Life has been so incredibly hectic since school started 3 1/2 weeks ago! The stress that i have allowed to come upon me is INSANE... i have no idea how i'm going to handle it all year.
Well, last night i went to the fair with Shelbi to walk around then see the TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT. Let me tell you. Gloriana opened first, but we didnt know who they were, so we just left to go potty and grab a delicious elephant ear. We came back to our seats (which were in the center aisle on the main floor, kind of far back. but GREAT seats) and sat down to watch Kellie Pickler. She completely rocked the house and Shelbi and i were screaming her lyrics out like none other.
Then, oh my freaking gosh, Taylor Swift came out. I'll have to post pictures later, but it was the best performance ever seen. She had 9 outfits, acted out a large portion of her songs, and the set was incredible! From glamour, to throwing chairs, to hot boyz, to confetti, banging drums, a piano she played, about 4 acoustics, OH MY GOSH. she was completely awesome. shelbi and i stood for most of the concert and belted our little hearts out! i took 30 videos and about 190 pictures. every penny was well spent.
if any of you actually read this blog, you have to see taylor live. i'll probably go again next year... WOW.
i promise, i'll finish posting my dominican stories soon. maybe. :]
P.S. OH YEAH! i saw 3 movies last week: "my sister's keeper", "the time traveler's wife", and "julie and julia". they were all pretty good, but "julie and julia" was incredible. a little long, but definintely worth the absurd $9.50.
8.31.2009
8.07.2009
With Malice Toward None - Favorite Quotes
Sorry I have yet to finish posting my Dominican journal entries, but before I do that, I want to share with you some of my favorite quotes from the book I just finished reading - "With Malice Toward None - a Life of Abraham Lincoln"
"
-The legitimate object of government is 'to do for the people what needs to be don, but which they can not, by individual effort, do at all, or do so well, for themselves.'
- ... a drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.
- He always told only enough of his plans and purposes to induce the belief that he had communicated all, yet he reserved enough to have communicated nothing.
- This is a world of compensations; and he who would be no slave, must consent to have no slave. Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.
- You speak of Lincoln's stories. I don't think that is a correct phrase. I don't make the stories mine by telling them. I am only a retail dealer. Some of the stories are not so nice as they might be, but I tell you the truth when I say that a funny story, if it has the element of genuine wit, has the same effect on me that I suppose a good square drink of whiskey has on an old toper; it puts new life into me.
-I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.
- As always, he pardoned convicted deserters on any reasonable pretext. 'There are already too many weeping widows in the United States. For God's sake do not ask me to add to the number.'
"
"
-The legitimate object of government is 'to do for the people what needs to be don, but which they can not, by individual effort, do at all, or do so well, for themselves.'
- ... a drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.
- He always told only enough of his plans and purposes to induce the belief that he had communicated all, yet he reserved enough to have communicated nothing.
- This is a world of compensations; and he who would be no slave, must consent to have no slave. Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.
- You speak of Lincoln's stories. I don't think that is a correct phrase. I don't make the stories mine by telling them. I am only a retail dealer. Some of the stories are not so nice as they might be, but I tell you the truth when I say that a funny story, if it has the element of genuine wit, has the same effect on me that I suppose a good square drink of whiskey has on an old toper; it puts new life into me.
-I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.
- As always, he pardoned convicted deserters on any reasonable pretext. 'There are already too many weeping widows in the United States. For God's sake do not ask me to add to the number.'
"
8.05.2009
DR - Day 5
July 26, 2009
We got to sleep in until 8:30 today!
We got to sleep in until 8:30 today!
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This morning we went to a Spanish church. When we arrived, it was hot, and they sang like 5 Spanish songs. It would have been fine if not so hot! Then we unknowingly were called to the stage to sing "From the Inside Out". Midway through, we started a Spanish/English harmony and it was so so awesome and breath-taking. Then we sat down and listened to a 45 minute sermon on addictions. Good sermon, but nothing I hadn't heard before, and it was pretty dull. One line : "That was the day I hit my bottom."
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Lunch. FLAG FOOTBALL. I wasn't planning on playing b/c of heat, lack of inhaler, and exhaustion, but with quick spurts and a breeze, I played the whole time. Of course, I give Bailey a concussion when her head hit mine as she grabbed for my flag. She's now at the Dominican hospital... Pray!
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Bailey's OK. YAY!
OK so we just had the best part of the trip. We went to church down in the hole. The kids were attached immediately, and as you can see, on drew on the next page (of my journal. not shown here) ☺. I love the kids and their joy. The cute little boys mimicking the drums stole my heart. WOW God ROCKS!
We came home, ate an OK dinner, and spent 2 hours telling stories, worshipping, and thanking God. He's incredible.
OK so we just had the best part of the trip. We went to church down in the hole. The kids were attached immediately, and as you can see, on drew on the next page (of my journal. not shown here) ☺. I love the kids and their joy. The cute little boys mimicking the drums stole my heart. WOW God ROCKS!
We came home, ate an OK dinner, and spent 2 hours telling stories, worshipping, and thanking God. He's incredible.
DR - Day 4
July 25, 2009
This morning has been incredible. First, we went and toured the school. It had 477 students last year. We saw where the laptops we brought down would go. They explained the schedule, history, plans, and financial aspects. It was extremely interesting (and TOASTY).
We're now leaving the "hole" where we toured and did VBS. This place was utterly disgusting. Pigs were in the river, trash 30 feet or more high, shacks for houses, adorable kids I fell in love with.
We began VBS with songs (Jesus Loves the Little Children, The B-I-B-L-I-A, Happy Day, and C-R-I-S-T-O). Then, with the assistance of a translator, read the prodigal son and from 1 John. After that was crafts, and we made foamy decorative memory verses. The kids were so happy, and I was sad to leave.
This morning has been incredible. First, we went and toured the school. It had 477 students last year. We saw where the laptops we brought down would go. They explained the schedule, history, plans, and financial aspects. It was extremely interesting (and TOASTY).
We're now leaving the "hole" where we toured and did VBS. This place was utterly disgusting. Pigs were in the river, trash 30 feet or more high, shacks for houses, adorable kids I fell in love with.
We began VBS with songs (Jesus Loves the Little Children, The B-I-B-L-I-A, Happy Day, and C-R-I-S-T-O). Then, with the assistance of a translator, read the prodigal son and from 1 John. After that was crafts, and we made foamy decorative memory verses. The kids were so happy, and I was sad to leave.
--------------------------------------------
We ate lunch, then headed to a little church somewhere. While waiting for kids to get there, a guy told us how Dominicans and Haitians don't get along, but inside that church they do! I thought it was neat...
Anyways, we began VBS again, and it went better than try #1. Drive home. Shower. Head to Felix's house.
At Felix's house we had the best time yet! We ate yummy pork, held a cat, and Shelbi, Mrs. Draper, and I had a hootin' good laugh.
...
After a few hours there, we came back for an awesome worship session. We shared "changing" stories, funny stories, and others. I came downstairs and talked with Shelbi. She gave me awesome advice for things of life :)
I love my best friend.
I still don't know why I'm here.
Anyways, we began VBS again, and it went better than try #1. Drive home. Shower. Head to Felix's house.
At Felix's house we had the best time yet! We ate yummy pork, held a cat, and Shelbi, Mrs. Draper, and I had a hootin' good laugh.
...
After a few hours there, we came back for an awesome worship session. We shared "changing" stories, funny stories, and others. I came downstairs and talked with Shelbi. She gave me awesome advice for things of life :)
I love my best friend.
I still don't know why I'm here.
--------------------------------------------
Ooh I forgot to tell something funny! Today at the feeding center there was this boy just mad at the world. He wouldn't eat his food, and I wanted to find out why. The girls around him were trying to explain it to me through hand motions. So. I squished his banana. That's not what he wanted. The end.
DR - Day 3
July 24, 2009
I woke up a tad sore this morning (6:30!). We ate a delicious breakfast of eggs & bacon then headed to the work site. For some reason I was really excited and ready to dig. I did work really hard and was a BEAST if I do say so myself...
Now I'm resting after lunch. Woo-boy I'm hurting!
I woke up a tad sore this morning (6:30!). We ate a delicious breakfast of eggs & bacon then headed to the work site. For some reason I was really excited and ready to dig. I did work really hard and was a BEAST if I do say so myself...
Now I'm resting after lunch. Woo-boy I'm hurting!
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Second session of digging? No likey so much. It was HOT and I barely got anything accomplished. Agh. Oh well.
I took a nice shower and now I'm waiting for dinner then BOWLING.
Note:
I'm having a much better time. I'm so glad God has blessed me with a better attitude. I often think about Juli and Bobby and if they safely got to Cuba. I miss her a whole bunch! Can't wait to talk to her ASAP and see her in less than 9 days... ♥
I took a nice shower and now I'm waiting for dinner then BOWLING.
Note:
I'm having a much better time. I'm so glad God has blessed me with a better attitude. I often think about Juli and Bobby and if they safely got to Cuba. I miss her a whole bunch! Can't wait to talk to her ASAP and see her in less than 9 days... ♥
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I just love nights here. We always do something fun! Tonight we headed off to bowling after dinner! It was so fun... pictures, bowling, cheap dt. coke, laughs. I'm finally glad I'm here ☺.
The lanes were NICE! Soon after we began game #1, the lights dimmed down and we glow-bowled. Steph and I had a blast taking pics, and I just loved hanging around new friends!
Then the girls played a fun game not to be revealed... ;)
Anyways, here's some random things about the trip:
-Throw toilet paper in trash, not toilet.
- Wear bug spray EVERYWHERE.
- Crazy driving.
- Loud people in streets.
The lanes were NICE! Soon after we began game #1, the lights dimmed down and we glow-bowled. Steph and I had a blast taking pics, and I just loved hanging around new friends!
Then the girls played a fun game not to be revealed... ;)
Anyways, here's some random things about the trip:
-Throw toilet paper in trash, not toilet.
- Wear bug spray EVERYWHERE.
- Crazy driving.
- Loud people in streets.
DR - Day 2
July 23rd, 2009
I really don't know why I'm here yet. Will I make any sort of difference on this team? In my life? In this beautiful country?
I'm still not sure why I'm here. All I really want to do is A) Go somewhere air-conditioned B) Sit down and have a full-out conversation in Spanish or C) Go home and see family/Juli and Bobby off to Cuba. It's weird how much I miss home. I just wish I had some sort of communication with them.
As for now, I am cleanly sweaty, waiting for dinner, and anticipating our trip to the grocery store... ♥
I really don't know why I'm here yet. Will I make any sort of difference on this team? In my life? In this beautiful country?
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I have narrowed my occupation desires. I will NOT be a hole digger. We just spent about 6 hours digging the foundation for a church, "Cuerpo de Christo". Let's just say I probably won't be able to move tomorrow when we head off to the construction site again...I'm still not sure why I'm here. All I really want to do is A) Go somewhere air-conditioned B) Sit down and have a full-out conversation in Spanish or C) Go home and see family/Juli and Bobby off to Cuba. It's weird how much I miss home. I just wish I had some sort of communication with them.
As for now, I am cleanly sweaty, waiting for dinner, and anticipating our trip to the grocery store... ♥
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I find it rather funny I put a heart at the end of the last entry... the grocery was a total blast. I bought some stuff for Dad, Juli, Alex, and Bobby. While Shelbs and I were going down the cart-escalator (SO cool!), these 2 guys started talking to us in Spanish, then English. Umm... HOTT!
We got to the bottom, and one of them asked me to stroll with him through the store. I awkwardly declined, but he insisted on following me and Shelbi along with his friend b/c they were "walking in the same direction". We soon lost them in our laughing haste. ☺
Later, we all headed up to the food court where Shelbi and I split an ice cream for 100 pesos (35 pesos=1 dollar). Then we proceeded to check out (this one guy told me, Stephanie, and Angela we had "bonito ojos". Sigh. I could get used to this country!
When we got home we were all dog tired. When pushing down the DEET wipes Angela had used I got my finger stuck. Probably of of the worst pains I've ever experienced! It turned white then purple as Beth tried bending the prongs back to free the finger. Tab went to get scissors, but when she finally arrived with them, I had already started bending the 3rd prong. I was finally free. Good night...
We got to the bottom, and one of them asked me to stroll with him through the store. I awkwardly declined, but he insisted on following me and Shelbi along with his friend b/c they were "walking in the same direction". We soon lost them in our laughing haste. ☺
Later, we all headed up to the food court where Shelbi and I split an ice cream for 100 pesos (35 pesos=1 dollar). Then we proceeded to check out (this one guy told me, Stephanie, and Angela we had "bonito ojos". Sigh. I could get used to this country!
When we got home we were all dog tired. When pushing down the DEET wipes Angela had used I got my finger stuck. Probably of of the worst pains I've ever experienced! It turned white then purple as Beth tried bending the prongs back to free the finger. Tab went to get scissors, but when she finally arrived with them, I had already started bending the 3rd prong. I was finally free. Good night...
Journal Entries from the Dominican - Day 1
Hey, followers! Here is pretty much my entire collection of journal entries from when I was down in the Dominican. Enjoy...
July 22, 2009
So we were supposed to arrive in Santiago, DR yesterday at 8:30 PM. It is now 2 PM the next day and we're finally on our way there. Here's the story:
Yesterday my whole family woke up at 3:45 AM to take me to the Louisville airport. We easily checked in, said prayers/goodbyes, and took off. We arrived safely in Chicago around 6:30 and snuggled in to wait out our 6 1/2 hour layover. A few hours later a few of us decided to start "ghosting" people. It's where you follow someone extremely closely until they notice or it gets boring. I was so nervous the first time, but soon found I was pretty good at it! We had a blast.
We then proceeded to wait the remainder of the time.
Then our flight got delayed from 12:35 to 2:45. We wouldn't be able to catch our flight from Miami to Santiago! Great...
After boarding the plane and waiting 1 1/2 hours (9 1/2 after arriving at O'Hare), we finally took off for Miami. We arrived safely around 8:30 PM and then waited about another hour while the flight situation was figured out. Ate dinner and headed to the nice Holiday Inn booked for us. Oh, btw we didn't have our luggage, and we was STANKY!
Woke up around 10:15 AM after a wonderful night's rest. One group of 8 left for Santiago at 11. My group of 16 left the hotel to catch our 1:10 flight to Puerto Plata, where we would catch a bus to Santiago.
Well, when we get to the airport, they tell us our flight is overbooked. Matt, being the superhero he is, proceeded for the next 2 hours to squeeze us onto the plane. Guess where a few of us got to sit? First class, baby! Warm towels, plush seats, steak, beans, rice, salad, and cheesy bread for lunch.
We finally got the GO house, and we settled in. Later, we headed up to dinner. We ate rice with ham stuff, fried bananas (gross), incredible fruit, and some bread. After a few minutes of chilling we all walked down the street for ice cream...
July 22, 2009
So we were supposed to arrive in Santiago, DR yesterday at 8:30 PM. It is now 2 PM the next day and we're finally on our way there. Here's the story:
Yesterday my whole family woke up at 3:45 AM to take me to the Louisville airport. We easily checked in, said prayers/goodbyes, and took off. We arrived safely in Chicago around 6:30 and snuggled in to wait out our 6 1/2 hour layover. A few hours later a few of us decided to start "ghosting" people. It's where you follow someone extremely closely until they notice or it gets boring. I was so nervous the first time, but soon found I was pretty good at it! We had a blast.
We then proceeded to wait the remainder of the time.
Then our flight got delayed from 12:35 to 2:45. We wouldn't be able to catch our flight from Miami to Santiago! Great...
After boarding the plane and waiting 1 1/2 hours (9 1/2 after arriving at O'Hare), we finally took off for Miami. We arrived safely around 8:30 PM and then waited about another hour while the flight situation was figured out. Ate dinner and headed to the nice Holiday Inn booked for us. Oh, btw we didn't have our luggage, and we was STANKY!
Woke up around 10:15 AM after a wonderful night's rest. One group of 8 left for Santiago at 11. My group of 16 left the hotel to catch our 1:10 flight to Puerto Plata, where we would catch a bus to Santiago.
Well, when we get to the airport, they tell us our flight is overbooked. Matt, being the superhero he is, proceeded for the next 2 hours to squeeze us onto the plane. Guess where a few of us got to sit? First class, baby! Warm towels, plush seats, steak, beans, rice, salad, and cheesy bread for lunch.
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We safely got to Puerto Plata. YAY! We filled out some stuff, went through security, and got on our nice, air-conditioned bus (Southeast Express). As we drove through the DR, we saw so much beauty and poverty. The guys of the DR loved seeing pretty American girls, so the smiled, blew kisses, and cleaned our windows. It was entertaining. ☺We finally got the GO house, and we settled in. Later, we headed up to dinner. We ate rice with ham stuff, fried bananas (gross), incredible fruit, and some bread. After a few minutes of chilling we all walked down the street for ice cream...
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After that we had a meeting where one of the staff ladies went over rules. They fed us fruit, chips, and salsa, and I volunteered to do dishes along with Emily S. and Ashley. Then we shared stories, went over scheduling, sang a few worship songs, and headed to bed amidst the noise of the streets.
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