Today...

I packed all my things (and extra things, and extra extra things...lol) for camp and loaded up my car...
Then I said goodbye to my parents and our cat. And our house. And my neighborhood. And my hometown. Where we've lived since I was one year old (minus a year when we moved to another town in Missouri, but we came back!)
And it was weird. And kind of hard. But it was quick. It was like all the packing and sorting and hauling, and packing....just sort of ended abruptly, I gave my parents hugs, took a few pictures...and left.
My parents are moving to Germany while I'm gone. I'm excited for their new adventures...but a little sad to say goodbye to places and things I've known my whole life.
Not that I won't be back. I only live 45 minutes away and still have friends there. But...it's just not the same.

On a more fun and positive note - I drove through four states in 6.5 hours today - Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. It was pretty exciting. I'm on an adventure. God is at work all around me in my life - things are changing, growing pains are hurting...and I'm right where I'm supposed to be. That's what I thought about as I drove today. And I thought about how adventurous I really am...it doesn't make me nervous to drive by myself to far away places. I actually kind of enjoy it!

Tomorrow I'll make the most beautiful part of the drive! 5.5 hours through the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and into the Appalachian (I hope that's the right name) range of North Carolina! :) I'll meet new friends who I get to spend the next six weeks with...and start training for my summer job. I'm so excited!

I may not have Internet access all the time - so the posts might be limited...but I'll be back when I can! :) Happy Summer to everyone!

P.S....If you want to send me some mail (hint hint!) you can write:
My Name (I feel weird putting my first and last name out on my blog, but most of you know me!) =)
Summer Staff
P.O. Box 128
Ridgecrest, NC
28770

I'll even write back...because who doesn't love getting snail mail, these days?!

I'll try to post pictures from my big trip soon too! :)

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!

LOL - I feel like the kid on Home Alone 2! If you haven't seen it, or the first one, he screams like that a lot.

I was going to write about something else...but I couldn't resist writing about what I am doing right now.
In April I volunteered to go to a three day ELL (English Language Learner) training in St. Louis. It was district-paid for, so that was even better!

So...now that is how I found myself here at a fancy hotel - walking into the lobby to check in, wearing jean shorts and flip flops...and feeling a little bit lost! I can only be thankful I knew how to walk through the revolving door...without falling on my face or something! I had to exchange my car keys for a temporary "10 minute parking chip" and then when I went back out I had to take a ticket to the parking area so I could get in the little gate. I am staying on the 8th floor, and it costs $12.95 per day to use the Internet if I am in my room....that is a lot of money to pay just to use the Internet in your pajamas. So - I dressed up (if you could call my school teaching clothes dressy...I think the atmosphere here is more "classy" ha) and came to the lobby to use free Internet. I think my school district will appreciate that budget-conscious choice! lol

Don't worry...I haven't jumped on the bed, done cannon balls in the swimming pool, or run up the room service bill. And I haven't been chased by any creepy guys with gold teeth! Yet. Haha. But I do still have two more nights for adventure! ;)

Here's to life in the big city...at least for a couple of days! lol

I'm So Vain...You Probably Think This Post is About Me...

Sorry for the corny title - I did something kind of vain today.

Well...I wasn't just trying to be vain. It was actually something kind of fun and just for myself, but I felt a little vain about it, especially when I handed the lady my debit card and paid for it. I got a spray tan. Yes, I paid to turn myself a different color...lol...

I do not tan on my own. I burn, peal, and repeat. lol So I decided to be brave and give it a try.

This weekend a best friend from high school is getting married, and I am the maid of honor. And my dress is dark purple...and strapless....and short. And I am white. Very white. And who wants to be the only thing whiter than the bride's dress blinding people from the altar? lol

It wasn't so bad...I'm still waiting to see the final results. And my biggest fear hasn't come true...yet. No orange Ooompa Loompa nightmares.

It was one of those times my dad would use his phrase, "It's just not necessary..." but I had fun. And tomorrow I'm going to a day spa with the other wedding party girls where we will be pampered even more with manicures and pedicures...I could get used to this life...good thing it's too expensive to get used to! lol

We'll see how the tan turns out. For now, at least the bride won't have to enter to the song "Blinded by the White..." I mean, uh..."Light" hahaha Maybe I'll post a picture soon!

Just Thinking...

I wonder where I thought I would be at 26...
I can think of some things I always assumed when I was younger.

I thought I would be finished with college (as a lawyer, nurse, secretary, teacher, doctor, speech pathologist, early childhood specialist, music teacher, and many more....in no particular order - but it's funny to see how they changed over the years...)

I thought I would be married and possibly have children. I even assumed this all the way through high school. Getting married just seemed like something people did in college, so naturally I thought I would too. (I'm still waiting...)

I thought I would drive a fancy car (maybe a yellow Mustang convertible!)

I thought I would have lots of friends and spend lots of time socializing. (Different times have brought different friends, but God has been good to bless me with strong friendships throughout...)

I thought I would live near my family but travel anywhere I wanted to. (I do right now, and I have traveled a lot!)

I thought I would be a writer. (Well...I have a blog, when I actually take the time to write here! haha)

But did I know...

I would be a music teacher with my own classroom and love so many kids every day?

That I'd be an aunt...times ten (soon to be eleven?!) (These pictures only show five of my ten nieces and nephews...I'm missing pics of my Fabulous Five nieces!)

That I would travel the world, have a heart for missions, and fall in love with the most beautiful people and continent in the world?! (I'm not trying to be too bias...but I DO have a BIG place in my heart for Africa!!!)

I would be an Amazon alligator hunter and an adventurous drum girl? (I did not catch the gator in that picture by the way, but I did hold him, and he was alive! lol)

I would love serving others and have the opportunity to be a part of First Baptist Church Arkadelphia throughout college and help with their Arms Around Arkadelphia ministry even after I graduated?...

I would have some of the best friends I could ask for - some from elementary through high school, and some from college?...

I would carry my camera everywhere and love taking pictures of everything - especially the beauty of God's creation?

That I would one day be maid of honor for one of those lifelong high school friends I mentioned earlier? (And plan showers and do other fun maid of honor things for my first time ever!)  =)

There are so many more things I never could have imagined would be at 26...and so many things I did imagine and have yet to experience. One thing I am as sure of as ever is that I have a good and faithful God. And that He created me and has continued to shape me into the woman He wants me to be over 26 years. He continues to help me learn and grow every day. 

As my birthday came this year, I thought about how I was actually looking forward to being 26. There wasn't anything particularly exciting about that number, but I truly feel like I'm becoming an adult. I have been out of college for three years now, working and living on my own, and I'm really enjoying that. God gives us different seasons in our lives, and even though it's not always easy, and I long for other seasons that are yet to come, I love where I am at now. 26!