Yummy treats

I had a sister tell me that she wanted Chocolate covered strawberries and that she would be to my house sunday to get some....Now I know she was only half serious about the fact that she wanted some on sunday but I decided that it sounded mighty yummy so I made some chocolate covered Strawberries and Oreo's.

Sunset on the River

This picture is one that I took on my river safari while in Africa. I loved the safari and the river just made it so relaxing. I loved just sitting back on the boat listening to the quiet, peaceful sounds. The waves hitting the side of the boat, seeing the animals in their natural home, and just being able to enjoy the beauty that was all round me. It made the Trip seem more real.

BUNGI

Okay so I was trying to load the videos of my bungi jump and bungi swing...but so far i haven't been able to get it to work, so I posted pictures intead.

coming to my senses

So the first part of my life changing plans has been to come to my senses that I don't need my 2 jobs so I have finally put notice in to America First. My last day will be August 19th :) I have come to my senses and realize that I need more sleep and fun time. I now might have a lot of time on my hands but we will deal with that when the time comes. I am excited, nervous, sad, anixous and have alot of different emotions and feelings about this new chapter in my life.

Decisions

I have lots of big decisions and I have started putting some of those decisions into action. I just hope I am not making a 'wrong' decision...only time will tell. I am not completely happy so I am trying to fix that and find out what I need to do to make me happy with my circumstance, so here is to making decisions become reality! Stay tuned to find out how it all unfolds.

trying to be crafty

After getting back from africa I have been trying to find new things to do and to try. Just about everyone over there is very crafty and creative..They usually have to be. So I thought maybe I could learn to be a bit more creative. I love fun and different earrings so I have decided I want to try to make some of my own. These are the first pairs of earrings that I have made. They didn't turn out too bad :) It was kind of fun and I will be making more I am sure.

story

This story was shared with me and I wanted to share it here. Thanks Jen for the story.

The Mayonnaise Jar
When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,
When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,
Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
And had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students, if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things - family, children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions.
Things, that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your Job, House, and Car.

The sand is everything else --The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued,
'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are important to you. So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled.
'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

more pictures of africa

I saw this guy on my river safari...it was a good thing he didn't move :)

A cool picture of some of the team on the upper deck of the boat.

Lisalee showing us how to shake it

Amber and Kennedy

Ladies from a village carrying water back to their homes

A girl and I skipping church and just enjoying each others company

Tess holding a boy at the CRC that was having a hard time that day.

This is what they do during the winter...they burn all the tall grass down

Amber and a boy from the village

A lady with her bundle she was trying to sell

some cute kittens

I have no words for this one.

Bev, Anthony, Shayne and I. In this picture there are 3 of us that Shayne has really helped and impacted our lives.

Anthony and I

Too much

Okay So I have been back home since Friday and I have had a hard time adjusting back to life here. There were so many things to see, feel and do while I was there that it is kind of hard to explain everything. I have had a hard time trying to express what I feel and why. I did have a great time yes, it was hard and very sad/depressing to see alot of things. Would I do this exact program again? No, just for the fact that once I have done something I usually like to try something different...but yes I would love to go back to Africa and help some more people but just doing different things and in different places that I went this time. I got to meet alot of really sweet people. I love the Zambian people. They are so loving and happy just about all the time. Of course they have their hard moments and do feel down like we do but for the most part they are a so much more happy, smiling, loving people than the most of our nation...which is kind of sad. Don't get me wrong we have a great nation and I love it here and we do have really happy, sweet, caring, loving and smiling people here but also over here we are a lot more of a "hurried" nation and sometimes forget to have those quailties radiate from within us--myself very much included in that statement. Going over there I saw some people that literally had NOTHING but the rags they have as clothes and those people are the ones that are smiling the most. It is amazing to me that they have so little but are so much happier than we seem to be somedays. I am hoping that I can keep the feeling of Zambia and have my love for others radiate through me...I know I have a ways to go on being completely open to alot of things but this trip has helped me try to see more fully the happy things in the little things throughout the day. I also on this trip saw alot of things within me that I need to work on but at the same time I saw some really great things about me that those have been trying to get me to see...i am just a little stubborn so it sometimes takes me a while. Sorry this is just kind of a ramble post and it is not everything i want to say but it is a start. If any of you want stories or to hear or have questions about any of my pictures or time over there just let me know and I will post some more stuff. :) Love ya all and thanks for all you do everyday.
Alice--a girl from the CRC--and I swinging.


Gift enjoying some Ketchup as a treat

Gift enjoying the sun and not wanting to be in our first aid class

Lisalee and I after I had painted her toenails.

Brotherly love

Kennedy listening to his teacher

Alice and I again.

Allison and Lisalee

yes those are fish in the bucket...and just to let you know they are VERY heavy!!! I don't know how all the people carry things on their head that is so heavy and for as long as they do. Oh goodness they must have strong neck muscles.

a cute girl from one of the villages we went to.

I held a chicken, my grandpa will be proud

Alex and Tess showing their "gangesta-ness" they spelled 'blood' with their hands

This is I think my most favorite photos that I got the whole time I was there....we had gone to a village and went to visit a village grandma..sadly i never got a picture of the really cute grandma but i am sure one of the other people in my group did (the grandma was really cute and sweet) anyway this sweet grandma has taken care of OVER 60 children in her lifetime-whether they were her blood family or not...this sweet boy wouldn't leave her side and was very shy..he is adoreable. The look is just so vunerable that is it heart breaking to me.

This little girl is about about 10years old and she is in charge of her little brother that is on her back..such a sweet and pretty girl.

This picture was taken at one compound we had gone to visit...that day we got to help feel the children there....we feed over 600 children (I believe that was the number I heard)

This boy was just sitting in the middle of a crowd at the compound and just stared at me for a long moment...love this photo as well