I'm alive!

It's been two months since I posted here, so in case you had any doubts: YES, I am still alive.

My last month in Honduras was crazy. I feel like I never sat down, never slept, never stopped having fun, never stopped smiling, never wanted to leave. Wow. A whole year teaching the most amazing children you will ever meet. I will never forget. Yesterday, I was Honduras homesick. Honduras hold a piece of my heart. I know I'll never get it back so I better plan some visits in the future! My first visit is planned for when my 8th graders graduate 11th grade. It's 3 years from now, but I promised my students I would be there unless I physically could not step on a plane. I will miss my friends there terribly. I already do. Saying goodbye is hard and it never gets easier. As I write this, memories of my last night in Honduras flood back. We had a goodbye party for all the bilingual teachers who attend our bible study. I was the only one leaving so early and it mostly turned into a goodbye party for me. It was so fun. I felt so very loved. Best last day ever. 

Roses at my Dad and Laurie's house

The time came to get on my plane and go. Something cool happened in the airport. I lost my visa paper in April. Vanished. I was a little worried but didn't have time to panic because I didn't realize it until a couple days before I left in June. I tried the whole "see if they don't notice" thing and that didn't work. "Go to immigration", said the flight attendant sweetly. I was walking over there praying "God please do a miracle. I cannot afford a $$$ fine right now!!". I walked up to the window, explained to the man that I lost my papers and he handed me a new one. He didn't even say anything to me. Thank you, Jesus!!!

Baby sitting Ashley and my niece Jane. :P 

Now I'm home. I can't tell you how good it is to be home. I live near my family. I get to laugh with my friends. I get to spend time with Rich. Every day. I am blessed. There is no way around it. I could choose to worry about the future or money, or focus on the many things God has given me. I choose the latter. Lord, help me choose that every day.

Fun at Kristen and Ian's wedding!

Can I admit to you that it's been hard to adjust? I'm one of those people that thinks they can just do everything. The problem is that I really can do a lot of things. But, learning to live in the US again after 2 years abroad is hard. Harder than I expected. Definitely harder than I wanted it to be. I have freak out moments. I keep them to myself for the most part, but houses with no walls around them, no bars on the windows, no dogs chained up outside. They're not safe right? I can't leave my computer on a table while I refill my drink, can I? Can I leave my car unlocked in a parking lot? Money has also been an issue for me. I worry. I'm currently working full time, but this job ends mid-August. Who am I kidding? Can I actually support myself ? Do I know how to handle money responsibly? I hope so. I start paying rent and car insurance RIGHT NOW! 

Picnic dinner on the Ledge with Rich. (: 

This is my 2nd week of my summer job. I'm working as the head lifeguard at a Boy and Girls Club camp. It's on a lake and it's sunny and breezy most days. It's pretty great. I work with 4 other lifeguards and there are about 10 counselors and a few other support staff. It's a day camp and between lessons and free swim the kids spend a good amount of time in the water each day. It seems that many of the same kids will be there each week. That's what I see as the best and hardest thing. It's great because I can build relationships with the kids (I eat lunch with them in addition to seeing them at the lake.) It's hard because it means I and the other lifeguards will see them all summer in the same classes. Some of them will move up. ALL of them will improve. Some of them might get bored. I've been enjoying my two classes thus far. It is certainly a relief to pass them back to their counselors after 45 mins. It's an ever bigger relief to send them home when we get off the bus at 5 pm. Does that make me a bad person? I hope not.

Those might be my only thoughts right now. This scripture has been a huge encouragement to me. Don't ignore it because you've known it your whole life. Mediate on it and let it change your day, or even your life.

"This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it" ~Psalm 118:24