coffee cupdate

If we were to sit down for a cup of coffee I'd have a lot to tell you.

First, we might be sad about the fact that this could be my last Tuesday in America as I am scheduled to return to Germany next Monday. You might ask me where my support stands and I would share with you that I have hit 70%, which means I still need about $600 in monthly support before being cleared to fly.

I'd tell how excited I am to be returning to Germany soon, but that I'm also kind of bummed to leave. I'd confess that this summer has been pretty lonely in terms of friendships, and that even though I've gotten to spend a good chunk of time with my mom nursing her back to health after her foot surgery, I've not spent hardly any time with people my own age. I'd tell you how suddenly, people have been coming out of the woodwork wanting to see me before I leave and now I'm stressed out because I want to see them all but I have no time left.

I'd tell you how awesomely supportive my grandma is. I might show you a bag full of school supplies like Post-Its, gluesticks, etc. that she collected for me to take back to Germany, and then laugh as I tell you that she called me today from Target excited about even more things she'd found for me to take back!

What would you tell me?

hello monday

Hello Monday. You're not so scary in the summertime, when I don't actually have to go to work. But, you are scary when I think that in only two more Mondays I am supposed to leave again for Germany but I still don't have enough monthly supporters enabling to go. Would you help me get back to BFA by becoming a monthly supporter?

Hello SweetFrog. I will be seeing you again tonight and you will be delicious.

Hello new necklaces! I am so thankful for a "boom" in jewelry sales over the past few weeks and am excited to now be offering my handmade signature pieces in lovely new colors. Check out my shop this week because new items will be added everyday! And watch my Facebook page for a special Christmas in July sale taking place on the 25th!!

Hello family. It has been so wonderful to spend quality time with my extended family while in America, especially while playing Ticket to Ride.

thankful thursday

This week I'm thankful for:

• Cooler weather
• A great time with my grandparents and cousin from Lorain
• SweetFrog frozen yogurt
• Friendship
• Fierce Strawberry Gatorade
• Having made enough jewelry sales to cover my trip to Indiana this weekend
• The chance to catch up with all my Greencastle friends this weekend
• The chance to see an old friend and college roommate this weekend

How 'bout you?

package #2

Today when I woke up, this was waiting for me.

I know it's blurry, but I was excited, and I'd only been awake 5 minutes.

I squealed with delight, as I've been anticipating this package's arrival for the last three weeks.

Merry Christmas to me!

Inside were many lovelies, including two new movies, lots of coffee creamer, cookie scoops, and baking goodies (red hots and special sprinkles). YAY! Thanks to Mom and Dad, Dave, and Grandma and Grandpa Forrider for their contribution to my box-o-love.

oooOOOooo

package #1

The first of three Christmas packages finally arrived this morning! It was a Christmas card and dice game called Don't You Forget It. The game sounds pretty similar to Farkle but with a few twists. The best part of this package is that I already had an idea of what it was before it arrived. On Christmas Eve I was Skyping with my grandparents and Grandma asked, "Are you playing your new game?" I tried to figure out how in the world Grandma knew that my friends Amanda and Carrie had given me a game for Christmas.

"What game?" I asked.

"The game I sent you! You did get your package, right?"

We both had a good laugh when I told Grandma that I had in fact NOT received her package yet!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

frohe weihnachten

Today I had a wonderful time with my friends Amanda and Carrie, who are visiting me this week from Vienna, Austria. They're both teachers at the International Christian School of Vienna and we met two and a half years ago at our Pre-Field Orientation. I haven't seen them since last Christmas so it's been fun to show them around Kandern and enjoy their company.


Christmas "morning" in the Greenhouse

getting ready for Christmas brunch

Christmas brunch!!

French toast, sausage, and eggs... yum!

I wonder what's in this package?

Shaking the presents...

My first lasagna...aren't you proud of me, mom?

Christmas Dinner - homemade lasagna, garlic bread, salad

Merry Christmas!!