Time flies.

I had my first official week back after the 2-weeks the schools had off for Easter/spring break, and I will tell you one thing, it is GOOD to be back into the normal schedule I've had! It was difficult for me to sit around from Wednesday-Saturday for two weeks straight. I enjoy having busy weeks, not only because it makes time go by quicker, but I can't just sit and do nothing. That's one thing I've found out about myself while being here. I'm the type of person who has to be busy all the time. I have to be doing something. It's hard to believe that April is almost over and May will soon be here (this Thursday)!

Melanie and I will be leaving for Barcelona, Spain on April 30th and will be returning May 4th. We wanted to have a little vacation away from the clouds and coldness for a few days. We both wanted to visit Spain and it's a warm place too, which is exactly what we were looking for... and a relaxing time. We'll be taking one last trip May 14th through May 19th to Rome, Italy. We were told we'd be dumb if we didn't take a trip to Rome while being over here because flights are so cheap, so we're definitely taking advantage of that. We'll be back for a few days and then Melanie's mom and brother arrive on May 31st and will be staying for about a week. Once they leave, Jarad (my best friend) will be here on a mission trip for the middle two weeks of June, which I'm really excited about because I haven't seen him in two years! Way too long to not see him! Then, the final week in June, which is the very last week I will be here, my best friend in high school (Kayla) will be coming on the 24th and flying back home with me on July 1st, which is really exciting and good for me to have someone with me when I have to leave the people here behind. I think May and June are really going to fly by since there are so many things going on between now and then. If time is already flying, it really will with more scheduled things!

I haven't been this excited about coming back to Texas, coming back home, in a while. I'm so ready to see my family it's unreal! In the 12 months I'll have been gone, I've been seen them for 3 weeks (last week in August to the third week in September). And, as the family person I am, it has been incredibly hard to be away from them, but in all this time, I know and feel like I have grown closer to my family even though I'm an ocean away. I'm really excited about going home and seeing everyone again! It's been far too long! I'm looking forward to my homecoming!! I miss my family so much!!

My experience here has been nothing but a good experience for me. I've had some really good times and some really horrible times where I didn't think I'd be able to make it through, but I did and was strengthened through that. I've learned that living in the same town as my family isn't near as bad as I thought it was. I mean, I'm moving back to Canadian. It's seriously where I want to be. I'm too much of a family person to not be really near to them. I've realized that I really despise cold weather. I mean, I already knew I did, but this cold weather from the minute I stepped off the plane until now is just a bit ridiculous. I've seen nothing but dead plants for the past 7 months and FINALLY things are starting to green up and it's the end of April! haha.

I've become more independent than I ever thought I could be. I've learned that I absolutely love children and want to work in the school system. I used to think I didn't make a difference in people's lives, but have realized that I have and I do make a difference. I've never fully relied on God more than I have while being here. I've made drastic changes in my lifestyle. I've learned that I don't want to get married until I'm over 35-years-old, or if I do, the guy I'm marrying will be moving to where I am because I'm not leaving my family again until my little brother, Landon, graduates from high school (hehe). I'm serious. :) I've learned that I really enjoy having alone time and have picked up a new hobby: reading, which is something I NEVER did before coming here. I realized that there were a lot of things back home in Texas that I took for granted.

Like I said earlier, things here are going so well and so quickly! I remember it being December and thinking, "July is NEVER going to get here." And, it's almost here. Just around the corner! I'm so ready to be home!!


Until next time, love to you all...

Easter Sunday

These are just a few pictures of the Scotland team on Easter Sunday. We haven't taken a picture together as a team since the first day I got here, so, it was definitely time to update and take a team photo. I thought I'd share them with you; they turned out great!

February & March Newsletter

JUST AN UPDATE.
I decided to combine my last four months into two different newsletters instead of four separate newsletters. February and March will be together; April and May will be together in the next newsletter. Things have remained pretty constant in the work I am doing here.

I was off for about a day or two on the ShopMobility bus due to all the snow we had gotten at the beginning of February. Once we thought the snow was over and done with, here it came! It snowed for two-three days in a row and finally stopped. I haven’t seen any snow fall since. I’m still thoroughly enjoying my time in Kirktonholme Primary School as an aide to one of the primary one (Kindergarten) teachers. She has been such a joy to work with and I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher to work with. The kids are absolutely brilliant. At times, they make me want to pull my hair out, but what five-year-old doesn’t from time to time?

One of the ladies that we serve at the lunch club hasn’t been to the club for the past two months. She was in the hospital for a good while due to an illness she had and is now back home, but hasn’t returned to the lunch club. One of the men who was coming regularly just passed away in the month of March. It’s sad to see them go, especially since I’ve gotten to know them pretty well. Another one of the men was put into the hospital to have some sort of important surgery. I haven’t heard all the details yet, but we were told he’d be okay. We’re down to only two people now.

In the month of February, Melanie, Zach, and I are friends with a lovely lady on the ShopMobility bus. Her name is Nancy. She invited the three of us to her home one Saturday and informed us that we were the first people she’s ever invited into her home and she’s lived there for forty-three years!! It was an honor to have been the first and only visitors she’s ever had (excluding her family). We had tea, lots of snacks, and watched Mamma Mia and The Jazz Singer with her. We had a great time, a good laugh, and wonderful conversation time with her. It was a great chance to get to know her better.



For Valentine’s Day, Justin and Zach decided to make us dinner. It was a really great time to be together as a team. We had scrambled eggs, homemade biscuits with butter and honey (which was something we made ourselves completely miserable with), bacon, sausage, and fried potatoes. It was really the best Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had, but then again, I haven’t been a part of very many, just twenty-three of them.

LIPSCOMB GROUP
During the month of March, we had a group come over from the States. They came from Lipscomb University which is in Nashville, Tennessee. They arrived on the 14th of March and stayed in East Kilbride until the 21st of March, which was the day they left for Nashville.



Melanie and I housed one of the girls in the group. Her name was Amy and she was such a joy to have around! We definitely enjoyed our time with them. Starting that Monday, we all got into a bus and drove into Glasgow where we went to the Govanhill Woman’s Project to garden, plant hanging baskets, jet wash the tiles, and paint the fence. It was the most dreadful day of the week as well! It was raining, cold, cloudy, and windy all day long. We were freezing, but we were able to meet several of the women who lived in the building and see how they lived. The women there are those who are addicted to drugs and trying to quit. It’s a really great facility and Christian-based. One of the women who attends the West Mains Church of Christ works there.

On Tuesday, we worked at the Community Hall where we attend church. The hall was in desperate need of a paint job, so we were there all day painting. It took about four to five coats of paint to cover up the horrible paint that was painted on the walls. I don’t think anyone knew to prime it first!



On Wednesday, we went to a primary school that Justin and Melanie volunteer at (Greenburn Primary School). There, we planted big pots with all sorts of flower bulbs, cleaned a couple rooms inside the building, cleaned up the trees and bushes (trimming, etc.), oiled and cleaned the bicycles that the kids play on, and basically did anything the head master wanted us to do! It was a great day to work outside! Sunshine, no wind, and hardly any wind.

On Thursday, we headed into ShopMobility to mop the floor where the scooters, power chairs, and wheel chairs had left marks on the floor. We also cleaned every single scooter, power chair, and wheel chair that was sitting in the room as well as scrubbed the walls where there were black marks from the wheels of the chairs.



On Friday, it was our day “away” and to take the group somewhere in Scotland to do some sight-seeing. It was definitely some sight-seeing for myself as well. We went to a couple of towns I had never been to and I really enjoyed being able to see more of the country-side of Scotland and not the city. It was nice to be able to get away.

BIRTHDAY IN PARIS
Our coordinator has given us three-weeks holiday to take whenever we please after the month of January. I had the great idea to go to Paris for my birthday for about four days. Thankfully, I had saved enough money before joining the AIM program knowing there would be a moment like this to travel! I was truly blessed to be able to spend my twenty-fourth birthday in Paris, France. Never in a million years would I have though I would ever be given that opportunity. Luckily, getting to places in Europe is quite cheap, much cheaper than it would be to fly from the States, so I took advantage of it knowing that I’ll never get this opportunity again. I was able to see the Eiffel Tower (and touch it!), Notre Dame Cathedral, Saint-Sulpice Church, St. Germaine Church, the Louvre, we went into Versailles, and many other things I was able to come across just by walking through the city. Melanie and I arrived on the 23rd of March and left the 26th of March.



It was very intimidating when we stepped off the bus (that took us from the airport into Paris) and walked down into the metro station (train station) and asked how to get to a certain place and they didn’t speak English. I knew then and there it was going to be a difficult trip, but luckily, we found our way around and to our surprise, many people spoke English, which made it easier for us. We did try to use some of the language, but didn’t know much, we figured it’s better to try than not to!

We came across a little restaurant where we ate dinner for my birthday. It was called, Indiana. It was a Tex-Mex restaurant that had the BEST chicken and cheese quesadillas with chips and salsa! Alright, so maybe not the best, but the best in Europe! It’s hard to find a really good Tex-Mex or even Mexican restaurant around here, and we had to go to Paris to find one.

NOT MUCH TIME LEFT. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!
As you all know, my time here is coming to an end. At the beginning of April, I had twelve weeks left. It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve been here for as long as I have and that it’s already time to go back. I’ve had several days where it makes me sick to think that I have to leave, but I’m very excited at the same time to be back and to see all of you.
I have had some wonderful times and some horrible times while being here. I am so thankful that you have been a part of my journey here in Scotland. You all are constantly in my thoughts and I miss you all everyday. I’m looking forward to seeing all of you soon (so strange to say, but good)! Thanks for helping me make a difference in East Kilbride!


Prayer requests:
* Our families

* Our team and the work being done in East Kilbride

* AIMers preparing to leave the field in July

* West Mains Church of Christ

* 2007-2010 AIMers on the field:
-New Zealand
-Mexico (3 teams)
-Honduras
-South Africa
-Grass Valley, California
-Childress, Texas

Writing soon...

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to let all of you know that I made it safely back from Paris. I'll be writing my newsletter soon and will be updating you all on my trip, as well. I hope you've had a wonderful week so far! Take care and know that God is blessing you each and every day... just think... you woke up this morning. That's a blessing in itself. :) Enjoy your day today! I'll be writing soon.


Until next time, love to you all...

Just a bit of randomness... really. Just a bit. :)

So, it has definitely been a while since I've posted anything on here. I didn't realize my last post was February 14! I realized today that my birthday was coming up pretty soon... it's Tuesday, March 24. And, I'll be turning 24. For those of you who don't know what that means (to be turning 24 on the 24th), it's a GOLDEN BIRTHDAY. Your golden birthday is just the age you're turning and the day... like, if you were turning 28 on the 28th of some month, that'd be your golden birthday. Alright, so anyways, I'll be spending my birthday in Paris, France with my good pal, roommate, and teammate, Melanie. We planned this trip and booked the flight sometime in January and I honestly thought it wouldn't have come this quickly, but it has and I can't believe it's already here!

So, for the past 4-5 days, we've had some people from Tennessee (Lipscomb University) and they've been putting on a campaign (it's just a type of mission retreat thing). They're here until Saturday (21st). We've had the pleasure of housing one of the girls, Amy. It's been a blast being with this group of girls and couple of guys. Today, I had the strangest feeling... we were outside of a primary school cleaning up some branches and leaves. I heard sirens in the background, American accents, and for a moment, I felt like I was in America. I had a sadness come over me that I had never felt before.

It made me realize I only have 13 weeks left in Scotland. It made me realize that I almost didn't want to hear the American accent for much longer than that. It made me realize that I had absolutely fallen in love with Scotland, the people, the work, and the atmosphere that comes along with it. No, not the weather. Just the vibe you get from everyday living. I can't exactly explain it, but you'd know if you've ever lived in a different country and being around "your people" and realizing your time is coming to an end. Anyways, so, I got really sad and it made me feel all sorts of weird things, like... not wanting to go home just yet, but at the same time still wanting to. It's just so hard to explain the feeling I had to those who haven't been in my shoes... to those who have been here where I've been... then you know exactly what I mean.

The past week has been awesome. However, I think I've gained back some pounds from eating so much junk that I haven't eaten since December! haha... I guess that's what happens when you're never home, eating whatever the people put in front of you, and just not eating healthy at all. I'll be glad once I get back from Paris to get back into the swing of things. I can definitely tell a difference in the way I feel. I'm a lot more sluggish, tired, and always wanting to sleep... as opposed to when I ate healthy, I was ready for the day, chipper, bouncy, and wide awake. So, I'm ready to get back into that groove. The sweets, loads of carbs, and unhealthiness of this week has really had it's toll on me and I'm ready for the healthiness to be back. haha...

Another crazy thing, my sister is actually old enough to try out for high school cheerleader. So, try outs were last week and I call her up the following day to see if we're supposed to be sad or if we're happy and turns out, we're happy and she ended up making the cheerleading squad. Way cool and I'm really excited for her. Except... she should really stop copying my life. :P It's crazy how much our lives are alike, especially when I was in high school and now her... things are the same with the two of us. Pretty cool though! I love it. :)

Well, I have no other random thoughts running through my head... I hope you weren't looking for something inspiring or something like that, because this is nothing of the sort. :) Just an update on my life and what I'm thinking/feeling. I'll be updating this soon with my February & March newsletter. I'm putting two together because I felt like each month was redundant. I kept saying the same exact things and I didn't want you to have to go through the annoyance of reading the same things as I would be in annoyance writing it all over again to you. hehe

Enjoy the rest of the week, as I will, and have a blessed weekend! I'll be writing again soon about my trip to Paris and how it was to turn 24 years old there in France. :)


Until next time, love to you all...

One year ago...

One year ago, today, I was on a 30+ hour bus ride heading back to Lubbock from Mexico City. I was probably sleeping due to taking sleeping pills in order to be well-rested enough to leave the next day around 4:30 am for Winterfest in Tennessee. I was in a relationship. I was living in Lubbock, Texas in an apartment with Sasha Chalco. I was on a team headed to South Africa. I found it incredibly hard to allow myself to trust in others, to open up, to become vulnerable, and to love.

I never would’ve thought I’d be where I am today… Not on a bus. Not going to Tennessee. Not sleeping because of sleeping pills. Not in a relationship. Not living in Lubbock or with Sasha. Not on the South Africa team (but did live there for about three months).

But, TODAY, I am better. I am stronger. I am wiser. I do live in East Kilbride, Scotland in a flat with Melanie Huggins, my first AIM roommate. I am on the Scotland team, instead. I firmly believe that things happen for a reason. I am fully dependent on God. I know that God has a plan for everything. I absolutely adore and love my family (living overseas has strengthened that; I miss them terribly!). I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing, exactly where I was meant to be, and looking forward to all the great things in the next four and a half months I have left here in Scotland. I love without fear of getting hurt. I open up and become vulnerable to people so they will open up and become vulnerable in return. I trust more each day. I have a new outlook on life and my purpose. Seems to me, that I’ve grown in ways I never thought possible. God has brought some amazing people into my life that have shown me that it’s okay to love, to trust, to open up and be vulnerable. I’ve learned a lot and I am so thankful for everything.

Over the past year, I’ve really struggled and have been through so many things I never thought I’d ever have to go through. I’ve been hurt in ways I never wanted to hurt again. I opened myself up and made myself vulnerable to someone I loved, only to be shut down in the end. I had an experience (let’s say, several experiences) in South Africa that has forever changed my life. My mind has had millions of thoughts go through it that led to stressful and worrisome days and nights. I’ve been pulled in hundreds of different ways on what to do, say, think, or feel.

BUT

The past is the past. The future isn’t here. The present is here. I’m thankful for the bad things that happened over the past year. I’m thankful for all the good things that have happened. I really am blessed by God. How many times do I overlook the GOOD things that happen? And, why is it that it’s easier to remember the bad things over the good? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? I wish it was that way, but I guess as human beings, we remember the bad better than the good. When I think of the song, “Count your blessings,” I wonder to myself… how many times in a day do I really sit down and count my blessings? Hmm… not very many, if any at all! Shame on me.

Blessings are all around me. I have a roof over my head, a bed, a radiator that works, blankets, air to breathe, a locked door, another day to be alive, legs to walk, hands to write and type and hold hands with other people, eyes to see, ears to hear, a nose to smell, a mouth, teeth, and tongue to eat with, I’m healthy, clothing, shoes, financially stable, a supportive family, wonderful friends, the trees, the flowers that are planted along the path that I’m able to smell when spring rolls around, snow to look at out my windows, sunshine, the stars, I’m safe… I could keep going on with all the blessings and good things in my life! So, the good outweighs the bad all the time. Because, God is good ALL THE TIME.



Until next time, love to you all…

Footprints in the sand

This is a song I happened to come across while searching for new music to buy on iTunes. Great lyrics, great song, and so true about our loving Savior. Enjoy.



By: Leona Lewis


You walked with me
Footprints in the sand
And helped me understand
Where I’m going
You walked with me
When I was all alone
With so much I no along the way
Then I heard you say

I promise you
I’m always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
I’ll carry you
When you need a friend
You’ll find my footprints in the sand

I see my life
Flash across the sky
So many times have I
Been so afraid ooh
And just when I
Have thought I’ve lost my way

You give me strength to carry on
That’s when I heard you say

I promise you
I’m always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
I’ll carry you
When you need a friend
You’ll find my footprints in the sand

When I’m weary
Well I no you’ll be there
And I can feel you
When you say

I promise you
I’m always there
When your heart is full of sadness and despair
I’ll carry you
When you need a friend
You’ll find my footprints in the sand