An update on Life

Life has been busy here; we are almost finished and I will be returning to Amarillo on Thursday (July 20). It is crazy to think that I have been here for almost 8 weeks. I have had many adventures and learned so much. Here are the stories of a few adventures...

The last of the shots!!!!
I have received 7 shots while I was here. One person described it as becoming a human pincushion! I should be inoculated against ANY yucky stuff that might come my way.




I caught my first fish ever!!!
I had never really been fishing before, so a friend kindly showed me how it was done. It was not a big fish but I did it myself YEA!!!!!! (only I did not take it off the hook!)






First time in the Atlantic!
I have only played in the ocean in Russia so I was so excited about going to a beach in the US. Much to my delight, some new friends pick me up and took me to the beach. We had so much fun playing in the waves! The best part was a nap on the beach and then waking up to the view of dolphins playing in the surf. What a beautiful and graceful sight. Playing on the beach was great fun and a nice bread from classes; hopefully I will be able to find a beach overseas to go to!

Fun on the Fourth of July

For the Fourth of July all of the people here at orientation (including children) went on an outing to Washington DC. We had specific tasks to accomplish while we were there. One was to eat in an ethnic restaurant. My group chose to eat at a Turkish restaurant. I loved it! The food was great and it was soooooo nice to get out of the heat. I had to laugh at another one of the requirements; we were to ride the metro. I have ridden the metro just never in the US. I enjoyed the opportunity to be able to read all of the signs. Because of the amount of people that were in DC for the fourth and the unmerciful heat, it was really hard to do much. However, we did get to walk by the Washington Memorial and the White House!


By the afternoon we had had enough of the heat and decided to go to the Air and Space Museum. While we were there, I tried to engage several internationals in conversation and much to my dismay none of them spoke English. I had to be content with the knowledge that a smile is a universal language. While we were sitting there surrounded by people, I kept thinking about the fact that the majority of these people around me were going to hell and it broke my heart. I poured out my heart to Dad. He reminded me that He is the one who softens and hardens hearts and it is nothing I do. He reminded me to intercede that when these people go home there would be a neighbor, co-worker, or friend to tell them Dad.

We left DC by 5:00pm and returned to Richmond. From there a small group of us went to view fire works and let me tell you it was an adventure! The tale is long and complicated but let’s just say that at time I was so out of my element that it is not even funny! All in all, it was a great way to spend the last Fourth of July I will have in the states for a while.

Finally a Blog!!!

I now have joined the ranks of bloggers:) My awesome friend Brooke helped me set up my blog. I am so thankful for friends who have lots patience and computer knowledge! This picture is of Sally Katherine who will be my partner in Central Asia. Sally Katherine and I will be living together and working at the same school in Central Asia. We are excited about moving. Some times I am just blown away at Dad's goodness. For a long time I have said that my dream job would be to teach kindergarten. Dad not only provided me a teaching job but it is a kindergarten job. He is letting me do what I love is anything better than that? I was a little bit (ok a lot) worried about going to Central Asia alone and Dad provided Sally Katherine to be my roommate, fellow teacher, and friend. A presenter at a conference said it well, "Dad loves to give his children good gifts!" That is how I feel; Dad has given me good gifts in my job and in Sally Katherine.