loving life

Well, I am attempting to start a blog and actually keep it updated. My first attempt was this summer when I went to Africa but that didn't work at all! I am so jealous of my other friends who can keep an interesting/regular blog going. Here is a little update since I last wrote a blog.

Since my return from Uganda I have been living in the same house but with three new roommates! Needless to say they have been absolutely fabulous. Even though we all don't hang out together too often it is a lot of fun when we do. They are the kind of girls who are very refreshing and fun to be around!

In October, I applied to work at Copper Creek and now I am waiting tables there full time. It has been very interesting and definitely a learning experience but I love it! Hearing what non-ACU people have to say about ACU and Christians in general has been eye opening. I feel like God has used some of the people and experiences at Copper Creek to open my eyes to the real world outside of my christian school bubble. I have a good idea of what people think of ACU who live in Abilene...and most of the comments haven't been very positive! Unfortunately I got to experience first hand what a lot of my employees have complained about. The only table that has made me cry (not on the spot, I was in the bathroom of course!) was an ACU mother and some of her "wealthy" friends. To be treated like that by a Christian woman made my heart sad and very disappointed. It was as if I owed her something because I was serving her lunch. She has no idea that I knew who she was SO if anything I learned that you NEVER know who you are talking to and literally everyone you come into contact with will be affected by your attitude whether you think so or not. A simple smile can go so far so the next time you go into a restaurant, treat the waiter as if they were...me...or a friend!

Daniel has been really busy with his two jobs and 15 hours of senior art classes but he is enjoying his senior year! I can't believe we are 22. We celebrated our four year anniversary at the end of August and we are loving life and just living in the moment together. When the timing is right we will get engaged and everyone will definitely know when that happens. =) I will try to post blogs regularly to tell you about my life and everything that is going on but until then enjoy your beautiful day.

Worst Blogger of All Time!

I have officially named myself as one of the worst blogger's of all time! I apologize to all of the people that I gave my blog address to and told them that I would be writing about Africa. It has been well over two weeks and still no blog entry! This post is going to be a recap of everything that I haven't blogged about so far!

Top 10 Favorite Things/Moments/Reasons I love Uganda!

#10: Representing the great state of Texas among many Michigan interns and missionaries.
(let me just say that I have had to explain what Tex-Mex is more than once...)

#9: The red dirt. If you have been to Africa you know what I mean!

#8: The adorable children! I have never seen so many cute children in my life! The kids in the village love to see "mzungus" or white people and they also love stickers, soccer balls and bubbles.

#7: The Bogle's, Langford's, Garner's and Manry's. This team in Jinja is incredible! Every night we get a chance to eat with a different family and this has been such a wonderful experience to get to know each couple on a personal level! I couldn't have picked a better group of "mzungus" to be modeling God's love to His people in Africa!

#6: Rafting down the Nile. Yeah, I rafted the Nile! I have a video to prove it.

#5: Witnessing some of Adam Bogle's very first steps! He is walking everywhere now!

#4: Receiving many laughs from the village church when I told them that I just graduated with a business degree. I don't think women and business mix in the village.

#3: For all you golfers out there, this was the first rule on the score card at the Jinja Golf Club:

Local Rule 1- On the green, if a hippo footmark interferes with the line of the ball, or the line of the putt the ball may be lifted and placed not near the hole, but on the ground that avoids these conditions.

#2: Experiencing the ultimate "fish bowl" feeling. Almost everyday that we drive out into the village it feels like we are living in a fish bowl. People just stop and stare as you drive by b/c mzungus in a car out in the village is pretty unusual!

#1: Stepping up to the second hole on the Jinja Golf Course and seeing four Ugandan army men lounging in the fairway with machine guns. We had to skip holes 2, 3 and 4 b/c the Ugandan president was in town and they were "protecting" him even though the soldiers didn't look like they were on duty. Oh well!

Well, this list tells a little bit about what has gone on so far! I plan on writing another entry tomorrow night so I can fill everyone in on my experiences with the culture and what the interns do on a daily basis! Thanks for being patient and I promise to be a better blogger from here until August!

First Stop: London

We have landed safely in London and for the past two days we have been touring the city! I went to London in high school on my senior trip but I honestly can't remember a lot of what we did b/c we did so many things in Scotland and England...they all kind of ran together towards the end! I loved coming to England in high school but being with two other people with the freedom to do whatever we want when we want has been so much fun! Garrett, Stacy and I have had a blast so far together. We are keeping a journal of all of the funny things that have been said or that have happened to us since we landed. Trying to figure out the bus system and the "tube" have thrown us a few curve balls along the way but that is what makes it fun.

So far we have been to St. Paul's Cathedral, Shakespeare's Globe, the Tower Bridge, the London Tower, the show, Chicago, Windsor Castle, Trufulgar Square and the National Gallery. Let me just tell you right now...if you ever come to London, don't see Chicago! I have heard that it is amazing in NY but London not so much. There wasn't even a costume change and the cast was about 10 people each playing a couple of different roles (and very little props....mostly black chairs that they danced on). That has really been our only disappointment the whole trip...everything else has been incredible! Windsor Castle is a must if you come to London. We all loved going there today (Sunday) and we look forward to what is in store for tomorrow. We leave on Tuesday to meet up with the rest of the interns. Next time I write an entry I will be in Uganda! Please keep all of the interns in your prayers as we will all be traveling on Tuesday to Africa.