katherine, one of the youth group girls was asking silly random questions the other night. I told her I love you and the other girls so much that I would potentially publicly humilate myself and enter this contest. I told her she is on my mind every day as I prepare my body for Trek so that I can be an enrouragement and inspiration to her and the others. I told her I love her so much I am doing something for her I wouldn't and havn't done for anyone else or myself. She tilted her head, smiled, and went back to texting.
You gotta love teenagers, right!

The bottom line I've got til April 18th (also happens to be my best friends wedding) to loose as much weight as possible. I am secretly hoping to beat the boys but know thats a tough one if they really buckle down. Regardless, with my current sponsorships I will raise $11.75 for every pound for the kids.

The Biggest Looser

For a multitude of reasons, including health, looking better, fitting back into my clothes, and Wilderness Trek I decided to battle the bulge directly after Christmas. Well directly after New Year's. I really thought about what has been my down fall in previous attempts and what has helpful when I was successful. I even reasearched what makes diet plans in general successful short term and long term. That answer first was the giant cabinet in the middle of my office full of yummy goodness that I walk past 100 times a day. The next was a community and support system. I proposed having a biggest looser contest with the girls at work. As the plan developed and terms were agreed on I was stoked! I knew my South Beach Diet would stack up leeps and bounds to their Weight Watchers and work out videos.
I started my first phase of South Beach on January 2nd and agreed to start the contest on the following Wednesday when everyone was back to work. After the first week I finished up .3% behind the winner. I am trying to look at the brightest side of things. Since I started on that fateful friday morning I've lost 14 lbs! More than that I've lost a lot of inches. So much that I am frightening my office mates because they see a difference over the days. I see a difference already in how my clothes fit.
I know thats the goal and all. Loose weight, feel great, yeah yeah! I want that stupid trophy and bragging rights more inmportantly! Wednesday is the next weigh in so I am anticipating a huge loss and have cleaned off my desk so that the trophy can be promiently dispalyed.
I have to give my friends at church a huge thanks, they've been so motivating and understanding and don't seem to mind when I always suggest Jason's Deli or a place I can get a salad.

Awesome Video

Happy Thanksgiving! I love this time of year... maybe its the shopping, maybe its that everyone is in a more cheery mood, maybe its traveling, maybe its seeing all my family and old friends, maybe its the decorating and parties. I don't know why I love it but I LOVE this time of year. I wish it was longer to I had more time to spend doing all the above mentioned things.
As I prepare for this Thanksgiving trip to see family in the Twinkle City and to decorate my parent's house while they are in Nebraska. (Shhh! Its a surprise!) They are gonna come home from Nebraska and Lord willing I won't be hanging from the roof by my britches and the house will be decked in white lights from the road to the tallest eve. I can't wait to see my mom's face... I hope it works out that they pull up after dark.
Anyway, after that I am taking a quick drive up to Wichita Falls to see my bff Talya and her family while I get new tires but on my pickup. I am so excited to get to see Tal again. Even though I talk to her once a week or so I am just giddy about getting to be in her presence. I was reminded of an long-story-inside joke recently between us and I'd like to share hopefully in a long story-short kinda way. You see Tal and I began our friendship in 3rd grade when we performed at the Talent Show. I sang and she played Amazing Grace on her guitar- I remember it was a Fender Strat- didn't know how cool that was at the time but I knew it was supposed to be. So that began many twists and turns of life together and some times more estranged than others by just the life happenings. A few years ago I was feeling a little big for my britches and made some sorta comment about Iowa Park not being my town, how was I supposed to know where something was or how it worked. (I think we were lost or late or something- Big Shocker) She barely skipped a beat and replied lovingly and sarcastically "ok Amazing Grace"
Thats love- when somebody knows you and all your junk and embarrasing moments and craziness and scariness and loves anyway. Especially when you need to be reminded of those moments when you wern't so profesional and smart. Isn't it wonderful that we have a heavenly father that also knows even the number of hairs on our head and loves us - loves us so much to let his son die for us and to be there with us during those rough times when things arn't perfect. Check out this video- I thought it was really powerful.

Girls Camping Trip agenda

Girls Camping Trip
Friday November 7-8
‘Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.’
-Proverbs 31:30

Who’s Going:
Lauren
Gynnalyn
Ellen
Brooke
Brittany
Kara
Katharine
Carmon

What’s Going On:

Leave: the church parking lot at 4pm
My pickup can hold maximum of 5 including me. Ellen or Lauren will need to drive also

Meet up with Carmon in Georgetown

Arrive at Jim Hogg Park around 5 pm
It is getting dark really early so be ready to help set up so we can all relax and enjoy God’s Creation
Set up tents and cook dinner: Dutch oven Chicken Pot Pie and Cobbler

The next morning - Breakfast: Raccoon Casserole; coffee, juice, milk

Exploring, games, whatever you girls want to do

Lunch: Hot Dogs and baked beans (could do something else if ya’ll wanted)

More Exploring, and games

Clean up and pack up to leave by 4:30 pm

Home by 6pm

What to Bring:
Bible
Warm, layered clothes (it will get into the 40’s at night)
Pillow
Blanket or sleeping bag
Games
$10 (to help with cost of food and site)

God is so Good

I have been praying for some relief from the miserable loneliness I feel here in Austin. Part of it is because I don't make friends easily, so the good freinds I do have are hard no impossible to let go of. But those friends that no me inside and out arn't here and we can't live our lives on the phone every evening. So I've been trying to meet people, men, women, young, old. I am trying not to be picky. This quest has landed me becoming more involved at church which is a real blessing but still hasn't scratched the itch.
Last week one of my college roommates sent me a message on MySpace. She, her brand new baby and husband just moved to Austin. I haven't gotten to see her yet but we have made lunch plans for next week and just the increase in email and knowing that she's just an exit away on my drive home from work is so comforting. If that wasn't a big enough God-n-sidence then listen to this.
Yeasterday I had debated on asking the people at a church I visited when I first moved here to take me off their email list since I don't go there and only did for a few weeks. At the last minuet I decided not to and for no good reason what so ever. I even had the email written explaining it was nothing personal but deleated it without sending. Today I got an email from the group saying that a guy had called the church office ans wanted more information and where the group was meeting tonight. It included his full name and number. The name happened to be the same name is a friend of mine from the youth group in highschool and Junior High that moved away before we graduated. On a long shot I called the number and it was him! I was shocked! He's been living in Austin for a while and has been really needing some young christian friends too. He's comming to church with me tonight and I am so excited I could just pop. I can't wait to see him. There is just something really beautiful about someone who knew you and loved you even were you were a giant dork and still does.

Austintatious

So its all true Austin is a weird city. I moved here in May and talk about a fish out of water. I have found a great church and my job is wonderful but the general pool of friends and dates is large and for me unmanageable. I have attempted to meet new people on Craig's Listm but so far no luck. I have gone on 3 dates and counting. The first two were overgrown sex crazed teenagers. I couldn't beleive their audacity and vulgarity. Call me old fashoned but dating is not all about sex. The next was pretty disasterous too. We met at Starbucks and I was looking for the candid camera. Here's the scene we are sitting at a moderatly crowded cofee shop and the guy is staring at his interlocked fingers in his lap. You'd think I was the principal yelling at a kid with his head hanging in shame. The older couple next to us was getting quite a chuckle as I looked around and chuckled in disbeleif after 4 or 5 minuets of desperatly trying to start a conversation.
I guess dating in Austin isn't that different than in Abilene. I had similar problems there. Maybe its just not meant to be. But in the mean time before my fireworks and all it'd be nice to hang out with someone enjoys hanging out with me isn't trying to get in my pants and will carry their end of the conversation. Still looking... stay tuned for more adventures in Austin dating.

its been awhile

Ok sorry to leave you all hanging. I know its been a while. I guess I haven't felt like anything I had to say wasn't worth broadcasting to the masses the last few months. So here's a quick synopsis...
I left Elliott Hamil. Well when I got home from Russia my desk was packed for me. So sweet of my coworkers and new managers to take care of that for me. It was an embarrassing event to say the least. One of my co workers tried to give me a hint but I didn't get it until weeks later. I went to work still suffering from some serious jet lag and was confused where my pictures and other personal affects were but shrugged it off and decided that I would find them later. Little did I know that they had been boxed away in the closet and my desk had been given to another employee. It all makes since now. I couldn't figure out why they were dragging their feet to buy her a desk before I left.
Since then I have been keeping myself busy with Skin Care classes and servicing my Mary Kay customers. I am enjoying the freedom I have of being my own boss and reminding myself that it takes time and hard work to build a business and it won't happen overnight or even in a month.
I survived another birthday and enjoyed the first half of the evening with some friends at the Olive Garden. It was a nice little get together thrown together at the last minuet by my friend Josh. The rest of the evening and next morning was spent at the 7th and 8th Grade Lock In from church. There were about 3 times as many kids as we expected. It was fun and crazy!
Now at the ripe ole' age of 24 I begin to ponder life. I think this was spurred on my a recent trip to New Mexico with friends. A very long story explained in short... we went, we wrecked a 4 wheeler, we suffered, and now we pay.
My tight and creative budget has cratered under the stress of inability to work much with a back injury and having to pay for repairs and hospital visits. It wasn't a life threatening event thanks to some helmets but it did make me realize how important my friends and family are and the impact I make on the world.
I realize such is life people get hurt and crap happens... watch day time TV every other comerical and situation explained on those Court shows explains that. I feel God is guiding me back to teaching. Its one of those undeniable things. Have you ever felt that? When you laugh at yourself at even beginning to ask God "are you sure?" I taught and dreamt of teaching for years. I knew I would be sacrificing a lot but I also knew it was worth it if I made a difference in the world with even just one student. Which I guess is pretty melodramatic because I did make a difference in my kids lives. I know because they tell me when I run into them at Wal Mart or they call in a crisis because I am the only adult they trust. So I guess its a matter of balance. A tree can offer shade for only so long if it doesn't get water,sunlight and nutrients itself. That tree made a difference one year to the person who needed shade or a place to lean but was rendered useless after many years of poor treatment and harsh conditions.
I have begun substitute teaching and I pray this opens my eyes to... well whatever I am supposed to see. Weather its an age group, a subject matter, a school, or whatever. Don't worry! I am continuing with the business in Mary Kay but I did extremely well when I was forced to squeeze in Mary Kay where it could fit in the evenings after work. I have no doubt God has a since of humor and he knows me so well. My first assignment right out of the gate was at the Alternative School. You know where the kids sit in cubicles with a text book and worksheets and armed police officers pace the halls.
Most people, sane people, would go home and pray they were never assigned there again. I was whirled into a world of wondering: did those kids have an Ag program or a Ms. E in their life. What if that could have made a difference? Don't get me wrong there were a few of my kids that ended up in some sort of Alternative school. They knew that I loved them and that I'd be there when they got back calling them to a higher standard and making them to toe the line. Like I said most people would shake it off and roll on. God programed me different I guess.
Stay tuned for the adventures in subbing

Independence Day has never meant so much to me as it did this year. In my many trips to Mexico I didn't feel this feeling of 'it just doesn't seem fair' like I do now. Maybe its the difference in being an adult and seeing things through different eyes, maybe its becasue I feel like the Mexicans I've worked with may not have all the luxeries I have but they have somethings I'll never understand and have like deep very close knit families and awesome customs and traditions and food.
I feel diferntly about Russians. They are so close to having a democratic society but yet they still fear the corrupt police that walk about the city in groups of 3. I don't know why 3. American police usually come in pairs. Russians do not have the.. assurances that we do like insurance (health, life, unemployment, disability) They just don't have the little things that we take so for granted that are largely becasue of our goverment both federally, state and local. Yet they are so close. By that I mean who am I that I got to be born in the US and be an American citizen when people just as deserving of the things I enjoy don't have it becasue they were born in Russia.
I am the last person to agree with a lot of the desesions are politicians make and yes there is a bit crookedness in most goverment organizations but ya'll its nothing to compare to. I useto loath my 15 to 20 minuet drive into Abilene but now I see things differntly when I understand that most of my friends travel an hour plus everyday both ways to go to work in a crowded Metro train car. Some have to walk part of the way, train part of the way and subway part of the way. Now, some Americans make this choice to live in big cities but Russian economy is different and in many cases to support your family or to get an education you have to live in Moscow. This is why the poulation of Moscow is somewhere around 25 million and the birth rate is lower than the death rate. Puts it all in perspective and makes me irritated at myself and my fellow Americans that we just don't know how good we have it.
The words of Lee Greenwood has never meant so much to me as I sat with my family in my brand new truck on the 4th of July and ate icecream and apple pie and watched fireworks.

If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

Hello Real World

Well today was my first day back at work and wow, what a day.
I was running late because in effort to overcome my jetlag and inability to sleep through the night I worked myself to exhaustion before going to bed and then overslept this morning. I picked up Krispy Cream doughnuts on my way to work from a youth group fundraiser. They are going on missions to New York. Interesting how things come full circle.
When I got to work I sat down at my desk and got to work as usual. When I noticed not only was some one else's things on my desk, my things were not on my desk. You know I have pictures all over the place. I still didn't get it, though. I thought they moved thim becasue they rearranged the office and were getting ready to paint. After I followed up with a few customers I went and talked to my manager about some families and some issues that had developed while I was gone. He then informed me I was no longer was a family service councilor. They had demoted me to a community service person which means that I still sell for the company but they don't help at all. In fact I don't get a desk or phone or computer or anything. I declined this position and so they fired me. At this point I walked back to my office and realized my coworkers had not just moved my personal belongings they had boxed them up for me. Ouch! In addition my desk I was sitting at was no longer mine. Man I felt like a fool. The embarrassing and sad thing was all my coworkers knew what happen and so when I came and got my stuff they thought I knew I didn't have a job ever since I left. I wonder what they were told was the reason for my leaving.
Its bitter sweet. I was getting to were I hated my job but I am sad that families won't be taken care of like they need to be. Three weeks in Moscow, Russia really puts everything in perspective for me though. I am sooo glad I live in a country that takes care of its people. I am so thankful that I have Mary Kay to fall back on and an education to use as well. I am so thankful I live in a country where people are fundametally helpful and want the best for other people. I am so thankful that I grew up in a country that allowed my parents to teach me about God and Jesus and that I could develop my own faith without ridicule or judgement.
Its been a rough day but I am confident in my heavenly father and his ability to be so strong in my weakness and I am thankful for all the blessings I have in this life as well.

I am soo sorry!

I didn't realize you all were so glued to this website. I didn't mean to leave ya'll hanging. We have been soo busy in our last few days In Moscow and then the 37 hours of travel.
I wish I had time to update you on everything in the last few days but a abridged version will have to do for now.
Saturday I enjoyed touring Moscow State Universtiy and seeing the olympic stadium and some other beutiful scenery with Igor. I was shocked to find out half way through dinner that this outing was in fact a date in his eyes. how awkward! I look forward to telling you more about this strange encounter. He is a very sweet man and wants to impress me with grandose promises of money, cars and houses. I hd fun and enjoyed the siteseeing with a true Moscovite and history scholar.
Sunday we enjoyed Pizza one last time before a wonderful church service during a terrenchal downpour. After services we had our Russian party which was really great and hard for a lot of reasons. Our readers showered us in gifts and classic Russian food. The team decided we needed to be careful since we were fixing to be on planes for 2 days about what we ate. The hard part was being served food then they stand back and wait for approval. I was eager to try okroshka and caviar but was very glad Sahska, a self proclaimed Obshora (Glutton) was sitting next to me. He finished off most of the food for me so I didn't look rude. We played many traditonal Russian games and learned about a little Russian history. As the party was ending Igor arrived with 2 of his friends. Keith and Ken are from New Zealand and taught Kindergarden in an English inclusion school. They were the most bubbly people I'd ever met. It was great and I really wished I'd met them earlier in the trip, especially whem they mentioned that they hadn't found a church in Moscow yet but they went to New Zealand church of Christ. Here's the really awesome part. Igor has no intrest in christianity but he is surrounding himself with Christians and continueing realtionships with them. Its funny to me becasue Igor is a very stoac serious and in control individual. He's got most details of his life planned out 3 years from now and I see God working and I am excited to see how he contnues to use our team, me and the New Zealand guys in Igor's life.
After our final team meeting withthe missionary and his family we began to pack and get ready to go. Sashka stayed with us and we as always enjoyed him. we had a great relaxing dinnner and a belinni cafe. It was really nice and I enjoyed so much haveing more time to spend with this amazing person, Sashka.
The whole team stayed up all night and Denise and I hoped int he Taxi for the ride of our lives to the airport. I have never been so glad to arrive at the airport. Then we had roughly 30 hours of delays and layovers and speed walks to the next terminal. Our luggage did not arrive in Dallas when we did, Big Shocker! So we had to make so with our carry on supplies at the hotel in Dallas and for the end meeting. We got to meet with Skip who is part of the team that is going to Moscow in October. Its good to know that our reades we have grown to love so much are in good hands. He took us to the airport and we started a 7 hour fun fest of gate changes, a thunderstorm and delays becasue our captain got lost! I was so glad to get home but my frieds had already enjoyed dinner without me and my family was fit to be tied with 4 kids running around the terminal waiting on me. IT was nice they had signs and ballons and noise makers. It was embarrasing and great!
Now I am off to get my badly needed nails nails done and then took Rising Star for Independence Day Celebration which I hope to win the Homemade Icecream contest this year. Ohh and see all my family and celebrate the 4th too. Love you guys, thanks for all your prayers and support. Stay tuned for pictures and reflections as Ireturn to the real world and work and let God lead me to my next trip.