I had an amazing summer. It was a whirlwind. I finished spring classes in May, had a week off, then went to Haiti for ten days. I quit my job at the day care after that (for many reasons) and it turned out to be for the best. I had classes at Harding every night, from 5pm to 10pm, every day of June and July. They were two week classes; an entire semester crammed into 8-10 days of 5 hour sessions. They were intense. One of the two week classes was online, and during that time, I went to Alaska for ten days. I got back, had a week off, then started my internship at Sonora Elementary in Springdale, which is where I am now in my life...student teaching. I'm spending long days at the school.
Okay, I'll back up a few months. My trip to Haiti was amazing, yet again. I just can't help but let those kids grab hold of my heart every single time I see them. I traveled to Nashville to meet with a group with from Lipscomb University. It was much less stressful to travel with a group this year than it was to travel alone last year. We spent ten days at CHCH du
ring which we had terrential downpours and very warm days. We did some artistic stuff like painting and built some things, prepared the new nurses office and distributed food. The kids are growing up so fast, but they are all doing really well. Being with Hunter and Jillian again was just fabulous, and seeing all of my kids was a dream come true. I am so blessed to have such amazing people in my life. I missed Haiti, my kiddos and Hunter and Jillian the minute we got on the plane to fly home. On the plus side, while in Nashville, I was able to catch up with my childhood friend from Kentucky, Danielle.
ring which we had terrential downpours and very warm days. We did some artistic stuff like painting and built some things, prepared the new nurses office and distributed food. The kids are growing up so fast, but they are all doing really well. Being with Hunter and Jillian again was just fabulous, and seeing all of my kids was a dream come true. I am so blessed to have such amazing people in my life. I missed Haiti, my kiddos and Hunter and Jillian the minute we got on the plane to fly home. On the plus side, while in Nashville, I was able to catch up with my childhood friend from Kentucky, Danielle. My classes this summer were intense. There was a lot of reading and paper writing and lesson planning involved along with presentations and research, but it was all very exciting and informative and worth the work. This summer was the last of my classes for my program, and I have really enjoyed all of my classes through Harding's NWAPC. After my fourth class of the summer and my 11th graduate class, I'm just 18 weeks of supervised teaching away from my Masters Degree.
My trip to Alaska was amazing beyond description. I don't think there is any way to put into words how spectacular that place is. Neal and Sherri invited Emily and I up to visit them, and I don't think there is anything I cou
ld do to repay them for that opportunity. It was so nice to see the places that inspired Tony so much and that he had told me so much about. It was such a privilege to be able to spend that time with the Collins' and enjoy their company and home with them for a few days. Emily and I were so blessed to be there; we saw so much. I'll list the places we visted and things we saw, but it won't even skim the surface of the experience we had: Midnight Sun Bible Camp, Dream a Dream Iditarod Dog Farm, Wasilla, Ulu Factory, Wildberry Factory, Point Wornzof, Nature Trail, downtown Anchorage, Whittier, a glacier cruise on the Prince William Sound, Beluga Point, Portage, Wildlife Conservatory, Alyeska Ski Resort, Flat Top trail, Reindeer farm, Muskox farm, Alaska zoo, Hatcher Pass, Crow Pass, Raven Glacier, the Alaska Railroad, Seward, and so much more. It was honestly the trip of a lifetime. I can never express with words my love and gratitude to the Collins'.
ld do to repay them for that opportunity. It was so nice to see the places that inspired Tony so much and that he had told me so much about. It was such a privilege to be able to spend that time with the Collins' and enjoy their company and home with them for a few days. Emily and I were so blessed to be there; we saw so much. I'll list the places we visted and things we saw, but it won't even skim the surface of the experience we had: Midnight Sun Bible Camp, Dream a Dream Iditarod Dog Farm, Wasilla, Ulu Factory, Wildberry Factory, Point Wornzof, Nature Trail, downtown Anchorage, Whittier, a glacier cruise on the Prince William Sound, Beluga Point, Portage, Wildlife Conservatory, Alyeska Ski Resort, Flat Top trail, Reindeer farm, Muskox farm, Alaska zoo, Hatcher Pass, Crow Pass, Raven Glacier, the Alaska Railroad, Seward, and so much more. It was honestly the trip of a lifetime. I can never express with words my love and gratitude to the Collins'. I am now in my elementary internship. I have been working at the newest school in the Springdale school district for the past three weeks. I began the new teacher orientation during inservice week and have been working at the school since before the construction of the school was even complete. I am having a great time working with the amazing staff at Sonora and I am enjoying every minute with the kids there. I am at the school constantly, I am coming home exhausted every night, and I am loving every minute of it.
So, I am really busy, and I may not update this often, but I'll try to be a little bit better about it. Thanks for reading, take care, and God bless. :)
"Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done." Philippians 4:6
