yes, I realize that I haven't posted since October 9th, which was 7 months, 1 week, and one day ago.
but who's counting?
those 7 months have been some of the most exciting, challenging, and faith-growing months I've ever experienced in my life. I've changed a lot (for the better), but it does make me wish I would have kept everyone a little better updated. oh well!
since it's been that long, I figured I'd start by making a list of the things that have happened since we last communicated. hopefully we won't have any more droughts.
but who am I kidding?!
but who am I kidding?!
1. I turned 15 on October 26th. unfortunately, the only thing I can remember about it is that we went and ate at Bo Lings, my favorite Chinese restaurant.
I always remember stuff about food.
2. November/December brought more family birthdays, including Isaac's first birthday in America. he loved it as most normal kids do. then my "little" bio brother (who is now 3 inches taller than me!) turned 13. it made me feel so old!
3. of course, Christmas. check out my little brother Isaac (adopted from Uganda almost a year ago!)'s letter to "Santa Claw":
my dad turned 40 in early December. whattt? my parents are getting old! my mom also turned 40 in January. I'm sure they'll really appreciate me putting that on here. they kept repeating that "40's when the fun starts." needless to say, all of us kids were on our guard for the first few weeks! we had no idea the adventures that were to come though....
3. January was the most exciting month. I felt God calling me to go to Honduras with my youth group, even though all of the other kids had signed up to go in October. thankfully, there was a spot open! oh, and did I mention that the trip was in March?!
3. January was the most exciting month. I felt God calling me to go to Honduras with my youth group, even though all of the other kids had signed up to go in October. thankfully, there was a spot open! oh, and did I mention that the trip was in March?!
our first team picture!
4. 1.75 months to prepare for a missions trip?! might not have been such a crazy idea except for the fact that I had $0 raised. I got to watch God provide $2000 for me to go on this trip in just a little over a month, including $900 in the first week that was needed to secure my plane ticket. February was pretty full of babysitting and fundraising for my trip which was coming up soon! we serve a GREAT God! you can read all about the trip in my next post called "Honduras" :)
5. March came quickly, and I finished up the 3rd quarter of my sophomore year. right before the trip, which was on March 10th, my parents told us that we were taking our house off the market (it had been on for over a year) and were not moving out to the house we'd found in the country. although I liked the house, it was nice to know that we weren't going anywhere because I also really liked where we lived.
6. HONDURAS! see next post.
7. got back from amazing Honduras and celebrated my little sister's 8th birthday the next day. she's such a sweetheart. later that day my parents pulled me aside and said they had something to tell me. I was a little nervous.
they said, "we got two offers on our house the day we were taking it off the market. we've accepted one of them and are moving in about three weeks!"
now, I'm sure they said it in a more complicated, nice-sounding way than that, but that's all I heard. let the craziness begin!
8. in between that little announcement and us moving, my other little sister turned 11. super exciting!
4. 1.75 months to prepare for a missions trip?! might not have been such a crazy idea except for the fact that I had $0 raised. I got to watch God provide $2000 for me to go on this trip in just a little over a month, including $900 in the first week that was needed to secure my plane ticket. February was pretty full of babysitting and fundraising for my trip which was coming up soon! we serve a GREAT God! you can read all about the trip in my next post called "Honduras" :)
5. March came quickly, and I finished up the 3rd quarter of my sophomore year. right before the trip, which was on March 10th, my parents told us that we were taking our house off the market (it had been on for over a year) and were not moving out to the house we'd found in the country. although I liked the house, it was nice to know that we weren't going anywhere because I also really liked where we lived.
6. HONDURAS! see next post.
7. got back from amazing Honduras and celebrated my little sister's 8th birthday the next day. she's such a sweetheart. later that day my parents pulled me aside and said they had something to tell me. I was a little nervous.
they said, "we got two offers on our house the day we were taking it off the market. we've accepted one of them and are moving in about three weeks!"
now, I'm sure they said it in a more complicated, nice-sounding way than that, but that's all I heard. let the craziness begin!
8. in between that little announcement and us moving, my other little sister turned 11. super exciting!
my favorite picture of her and I. perfectly describes our relationship.
9. THE MOVE! despite only having three weeks to accomplish it, it went pretty well. sledding down the steep stairs at our old house on moving boxes had to have been the highlight. the night before we moved, my best friend spent the night. we also had lots of help from neighbors and family! that last night in the house was pretty bittersweet. I'm always up for a new adventure though! I did run into a slight problem when I was about to eat my ice cream and realized that my family had packed all the spoons...
electronic, serrated filet knife blade to the rescue!
April 12th-13th were moving days. they went by perfectly. I'll post later about all of our adventures since the move, because they have been wonderful. but that just about catches you up on my life these past *cough* few *cough* months.
last picture I took of our old house!
