thursday's field trip.

If you don't already know, my mom and I work for a grape farmer (my mom full time, me part time and during the summer).  Recently the company has purchased some new land to plant on south of town.  Yesterday we were given the grand tour of the new ranch, seeing the beginning stages of planting.  The rows are laid out and the planting was just getting started.  It was really fun to see the "behind the scenes" look at this side of the operation.  Here we are each planting one vine:

I'm pretty sure the workers who were on their lunch break thought we were crazy, but it was fun!  Only two years until we can taste the fruits of our labor!

on repeat.

You may have heard this song before, but I just can't get it off my mind.  It's been circling around in there for days.





 It may not always be easy to hear, but it's true.

this week.

I'm still in the in between stage of substitute teaching and working four different part time jobs to equal full time work this summer.  I'm working from home, well, when everything is cooperating.  Half the time when I'm working on the server, the printers will disappear.  It happens for no apparent reason.  So sometimes I get stalled until it decides to work again.  It's fantastic.  I'm also supposed to be working on cleaning my room and closet.  Yes, it's been a long time coming.  Yes, it's really going to happen this time.  The plan is to literally drag everything out of my closet and pile it in the hallway and Lindsay's room.  Then I'll do some serious cleaning out and put it all back neatly.  It sounds so fun, I can hardly wait to get started.  That's pretty much my week, beside running errands, going out to eat (twice today), and seeing friends.  Boy, it sounds pretty rough when you put it that way...


Also, project get a kitten has commenced.  Mom's on board, just have to convince Dad.  I'm not sure it possible, but it's all about the timing.  We shall see...

there's something about those eyes.

Those eyes have seen more pain, more hurt, and more darkness than I can even imagine.  They may have gone to bed hungry last night, had to drink water I would never touch, or helped their family make a meager amount of money to just get by on.  But there's also something about that smile, that joy on their face, an childlike innocence still intact despite all they have known.

Take a moment.  Look into their eyes and imagine what their life is like.  Imagine living that life.  And then, imagine if there was something you could do to change that life.

This is 9 year old Beatrice, who lives in Tanzania. 
And this is Nobel, an almost 6 year old boy in Ghana.
Here is 7 year old Noreen and 5 year old Christian from the Philippines.
And the list goes on and on with Batete, Samara, Sergio, and Innocent, and the thousands more like them.
It would seem that choosing just one makes no difference at all.  But imagine if you were them, how different life would really be.  To know that you are important and special.  To know that someone on the other side of the world knows your name, loves you, prays for you, writes to you, supports you, and encourages you. 

One great joy in my life is the sponsorship of "my kids" all around the world.  I love getting their letters, seeing pictures, and writing back to them.  It's a simple joy for me, really, but something that has changed their lives drastically.  How awesome that God can use something so small from me to bless these lives a world away.

The need is so great.  How I wish that I could sponsor more.

(I'm not trying to persuade you really, but rather to show you my heart.  But, if I did persuade you and you'd like to know more, email me.)

graduation pictures.

As promised, here are a few pictures from graduation:

The fam having lunch at Wood Ranch

That hood is heavier than it looks...

You may call me Master now ;)

Getting ready to hear my name called

The family afterward

Me and Gramma

Aunt Denise and Jessica

My sister Lindsay

Mandy and Allie

Thanks to all who came and those that supported me from afar...it feels so good to be done!

only the beginning.

The long-awaited day has come and gone. Graduation day, that is. It was a long day of traveling, eating, rehearsing, waiting, and actually going through the ceremony. I'm so thankful to have the support of so many family members. But, even though I'd been waiting for that day to arrive, part of me is a little sad it's over. I'm excited for my freedom to do the things I want to do instead of being chained by class schedules, but I also feel a sense of loss as another chapter comes to an end. It's the feeling of accomplishment mixed with anticipation. Part of me feels like it went by too quickly. Part of me is rejoicing. Part of me doesn't know what to do with all my free time now. A bundled mix of emotions, really.

That all being said though, I'm excited for what the future may hold. I'm excited about all of the opportunities I might take advantage of now that I'm not constrained by school. I'm excited to see where life goes next. It's really only just the beginning.

(I promise to post some pictures soon.  My sister has them all on her camera, which is now in Los Angeles with her.  Even though we were together all weekend, I only remembered we were going to do it after she headed back last night. We're awesome.)

the end has come.

I'm done. It's over. I'm finished with school.
Part of me never thought I'd be saying those words.
But I am. I did it.  And I'm so, so happy to be done.

I spent a few hours yesterday and about nine hours today working on my last paper.  It was painful.  Like a slow death march to the end.  But I prevailed, and now it's over.  And I'm so, so happy to be done.

In the last four weeks, I have written five papers totaling 95 pages.  Yes, you read that right.  95 pages!
And you wonder why I'm happy to be done?

Oh, the relief.  I'm not exactly sure what to do with my newfound freedom quite yet.  IMaybe, just maybe, I'll rediscover what it means to have fun and not spend all my time working...