Here I go Again!

I apologize that I have not done a very good job of keeping up this blog, but for those of you who occasionally check this, I wanted to inform you that I am returning to Sierra Leone. I leave tomorrow and will gone for the month of June. Sarah and I are co-leading a team of teachers who will be giving in-services to our teachers there! I'm very excited and can't wait to see all the people there. The time will fly by and I know that I will not be ready to leave when the time comes. Part of me is a nervous to go, I wonder if it will be harder and the dealing with emotions of leaving again. I am also completing my internship at Children of the Nations and will be moving home when I get back. Please pray that the Lord would show me how I am to serve in COTN once I leave. My desire is to stay connected and continue with them from afar, but I don't know exactly how that would look. I will try to send pictures while there, so be checking, although I know I don't have a very good track record with this thing. Blessings!

I'm in Love!

Well of course I'm in love!! For those of you how haven't heard by word of mouth or other such sources, on Good Friday, John asked me to marry him and I said YES! It was wonderful and romantic and great and all those good words! We are shooting for an August wedding. I know, it's coming up and with a month in Sierra Leone in the middle of it all, it will be here before we know it! John was able to capture most of the event on camera and has so graciously posted them on his blog. So if you would like to see those you can visit www.forshirley.blogspot.com. Isn't it so cute, he's so faithful to his mom!

It's another rainy day in western Washington, I'm just sitting in my little cottage watching the rain fall, the waves come up on the shore, and the wind blow through the trees.

When it rains in Sierra Leone, the red dirt washes into the ocean, casting a red hue in the water. It's amazing how that red mud can mix with ocean, causing red mud waves to wash ashore.

Today the water close to shore is a little dirty. It reminded me of the mud waves.

The First Trip to Alaska!

John arrived safely in Anchorage, AK on Dec. 20th after a three day ferry ride and three days on the road, then Christmas night I got to join him there! My initial impression of the place was BRRR... Actually I really can't complain, it's not that different from Spokane. It's cold but the land is beautiful, as you can see in the pictures. It was a great time and of course, I can't wait to go back!

The local moose, across the street from the favorite coffee shop!



Cross-country skiing at a park right in Anchorage, these trails are filled with bikers, runners, skiers, even horseback riders!
Notice John is covered in snow, I am not... he spent most of the time on the ground.


This is crazy!!

Mountains outside of Anchorage

The top of Alyeska Ski Resort: we took a tram to the top where they have a restuarant

This years Christmas was really interesting for me. It began with a Bah-Humbug attitude. I'm not really sure why, but I'm going to pull the Sierra Leone card. There is all this commercialism, buying people things they don't really need, and then people being rotten to each other because of the stress of the season. But what is this season really about? However, I had to force myself to get out of this slump and enjoy it, remembering what I was feeling last Christmas. Last year I wanted so badly to be home, sitting by the fire, Kelsy and I laughing so hard that our stomachs hurt, nigthly walks in the snow... As much as I missed my family back in Sierra Leone this year, I realized that I needed to make the decision to enjoy and make the most of it this year! So I decorated cookies, went on our yearly Christmas night walk(on the 23rd), laughed enough with Kelsy to make up for last year, and soaked up ever moment with family that I could! As life continues to change, I realize the importance of living in the moment and taking it all in when you can, knowing that it won't always be like this.

They've Left

Last Friday, Quami, Eddie and Massah returned to Sierra Leone. It was sad to see them go, but I know that it is best for them. They were actually ready to go. It's easy to think that they wouldn't want to go home, but home is still home and they were ready to get back to a familiar place and away from this cold.
On Thursday night we had a Farewell Party for them and they got up and shared a little about there experience in America. Eddie talked about the first time he used an automatic flush toilet, how he was looking, looking and then all of a sudden it just flushed! Then he went to wash his hands and he was looking for a way to open the tap, but he just put his hands under the faucet and it came on! It was much funnier hearing it from his perspective. And Massah shared about going to Disney World in her best Valley Girl attitude, which she picked up while she was here!
It was wonderful to have them here and seeing them go just made me want to go with them all the more. But I know God has called me to be here right now, so I will stay!

I'm Surrounded by Liars!

Everyone I know has proved themselves to be very good liars this past week! Let me explain...

Last weekend(10/27) we had our final COTN Benefit and it was here in Bremerton. It was quite an exciting event since my family was going to be there and also John's family, but no John. Yes, I was to handle the meeting of the families all by myself. However, surprise, surprise, John was there. He flew in the night before and showed up at the benefit! Apparently, everyone knew but me. I just didn't realize they were all such good liars, especially Kelsy, usually I can get anything out of her! Anyway, it was great fun and I'm glad that I was surprised!