tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58760032054502561862024-03-05T23:57:24.025-05:00myjoysRebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.comBlogger185125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-35428960843110854082013-09-18T12:01:00.000-04:002013-09-18T12:01:01.249-04:00Little thoughts, little moments.I have sat down to write this blog post many times over the past two weeks. I actually wrote an entire blog post that still sits in the draft bin, unpublished. There are so many words I wish would just come pouring out of me in a beautiful poetry sort of way, but alas, words don't tend to be a talent of mine. So here I sit, yet again, hoping desperately that God will grace me with just the right words to relay to you some of the emotions I have felt over the past month I have spent in Davao.<br />
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Whenever I talk to someone at home, their first question is alway "how do you like it there?" My reply is alway a chipper "I love it!" I then go on to describe scenes and moments that have brought me much joy here. Soon I say a quick goodbye and suddenly they are gone. I feel like though those times talking are precious, I have yet to accurately display the emotions and feelings of this place to a single person. It's a big task, but one that my heart is desperate to accomplish. I think one of the hardest parts about living in a foreign country is how your heart is split in two. I have two places I love, with two sets of people that I love. I want to share one with the other, and yet it is physically impossible to do so.Words and pictures are the only way I will be able to share this second world with so many of you, so that is my new goal. To not just "make" a blog post, but to write one from the heart, showing you around this new country of mine as if you were walking by my side.<br />
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Every time I rack my brain of new and creative ideas to share what it is like to live in a different country the best think I can think of to say is "basically it's not America, and I love that." Don't get me wrong, America -to an extent- is an amazing country and I am thankful for my childhood there; but living in a different country, especially one that is less well off, really expands your view of the world and how things function, how people live and what it really means to "have a lot". I realized quite quickly living here just how ridiculous some things in America are, and how many of the things I lived with on a daily basis, all of a sudden become luxuries and actually quite unneeded in my mind. (Hot water? Air Conditioning? Washing machine? Dryer? Stop signs?) And how many of the luxuries that I used to dream of having suddenly become obsolete and meaningless. (It's hard to dream of a house with a double oven anymore when 14 girls share a tiny one rack oven and things turn out perfectly fine.) Please don't take this the wrong way; I have no judgements to those of you who live daily with any of the things I just listed, I myself lived with them a mere two months ago. My desire is to simply share with you the things I have been experiencing and learning.<br />
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Being the sentimental person that I am, I constantly have moments where I think to myself "take a mental picture Bekah, this moment is priceless". Today I am excited to share some of these many, many "pictures" I have been storing on my mental hard drive. Like the moment where all 10 girls living in our house are sitting around our dining room table laughing and talking; or the moment where I am sitting on the back of a motorcycle for the first time (one of the easiest forms of transportation here is flagging down a motorcycle driver who will let you climb on the back and take you whereever you want). {Side note- riding on the back of a motorcycle is the bomb.} Or the moment when almost all the girls are gone and so the few left are blasting music while we sit in a circle studying. The moment when I watch a father pray with his daughter while she is in labor. The moment when I spend an afternoon fabric shopping with a friend having deep talks and going to McDonalds for a snack. The moment I find a baby's heartbeat on a Fetoscope by myself. The moment when it pours and a few of my dorm mates and I slide across the porch in the pouring rain. The moment I feel a little baby kick my hand in response to my palpation of the mother's stomach. The moment when we learn about how to judge Edema pitting by playing with playdough in class. The moment when we talk to our trycie driver and find out all about his life here in the Philippines, and I think "this is what expanding your mind really means".<br />
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These are my little thoughts, my little moments, and I am thankful I get to share them with you.<br />
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~Rebekah<br />
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<br />Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-89939292201387572212013-08-14T03:53:00.003-04:002013-08-14T03:53:42.246-04:00Arrived, and home.The Philippines. Home.<br />
It's strange to say that, but in a way, it almost feels like I've been here forever instead of just one week. I am still making adjustments, but for the most part I am settled. I am fully moved into my dorm, I am starting to know how to get around, and I have met all of my fellow students. The last two weeks have been such a blessed and relaxing time. First I had orientation in Portland, which was mostly getting to know my fellow students, and that was like a beautiful calm before the storm. We had a very long 38 hours of traveling to get here, and once we arrived we met lots of people and were given lots of information. Now that we have been here a week, we will be starting classes tomorrow and some work in the clinic next week! I am SO thankful for the lovely time we had getting to know each other and relax the last few weeks, but I am definitely ready to get to work!<br />
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Sometimes it almost feels like a fantasy to actually be here, hanging out with all my new friends, seeing all the sites I have imagined seeing for so long, and starting to do what I have been praying for and dreaming of for years now. There are most assuredly some things that I am going to have to adjust to, but I am really loving life here!<br />
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My favorite things so far have been:<br />
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<li>Riding on a Trycie. These are one of the main modes of transportation around here, and they are so much fun! They are just like little golf carts pulled alongside a motorcycle. (if you google search the word trycie with Phillipines you can find a lot of pictures of them!) I love how open air most things are around here; it makes you feel a little more "connected" with your environment.</li>
<li>Spending an evening playing cards in our "yard" with some of my fellow dorm-mates. (I say "yard because we live in a second story apartment so our yard is just actually a porch where we hang our clothes.) </li>
<li>Going to a new island for orientation the past few days. We stayed on the island for one night, and had an amazing time! We got to swim at the beach, watch fires shows, try lots of new (and yummy!) food, and get lots of information in our orientation sessions. </li>
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The heat here is definitely one of the hardest adjustments for me. As someone who strongly dislikes humidity -and really any temperature over 75 degrees - this first week I has involved a lot of acclimation. Even with the heat, I still love it here. I just look at it as a challenge to overcome (or at least learn to accept!)</div>
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And now, what I know many of you have been waiting for. Pictures!</div>
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All of my Classmates!</div>
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Having fun and staying cool in Portland.</div>
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The view from our "porch"</div>
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our porch! Laundry is quite different here, as the washing is about a 4 step process and then we hang everything to dry!</div>
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My room :)</div>
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Our living room</div>
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The "common area" with our dining table, and everyones' desks. </div>
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The kitchen</div>
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The Island we stayed at the past few days :)</div>
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The rest of these photos were taken with my under-water camera so I do apologize for the quality :)</div>
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Feeding the fish bread with my toes :)</div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: x-large;">~Rebekah</span></div>
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<br />Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-43356668103187305702013-07-31T01:35:00.002-04:002013-07-31T01:35:04.977-04:00Headed Out!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Friday, of this week, my great adventure will begin! In a sense, it has already begun since I am currently packing all of my possessions into two suitcases - definitely and adventure in and of it's self. Everytime I share my new and exciting adventure with people, the first question out of their mouths is: "Are you scared?" To be honest, the first time I got this question it kind of caught me off guard. I had never really thought about my new adventure as something to be scared about. All I keep thinking is how exciting and thrilling it will be! That sweet innocent question though has given me many moments of thinking and now I reply with a confident "no". Not that I don't think I will be challenged over the next two years; because I will be, and probably more than I can even fathom. But that is exactly the reason I picked this school in the first place. I want to be challenged, I want to be put outside of my comfort zone, and most of all, I want to be brought to a place where I have no choice but to fully rely on God.<br />
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Thank you all for your many generous gifts contributed to help me become a missionary midwife. I have been completely floored by all the ways God has provided for this first semester! He has been showing me just how much He provides for me - and I am not even in the Philippines yet! Incase you missed the link, you can read more about my mission to the Philippines <a href="http://myjoysoflife.blogspot.com/2013/07/how-you-can-help-beginning-of-adventure.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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My prayer requests as I head out into a whole new world in a few days:<br />
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<li>That I won't forget my quiet time with God. I know my life will be going through a lot of crazy changes, but I have found that if my time with God is constant, all the rest of life comes into perspective.</li>
<li>That I will form deep bonds with my fellow classmates, and we will all encourage and love on one another as we all begin the same journey together!</li>
<li>Orientation over the next week will go smoothly, and will be the time of adjustment I may need.</li>
<li>I will let myself feel the emotions. Sometimes when overwhelming things happen to me I tend to go into "robot" mode. Even if it's hard sometimes, I want to let myself feel all of the emotions that come with moving away from home, and moving to a different country. </li>
<li>That I will be a blessing to all of my new friends, co-workers, and anyone else whom I may meet along the way!</li>
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I do not know when I will be able to update you next. It may be from the Philippines! If that is the case, then see you on the other side of world!<br />
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Love,<br />
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RebekahRebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-77469723417588192412013-07-18T19:07:00.001-04:002013-08-14T00:51:21.385-04:00How you can help... Beginning of adventure in MidwiferyHello dear friends, family and followers. I know I said a while ago I would post how you can help me with my new adventures in the Philippines, and I am finally posting how you can help :)<br />
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As many of you know, I am about to embark on a new and exciting adventure - one that may very well change the course of my entire life! In just under two months, I will be moving across the ocean to the Philippines, to live on the island of Mindanao in a city called Davao. While living there I will be attending an American missionary school, one that will train and equip me to graduate with a degree in midwifery. </div>
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The school I will be attending is called Newlife International Midwifery School, and trains women to be midwives while serving in the mission field. The school is very unique - actually one of a kind - in that all of your clinical work is done as a service to local Filipino women who can not afford health care. The place where we will be volunteering delivers almost 2,000 babies annually.</div>
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As you can tell, my time in Davao will be anything but boring. I know this opportunity is going to stretch me in more ways then I can imagine. I would like to ask you to partner with me in prayer. Your prayers will mean more to me then anything as I take this step of faith. My biggest prayer request is that I will be a light to all I come in contact with, having a heart like Jesus as I am interacting with women, babies, their partners, and my fellow students. I would also like to ask for prayer for the clinic, that all of the women that walk through the doors will be helped not only on a physical level but that they will spiritually be filled during their time spent with us. </div>
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I hope to be updating my blog on a regular basis, and will continue to ask for more specific prayer requests as they arise. You can find my blog at: <a href="http://www.myjoysoflife.blogspot.com/"><span class="s1">www.myjoysoflife.blogspot.com</span></a></div>
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If you would prefer I send e-mail updates to you, please feel free to shoot me an e-mail at:<a href="mailto:Rebekahthemidwife@gmail.com"><span class="s1">Rebekahthemidwife@gmail.com</span></a>, and I will add you to my e-mail list.</div>
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I sincerely thank you for taking the time to read this letter and I have one final request. Would you consider partnering with me as a financial supporter? The tuition I pay for school goes to paying the Filipino midwifes who work at the clinic, as well as to pay for medical supplies, equipment and general running of the clinic. Even the smallest gift can help me to be trained as a missionary midwife, serving the Filipino women all the while. If you feel led to help support me, you can mail a check to the address below, or simply donate on my Youcaring page: <a href="https://www.youcaring.com/RebekahtheMidwife"><span class="s2"><b>https://www.youcaring.com/RebekahtheMidwife</b></span></a></div>
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Because the Portland office is so small, the school requests that each family gather all donations and send them in one lump sum. Therefore, if you're able to give, please make checks out to Rebekah Kimminau-Midwife and send to:</div>
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Rebekah Kimminau</div>
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{For secutiry reasons, please leave a comment if you would like my address and I will send it to you! Thanks}</div>
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Please also let me know if there is anyway in which I can be praying for you!</div>
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Sincerely in Christ,</div>
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Rebekah Jean Kimminau</div>
Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-64912922584277776102013-06-23T02:44:00.002-04:002013-06-23T02:44:49.036-04:00Hello there, San Fran.If, after reading the tittle of this post you are assuming that I am currently in San Francisco, California, you would be correct.<br />
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I got here yesterday morning and my day and a half here has been a whirlwind, but wonderful. The Couchsurfing host I (and my sister) are staying with recommended quite a few places to go that were "cool" and for the locals. They have all been wonderful, and I can proclaim once again that I adore Couchsurfing. It has so many benefits and is not only a cost-effective way to travel, but a beautiful one. I learn about new people, new cultures, new experiences, and share all of those with the people I am staying with. If you have not Couchsurfed, try it once. You will NOT regret it!</div>
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Just to give you a fare warning: My sister and I like food. A lot. San Francisco has more amazing food then NYC. You will therefore see a lot of pictures of all our wonderful food below. If you have not eaten in a while, continue with caution. </div>
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Below: Dandilon Chcolate. One of those places where you just want to sample one of everything. And in fact, you can! They have bowls out for you to sample all of the chocolates they make. They know how to make friends, quickly :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96ZmiWYWtJeVVRlhuuHcfuYGzjbWBwwy33Rq4aA8YFgJkuN9vOHqo0ccrPGm3mdHNrrPBN2gm-cPd8RYDN9Oa68J5_xEfb8dIMFIxZoiivM6dtRLPbkNeJwjvs2WV-kCNssi7wc9AGuE/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96ZmiWYWtJeVVRlhuuHcfuYGzjbWBwwy33Rq4aA8YFgJkuN9vOHqo0ccrPGm3mdHNrrPBN2gm-cPd8RYDN9Oa68J5_xEfb8dIMFIxZoiivM6dtRLPbkNeJwjvs2WV-kCNssi7wc9AGuE/s640/DSC_0007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Also, they sell the most amazing chocolate peanut butter cookies in the world. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeLwhHpo7hh1hPJQHbyLVymPxNU62LsUXM-AnMzVVmMbj7CJmGrs-84DUc-6qfGaAxbh3xAVarx3Pld6BrnqW0FK_o5kdm5swznep2DhBw1w-nH0YON8Hw7uKhXfMCbXaoc1-JSYslos/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeLwhHpo7hh1hPJQHbyLVymPxNU62LsUXM-AnMzVVmMbj7CJmGrs-84DUc-6qfGaAxbh3xAVarx3Pld6BrnqW0FK_o5kdm5swznep2DhBw1w-nH0YON8Hw7uKhXfMCbXaoc1-JSYslos/s640/DSC_0012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After walking about 3 miles inbetween the above cookie, I enjoyed the below dinner.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fXpuUz9LfeBtaFvxvP9ni6GrteGeAVnDdHhR5yp5c103khiyMq1YZSjpSy0ImRit_lMlJFbXO3aKZWoF75Ajw0njmJVUA7uMmh4EhGVYzUZ9gouiMJmdTWGxpqkiidHKKueseCrCkhs/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fXpuUz9LfeBtaFvxvP9ni6GrteGeAVnDdHhR5yp5c103khiyMq1YZSjpSy0ImRit_lMlJFbXO3aKZWoF75Ajw0njmJVUA7uMmh4EhGVYzUZ9gouiMJmdTWGxpqkiidHKKueseCrCkhs/s640/DSC_0014.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPcazxUwSW-KbNt1iQcnx7PYBsa9y7Q2D_W5MDyI3yq8K7W3L7HHQ4PklW9gy9Ou68McPR2XIImN-p31mbHmj2epVwfFnW4ZHawtbEW9JGm-vGzdh36xFU5XNkBwP0Bl8qFGqUNXiVew/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPcazxUwSW-KbNt1iQcnx7PYBsa9y7Q2D_W5MDyI3yq8K7W3L7HHQ4PklW9gy9Ou68McPR2XIImN-p31mbHmj2epVwfFnW4ZHawtbEW9JGm-vGzdh36xFU5XNkBwP0Bl8qFGqUNXiVew/s640/DSC_0013.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have fallen in love with San Fran's hills. I thought I would hate them; and tonight when I had to walk 8 blocks home in the wind, I thought I might start hating on them. But really, I still love them. They add something so... different then most other cities. Which pretty much explains all of San Francisco. Different.</div>
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The view from the house I am staying in. Yes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8d9xl0rXW7s8-bf9NuZbtGEOIMsg2-B1ReTqqE-_1c0y4GGREaT62zigWPyUm8jDdrrbn2IUlYmB7ufE4g14zGKGDnUJ1jPzEqcUS7zTOlq7fHk_DIFTDZFvYnDZrq5op5GdGuGgTilE/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8d9xl0rXW7s8-bf9NuZbtGEOIMsg2-B1ReTqqE-_1c0y4GGREaT62zigWPyUm8jDdrrbn2IUlYmB7ufE4g14zGKGDnUJ1jPzEqcUS7zTOlq7fHk_DIFTDZFvYnDZrq5op5GdGuGgTilE/s640/DSC_0025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Erin's first San Fran food. Sushi. Amazing Sushi at that.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlON-35SIrh1lzEklkRKPIunTLoOS9GZXegg_4Z4CbPh_e0oyzeGDm_fKu1oX8ApFOn1idwEwxKb2z62GNiLb0IwWaFc4AOccGrvY2KdG9oeOfsChSBPfx2fmvDnEmbZl8EBg6PYyB54/s1600/DSC_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlON-35SIrh1lzEklkRKPIunTLoOS9GZXegg_4Z4CbPh_e0oyzeGDm_fKu1oX8ApFOn1idwEwxKb2z62GNiLb0IwWaFc4AOccGrvY2KdG9oeOfsChSBPfx2fmvDnEmbZl8EBg6PYyB54/s640/DSC_0031.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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We did ride the trolley. And it happened to be the highlight of my day. Hanging on to the outside of a trolley as it rolls through the streets of San Fran is quite an experience. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYuPzU1vHlz-kvM5c-zokTIxpMOCO63d4Z6_wIFjUUKYyudt0uSdqKkAqPv16O5j0c89wBMv63_kb4ZFTvgWfCpMIZ7scynS-RxNJpkMPbi8jp8Rjcm1bir08u-dHQ_DmWguCc6RcU48/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYuPzU1vHlz-kvM5c-zokTIxpMOCO63d4Z6_wIFjUUKYyudt0uSdqKkAqPv16O5j0c89wBMv63_kb4ZFTvgWfCpMIZ7scynS-RxNJpkMPbi8jp8Rjcm1bir08u-dHQ_DmWguCc6RcU48/s640/DSC_0038.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We went to Chinatown. We walked through a chinese store, looked at Chinese candy, and then had 2 Chinese drinks and pastries I forgot to take a picture of all of the above, so I snapped this one to prove that we really did go there!</div>
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Fisherman's Warf: I.e. Beautiful part of town that is over run by tourists who don't know how to follow the basic laws of life. </div>
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I love this picture. I love the ocean. I love boats. I love water. I love San Fran.</div>
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There was this "arcade" filled with ancient games that still worked (and each only cost a quarter!) that was right on the warf. We had a blast playing a few of them, even though we still don't understand why kids in the 1920's would want to pay to make an ugly clown dance for 5 minutes. </div>
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This "piano" was the bomb. It played songs with basically a full orchestra inside of it's self. Like the music from your record player comes to life right before your eyes. I told Erin I wanted one for my room. </div>
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The famous sourdough bread. It was just as good as it's supposed to be. </div>
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Ghirardelli Square: i.e. tourist trap that's only goal is to fatten people up. </div>
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Proof that I was actually on this trip with Erin today :)</div>
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AND Dolores park. Probably my favorite spot in all of San Francisco. I just wanted to lay in the grass and relax all day. </div>
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An amazing restruant run by deaf owners, who employ all deaf waiters. We had a blast practicing our sign language with them. (Or rather, Erin signed while I sat and smiled and nodded.)</div>
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Gorgonzola, Mozzarella, peas, truffle honey and red lettuce. It was to die for. </div>
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Bookstore followed by after dinner coffee was the perfect ending to a wonderful day!</div>
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Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-21640295602007232632013-06-03T23:00:00.001-04:002013-06-03T23:00:44.873-04:00Strawberry Picking with a FriendThe other day I got the joy of going strawberry picking with a dear friend of mine! I have had strawberry picking on my list of things to do for quite some time, and I was so excited when strawberries finally came in season! We could not have picked a more perfect day. There were thousands of perfectly ripe strawberries, the sun was shining, there was a light breeze, and not a drop of rain! I think I enjoyed eating the strawberries right of the vine, almost as much as I enjoyed picking my 20 lbs of strawberries. ;)<br />
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On our way home my GPS took us for quite the adventure! We ended up winding down a back country road for almost 13 miles, which turned into 45 minutes because of the low speed limit. The silver lining on that long drive was the BEAUTIFUL. You would never guess that just a quick hour later we would be back in the middle of the DC city! We couldn't help but stop and take a few pictures when we saw a field with a white picket fence. I love how the pictures turned out!<br />
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The next day we got together and baked 5 pies and canned 14 jars of jelly from our pickings! I still had almost 10 lbs leftover, which went towards making strawberry shortcake for my sister's graduation party!<br />
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Doesn't she look just like a model? :)</div>
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~RebekahRebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-78085773464029662132013-05-21T00:26:00.001-04:002013-05-21T00:26:14.162-04:00The story of Newlife
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">My journey to Newlife started in a very unusual, but utterly wonderful way. I was on a completely different track, headed in a direction I believed God was leading me in (after already having been "rerouted" by God once in my high school years.)</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was November of my senior year of high school. I had just returned home from one of two college visits I had planned. I believed that God was leading me towards getting a two year nursing degree, and after much research, I was trying to decided between Campbellsville University in the middle of nowhere Kentucky, and Beth Israel school of nursing, in New York City. I was praying that my trips to visit the schools would clarify the feelings I had. I felt an equal pull to both school, for very different reasons. But instead of feeling peace after going to look at Campbellsville, I simply felt more unrest. I was pouring my heart out to my best friend/accountability partner in an e-mail, like I had done so many times before, and like I still continue to do to this day.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">In her response, she included something I was not expecting. I'm going to paraphrase here, but this is basically what she said at the end of the e-mail:</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">"I know you are looking into nursing schools, but I heard of this school from a friend, and I immediately thought of you. Here is the link: midwifeschool.org"</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">I clicked on the link and spent the next hour or so scouring the website. How can I say what I felt in that moment? All at once I felt incredible peace and horrible unrest. Peace because I <i>felt </i>like this was in my future; that this was somehow meant for me. Unrest because all of my dreams and hopes and fears about nursing school- the ones I had spent the last months focusing on - suddenly seemed completely irrelevant. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">I sent the website to my mom in an e-mail and asked her look over it. She came back with another unexpected answer-"Bekah, this looks perfect for you." So here I am, thrust into a whole new world of college seeking. I now am thinking about midwifery, not nursing. I am also thinking about moving across the world to become a midwife. I think in my mind what many other people have asked me since then. "What about a midwifery school here in the US?" </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">Though I had already looked into becoming a midwife a couple of years ago, I looked into it seriously now. But every school I came across just did not seem to fit me. And then I would return to the website for Newlife, and I would instantly feel at home. It literally was everything I was looking for in my dream school. </span></div>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1"><span style="font-size: large;">Christian</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-size: large;">Small class size. (Really small. 10-15 girls a year admitted)</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-size: large;">In the medical field</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-size: large;">Different</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-size: large;">Strong emphasis on missions</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-size: large;">The opportunity to travel</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">The next step in this new crazy idea was my dad's approval. Probably the biggest step of all, as not many fathers want to send their 18 year old daughters off to the Philippines to study for 2 years. I prayed and prepared and gave him all the info on the school I could. On Christmas eve of 2011, we sat down and talked about the school. To my great astonishment, he said he loved the school and thought it was a perfect fit for me. His only request was that I wait a year to apply to the school. My mother and I had been discussing wether I should wait a year or not and his answer seemed to come at the perfect time. Over the next few months I decided that I was going to live in Nashville as a nanny for 4 months over the fall of 2012. Though this decision was made with much prayer and guidance, I had no idea at the time I made it that it would be one of the best decisions of my life to date, and that it would bless me in more ways then imaginably possible.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">Whoever came up with the saying "hindsight is 20/20" was a genius. Because hindsight truly is amazing. As I look back over my past year, I see many wonderful experiences that I would not have gotten if I had gone to Newlife in Fall 2012. <a href="http://myjoysoflife.blogspot.com/2012/06/day-1-tucson-to-san-diego.html" target="_blank">Like my amazing summer trip with Rebekah</a>. <a href="http://myjoysoflife.blogspot.com/2012/07/traveling-as-nanny-copenhagen-denmark.html" target="_blank">Or my trip to Europe</a>. Or even the little things like peach and apple picking. <a href="http://myjoysoflife.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-year-in-pictures.html" target="_blank">And of course, Nashville</a>. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">I moved to Nashville in August of 2012. While I was there, I got to see my first ever live birth, which also happened to be the most beautiful birth I could imagine. The end result of that birth is a precious little girl named Eva that I could not fathom life without. After I witnessed Eva's birth many people asked me if it had scared me out of becoming a midwife. My very quick answer to each of them was "no!". But in fact, her birth did much more then not scare me. It had the opposite affect. I remember the moment the midwife pulled Eva from the water and placed her on Aunt Molly. As I was frantically snapping photographs, my breath stopped in my throat. It stopped not only because it is a ridiculously beautiful thing to witness someone's first moments, but also because in that moment, I remember thinking "I SO want to do this. I want to be a midwife and help moms with this very moment over and over and over."</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">So there I was. I now knew what my calling was, I knew the school I dreamed of going to, and I had peace about my future for the first time in a very, very long while. If you think this is where the story ends, think again. Although I know you already know the "happily every after" part, you do not know the many miracles that came between this time and the riding off into the sunset.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">The first miracle is this: I got in. Now while some of you told me over and over that you had no doubt I was going to get accepted, I was not nearly as sure. I knew the program was very competitive, but I did not even know until after I got accepted just how blessed I am. The more and more I get to know my fellow classmates, the more and more I am astounded by God's blessing. Compared to the 16 girls I am going to school with, I do not deserve to have gotten in. All of them are over age 20, while I am a young 19. Many of them have doula and medical experience, some of them even have college degrees. Many have already worked in the mission field, and some of them are moms. When I look at all of them, I have no idea how I was accepted. I only have one answer; God. I prayed unceasingly over the last few months that if God wanted me to go to this school He would let them accept me. His answer couldn't be more clear, and I am thankful every day for it. (Probably not as often as I should be!) I am completely humbled and SO excited to work along side all of my amazing classmates!</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">Miracle number two comes in a little bit different form. When I moved to Nashville in the fall, I found a church. I fell in love with the church, the people, and everything about it. When I returned home after my time in Nashville, I just did not feel at place in my family's church anymore. I told this to my mother, and though she was a little disappointed to see our family go separate ways on Sunday mornings, she agreed to me trying another church. I started going to church with my best friend and her family, and quickly realized that was where I belonged. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">Now one of the requirements for attending Newlife is that you have your pastor sign a form. Because I had just started a new church, I decided to ask my old pastor (at my family's church) to sign the form. We talked with him before I applied, and he said it all sounded good. After I got accepted, we sent him the form. He took it to his superiors, and came back with a very sad answer. Because of some complications with the government (he is a military pastor) he would be unable to sign the form. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">Now at this point, I hate to admit I lost faith. I become frustrated with God and asked Him over and over why He would allow me to get accepted to the school if He was just going to slam the door in my face a week later. (The form for the school is absolutely required in order to attend). How hilarious is it to look back just a few short months later and see how God was simply weaving another beautiful miracle into my story. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <i>same week </i>that our pastor wrote us, I suddenly started feeling more at home in my present church. So when my mom approached me with the news, I decided to go ahead and ask the pastor of my current church to sign the form. (Though I doubted it was even a possibility as it was extremely short notice). Just about a week later, my church contacted me with a response that blew my mind. (I can just see God laughing up in heaven when I was on the phone with the church. Saying: "You really doubted me Rebekah? When I've let you come this far? You think I would just leave you hanging? HA HA HA")</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">The church came back with a resounding yes! Though there was a process, they would love to fill out the requirements on the form for me. Not only were they willing to help me, but they went out of their way to work with me around my very busy traveling schedule.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">At one point over the past few weeks I looked back and realized just how big of a miracle my God had performed. If He had not given me that uneasy feeling at church when I returned home from Nashville, I would have never searched out a new church. If I had never come to my current church, I would have been left hanging with no one to fill out my form. Once again, all I can say is: <a href="http://youtu.be/pA5mMBtWKeg" target="_blank">"All I have is Christ"</a></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">So here I am, coming the end of a journey, but starting a much bigger one. My journey to find God's calling for my life was filled with many twists and turns, but looking back I can see how God took my messy life and made it something beautiful - for Him.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">~~ I know many of you are interested in what I will be doing in the Philippines, and also ways you can help. I will be posting a few follow up posts over the next few days just for you! :)</span></div>
Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-12593650866170009362013-04-11T23:39:00.002-04:002013-04-11T23:39:28.146-04:00Noticing<span style="font-size: large;">Note: I wrote this three weeks ago, and am just getting around to posting it :)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s amazing how things that you brush past every single day
becoming a blaring head light in your face during a new circumstance.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tonight I babysat 10 kids. Tonight was probably one of my
favorite nights of the entire year. Call me crazy, but I loved it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">To be exact with the kids ages, they are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">22 months <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">6 months<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And oh, how much fun they were. They are also wonderfully
behaved kids and I would never be able to handle them if they acted
differently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77L3ZUX4ZbMS1kmU1OXE9GLzTFyTfqNpfbRK1_x8zCrnQAT8LTgeEmqFOcWM34VXNHwek8I9p8lDajHsq19ZYbJjxBV2R5jwdjnI1VMwrCVq6-mgm71rjRImMJze3vjKSzVN1usN0oCw/s1600/IMG_5093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77L3ZUX4ZbMS1kmU1OXE9GLzTFyTfqNpfbRK1_x8zCrnQAT8LTgeEmqFOcWM34VXNHwek8I9p8lDajHsq19ZYbJjxBV2R5jwdjnI1VMwrCVq6-mgm71rjRImMJze3vjKSzVN1usN0oCw/s640/IMG_5093.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(Dinner for 9 kiddos. And I may be just a bit OCD)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXthdUFt8bExWL9FLNV09wIDSttRjAwVHTC7X4gu3emRgtk_iZA8oBIMzxLdmy4be-2hJpL-PUW_bKRAvb73Ab_2ru7xZIr4tWJ2FPTJSHXfns5xSZQgSYQYxVBlQEK9WYXwxiScKFSs/s1600/IMG_5097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXthdUFt8bExWL9FLNV09wIDSttRjAwVHTC7X4gu3emRgtk_iZA8oBIMzxLdmy4be-2hJpL-PUW_bKRAvb73Ab_2ru7xZIr4tWJ2FPTJSHXfns5xSZQgSYQYxVBlQEK9WYXwxiScKFSs/s640/IMG_5097.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(Ok, very OCD)</span></div>
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But back to my thoughts. Tonight, I decided to notice
things. And to give up on other things. Normally, when I baby sit them during
this night each year, I am running around like a mad person, trying to make
sure everything turns out “perfect”. But tonight, I let the dishes actually
stay in the sink for a whole hour before cleaning them up. And I let the kids
have messy faces for 10 minutes. And instead of running ahead trying to clean
up and keep up, I sat down. I sat down on a bar stool overlooking 10 beautiful
kids sitting at a circular table. They were all laughing their heads off
between bites of mac and cheese, because they were each taking turns sharing
their favorite America’s Funniest Home video moment. Then the little 22month
old waddled over to me and asked to sit in my lap. He snuggled sleepily with me
as I continued observing. And I smiled to myself, thinking what a beautiful
picture I would have missed if I had been doing dishes right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoCtc6qKCUbiAkLi8LomSDraoFBrYDGDrF0oLs3fRdOIAJdI1Xi9CjQLT6rJvwdrPWhQpXOsInNhExyif15sSCrLnmVTZGDx9dqsCJdTfMsVRJbgrUGp1aZmmkKub1VAhlUFSfVfYDx0/s1600/IMG_5099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoCtc6qKCUbiAkLi8LomSDraoFBrYDGDrF0oLs3fRdOIAJdI1Xi9CjQLT6rJvwdrPWhQpXOsInNhExyif15sSCrLnmVTZGDx9dqsCJdTfMsVRJbgrUGp1aZmmkKub1VAhlUFSfVfYDx0/s640/IMG_5099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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(10 kiddos, 1 table.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Later this evening, after the two babies were in bed, and
all 8 of the older kiddos had chocolate rings around their sweet mouths because
of the chocolate strawberries they had just eaten, we had a dance party. The
music at the end of Ramona and Beezus came on, and I grabbed the 5 year old and
swung him around. Looking into his smiling eyes all I could think was happy
thoughts. And thoughts of thankfulness. Many people I know would never dare to
babysit 10 kids. Boy, are they missing out. Kids (especially 10 of them) come
with lots, and lots of work. Those moments dancing around the living room?
Those are worth every second I ever spent working. Those are precious moments,
and they will live much longer then any memory of the work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcW5BYAoPsbRIxnbPxoZaZJ7SLUxrra0RQyDn0wH7HRF6dHmxQ7dd3pho34zES3ZyCoWFnzABqfzwWmkJSylCtOh6DPGGBqj13D453aH91m9xGYDpilk64akpvZlUChzT7deZWfiKTHgw/s1600/IMG_5103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcW5BYAoPsbRIxnbPxoZaZJ7SLUxrra0RQyDn0wH7HRF6dHmxQ7dd3pho34zES3ZyCoWFnzABqfzwWmkJSylCtOh6DPGGBqj13D453aH91m9xGYDpilk64akpvZlUChzT7deZWfiKTHgw/s640/IMG_5103.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Me and baby with a very dirty kitchen behind us)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">~Rebekah</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-37513334287265412412013-02-08T22:39:00.001-05:002013-02-08T22:39:36.515-05:00A letter to myself: 6 years laterAs I was getting all sentimental and thoughtful tonight, I decided to write a letter to my 13 year old self. Boy, have times changed. Boy have I changed. So many wonderful, scary, cool, silly, and beautiful things have happened in the past 6 years.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal">You
are so loved. Though you don’t have as many close friends as you would
like, you don’t realize right now how many people truly love you for who
you are. First off, your mom, though you fight with her a lot, truly does
love and care about you. And though she doesn’t always show it in the way
you understand, she is always there for you. Those friends you have? They
love you for who you are. No mantter how much you try to fit in, you will
still be you. And if they want to change that, they don’t deserve to be
around you. Stop trying to change yourself.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal">There
are some friends that are worth keeping. Specifically Rebekah G.
Thought you may not believe it right now, Rebekah ends up going on your
senior trip with you. And some day you guys will probably be in each
others weddings. <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Stop
crushing on guys and treasure this time period you have when all your
friends are single. It seems like the stupidest thing to be single, and it
will continue to seem that way, until your 18 ½. Then your world will
suddenly change in a day, and you will miss those single moments so much.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Keep
pursing those passions. They will really lead you somewhere. That babysitting
that you do everyday? That will not only result in you getting a lot of
great money to spend on cool things, that will result in you traveling the
WORLD. <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that photography? You will go on to take many, many
family pictures for people. And love every moment of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal">Your
move to Washington DC next year is going to be a shock, and maybe seem
hard at first, but you will become a city girl. I promise.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Read a
little more. Stop acting like you hate books. You will actually come to
love them in the next few years, and you will wish you had read more.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Look
around the table at family dinners, and take a mental picture. Because in
just a few years, family dinners will be a once a month thing. And you
will miss that crazy, stilly, deafening tradition that happens every
night. <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Keep
those daily hour long bike rides up. You will miss them one day.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Kiss
you some babies. Beacause 5 years from now, those babies you are kissing
are going to be 5 years old and you will miss those sleeping angels. So
much.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Smile
a little more. You have a pretty smile <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span><o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings;">Love, yourself, 6 years the wiser. </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-68098188570125604072013-02-06T00:00:00.001-05:002013-02-06T00:01:21.706-05:00I heart Faces- Love<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have not done an I heart faces in over a year, but I could not resist this theme! I was looking through my portfolio recently, and came across this photo. I love everything about it. The off centeredness of the photo. The joy. Their expressions. And the fact that, when I asked the little girl to smile for a photo, and she wouldn't, her big brother came in, swooped her up, and swung her around and around until I caught this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He loves his little sister more then anything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(What's makes it even more wonderful, she is number 9 in a family of 12!)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #111111; font-family: Consolas, 'Andale Mono', Monaco, Courier, 'Courier New', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 10.21875px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img alt="Photo Challenge Submission" src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/I-Heart-Faces-button.jpg" title="I Heart Faces Photo Challenge Submission" /></a>
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Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-10257706044378853022012-12-24T23:41:00.002-05:002012-12-24T23:41:21.547-05:00My year in pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just a quick review of my year according to my favorite pictures. This year really has seemed to fly by! </div>
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My year started out with me getting the privalege of staffing Teenpact VA 1 with some amazing people!</div>
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As you probably know from my daily blog posts, I then got the pleasure of spending the next month in Hawaii living with one of my favorite families on this earth!</div>
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I got to take pictures of little baby J, born in March and baby #7 in his family!</div>
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I got to go NYC for a few days with my mother, sister and best friend. We had quite the experience, and ate some <u>amazing</u> food!</div>
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I got to take pictures of one of the dearest families in my life. I have babysat for them since their oldest was just 3 years old. They are beautiful!</div>
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I also got to spend two weeks with these fabulous children while their parents were in Europe. We went for a day trip into DC. </div>
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I got to go to my first ever concert, which was for a band called Gungor. And it was amazing.</div>
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I took pictures of these beautiful children. </div>
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Oh yeah, I kind of graduated :)</div>
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I went to Teenpact National convention for the 4th year in a row, and on the way back, girls got a little bored and decided to draw a couple stories... on my leg, with sharpies. </div>
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Happy Father's day to the best daddy in the world!</div>
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I went to Mexico.... (for 4 hours)</div>
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And the Grand Canyon...</div>
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And I took a cross country train trip with my best friend. It was the trip of a life time. (I also updated my blog daily on that trip)</div>
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One of my highlights of trip was holding a random baby for 4 hours in a food shelter in San Diego.</div>
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And of course, going to Disneyland was the best. I mean, the BEST.</div>
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I went to Europe for two weeks in the end of July to nanny for a beautiful family. It was a blast!</div>
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Random horribly ugly matching dresses with one of my best friends :)</div>
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I went apple picking twice in one week, and made 3 apple pies from the apples I picked :)</div>
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Then I moved to Nashville, for 3 months during the fall semester. </div>
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Awaiting the baby.</div>
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I got to be at the birth of the sweetest little baby I have ever known. Little miss Eva Catherine.</div>
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And over the next weeks I fell in love with this baby, and her family. </div>
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(I am the luckiest person in the world, wearing a 3 day old baby in a sling is pure heaven.)</div>
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Lots of my favorite moments were holding Eva while doing school work.</div>
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We went to a homeschool pioneer day together, when Eva was not even two weeks old! It got pretty hot so I go the lovely privalge of haning out inside holding sleeping Eva :)</div>
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I made a new friend, long distance, and had many an interesting Skype sessions with her :)</div>
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I got to come home for Thanksgiving and go on my first ever cruise to the Bahamas with my family!</div>
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We got to go to Universal Studios and Harry Potter world!</div>
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I got to spend 4 days in Boston nannying for this precious boy!</div>
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And host a Christmas party, which included a gingerbread house making contest :)</div>
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A Christmas at home. This is what my night looks like before I get in bed. The tree above my head and my favorite devotional, Jesus Calling.</div>
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~ Merry Christmas ~</div>
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<br />Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-50020887674984527812012-09-08T17:58:00.000-04:002012-09-08T17:58:24.853-04:00A day in the life of my iphone..As I was talking to my mother this morning on the phone, we had one of the discussions we have had many times before.<br />
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iphones. Why I love them, and why I hate all other phones. Ok, hate is a strong word. I <i>highly dislike </i>all other phones. It's not that I think everyone needs an iphone. Because they don't. I don't <i>need</i> an iphone. Just like I don't <i>need </i>that Macbook pro or new kitchen tool or new dress. But they are all helpful, and I use them daily. They make my life easier, and in many ways, simplify it. You are probably thinking right now, "I can see how a kitchen tool, and maybe even a dress can simplify your life, but technology just makes my life more complicated! How can you say a iphone, or even a laptop, <i>simplify </i>your life?"<br />
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I have gotten comments on that subject from many people. I will say something about loving my iphone, and they make a comment on how their life is "simpler" and "less-cluttered" because they don't have a smart phone. And that may be true, but I think a lot of the times people think that people who own iphones just own them because they sit around on Facebook and Instagram all day. Or play angry birds or a host of other games. And it's true, I do know some people who own iphones and just sit on Facebook all day. And I also know people who own iphones and just play Angry Birds all day. But I am not one of them, and I know more people who <i>don't </i>use them for that purpose then people who do.<br />
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When I mentioned this to my mom today, I told her that I had the idea to write a post about all the times I use my iphone in a day. To give people a glance as to what I really <i>do</i> with this magical device I am always talking about. She loved the idea. So here I am.<br />
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A day in the life of my iphone:<br />
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6:00 am- Alarm on iphone goes off. I turn alarm off, and drag myself out of bed.<br />
6:01am- I turn off the lullaby music that has been playing on my iphone all night, because I forgot to put the sleep setting on. (Yes, I do fall asleep to lullaby music. Don't judge.)<br />
6:05am- I start my bible study, using the bible app on my phone. (I only do this sometimes, but when I am doing a bible study that jumps from passage to passage a lot, I find it much easier to use the bible app.)<br />
6:10am- I find a name I really like while doing bible study, and I look up the meaning in the baby names app on my phone. If I decide that I really like it, I put it in the names file on my notes app in my phone. (For some reason, I always find names I like while doing bible study. This literally happens almost every morning.)<br />
6:25am- I get ready for the day, sometimes turning my morning playlist on to get my day going.<br />
7:20am- As I am racing out the door to get kids to school, I glance at my iphone and realize the clock in the house is 5 minutes fast. *deep breath*<br />
7:50am- Once home, I make a list of the school I need to get done that day, (on the reminders app).<br />
8:00am- I take my iphone with me running, and either put my head phones in and call a friend, or turn on music. (Iphone headphones have a microphone in them so they work kind of like a bluetooth. Very handy while walking.)<br />
9:00am-I start school, and turn on my classical music pandora list. (on the pandora app.)<br />
9:40am- I take a break from school and either check e-mail on my computer, or Instagram on my iphone.<br />
9:45am- I resume school and classical music. I normally try to work in 40-60 minute increments all morning.<br />
12:30pm- I take a break for lunch and remember a recipe someone sent me. I look it up on my iphone.<br />
1:00pm- I use the reminder app on my phone to set an alarm for what time I need to pick up the kids and what time I need to head out shopping.<br />
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(I am just going to note here. The one time I have not been recording is taking pictures. I probably take at least 10 pictures a day using my iphone camera. I love it's quality and how convient it is since I always have my phone on me.)<br />
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Afternoon:<br />
I go shopping. Wherever I go (Grocery shopping, Target, various stores.) I make a grocery list on my phone.<br />
Since I am new to the area, I get lost. (This happened going to church the other day. Even though I printed out map-quest directions, I missed my left turn.) I <b style="text-decoration: underline;">pull over</b> and use my map app to find where I need to go.<br />
Before I get out of my car to go into the store I use my reverse camera like a mirror to check my make-up.<br />
I use the calculator app to calculate something in the store.<br />
I then use my USAA app to check the balance of my bank account because I <u>always</u> forget to do this before I leave home!<br />
As I am standing in line in the store, I check my Instagram app. If the line I super long I may open up my Kindle app and read.<br />
I decide I would like an afternoon drink and use the app to find the closest Starbucks.<br />
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6:00pm- I play music while cooking dinner.<br />
8:00pm-I use the my phone to make multiple calls to my mother and various friends.<br />
10:00pm- I turn on lullaby music before I fall asleep and set my alarm for the next morning.<br />
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<br />
Now those are just some of the ways I use my phone on a daily basis. Some days (especially when I am traveling) I use it a lot more, and other days I will use it less.<br />
Here are some of the other times my phone comes in handy:<br />
~When you are sitting somewhere with a bored toddler. I normally pull out the camera app and use the reverse camera like a photo booth to take silly pictures with the toddler.<br />
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~When you need to find a restaurant to eat at. As we all know, I am quite the foodie, and I have a couple of foodie apps on my phone. Urbanspoon and Localmind are my favorite.<br />
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~When I want to share something I am doing with a picture via Facebook or Instagram. Honestly, this is the best. Who wants to upload pictures if you have to go through the whole process of attaching the camera to your computer when you get home, uploading the picture to your computer, then uploading it to Facebook?<br />
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~If I need to take a bus or a metro somewhere. The maps app on my phone (comes standard with all iphones) tells me when and where I can catch the closest bus/metro.<br />
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~If I need to call a taxi. I have a app on my phone that allows me to find a taxi that's close, call the taxi, and even pay for the taxi via my phone.<br />
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~If I forget an address for somewhere I'm going. I do this a lot! I will either look it up in my e-mail if someone sent it to me or just google the address I need.<br />
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~If I need an update on what the weather is going to be like later in the week, or even I need to see what it's going to be like in a different part of the country next week!<br />
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~If I am in a store and need to compare a price. We are Amazon Prime members, and use Amazon to buy many things. I have a Amazon price check app on my phone that just scans the item's barcode and tells me what price Amazon offer this for. Many times, especially on books, the price is much cheaper!<br />
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~If I need to deposit a check. The USAA app lets you deposit a check in about 1 minute with just your iphone! And it puts the money directly into your account. It's amazing. Especially when you get paid 3-5 times a week via check. (Babysitting.)<br />
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~If I am in a store (like Joann's) and forgot to bring my 40% off coupon with me. Joann's has an app that allows me to pull up all their local coupons right on my phone!<br />
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That is all I can think of for now, and I am sure I am missing some of the ways I use it, but you get the idea!<br />
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If you notice, I don't use my phone to play games. I don't have a single game on my phone. I just don't enjoy it.<br />
You may also notice that I only used my phone to check Instagram twice. (I probably check Instagram on average of 2-5 times a day. But each time is about a 5 minute period. It depends on how busy I am. If I am wanting around a lot, I will check Instagram more. If I don't wait in a single line that day, I may forget to check Instagram the entire day.) And you will probably also notice that I didn't use my phone for Facebook a single time. I rarely check Facebook on my phone. I don't like doing it. I would much rather sit down on the big screen of my laptop and check Facebook when I am home.<br />
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Please don't misunderstand this post. I am not saying in anyway that everyone should own an iphone. I am also not saying that you could only do all of these things with an iphone. I am just saying that my iphone combines pretty much every electronic device I need, which in turn <i>simplifies</i> my life immensely.<br />
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And the last question I get asked a lot is: "Why an Iphone? There are so many smart phones out there! Iphones are just another thing that everyone has because everyone else has one."<br />
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I have two answers to this question:<br />
I like iphones above any other smart phone (yes, I have used a droid before) because of their design. I like their sleek, simple, smart design. I like Apple products in general. But everyone is different. I am not going to stop being your friend if you own a Droid (my best friend owned one. And she is still my best friend!). I just prefer an iphone to any other smart phone out there.<br />
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My second answer is goes with the second question:<br />
Iphones, like Honda Odysseys, are popular for a reason. Everyone doesn't just have them because they are cool. (Though that may be the reason for some.) They are things that have been proven again and again to be useful, made with quality, and long-lasting.<br />
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So if you are trying to decide today on wether or not you would like an iphone, I would advice to walk into your local Apple store. Test drive an iphone like you would test drive a car. Do your research. See what people are saying about them. Try them and their competitor's out. My guess is, you won't be disappointed. I certainly haven't. :)<br />
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~Rebekah<br />
<br />Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-38365021101855607002012-09-03T23:59:00.001-04:002012-09-03T23:59:16.112-04:00Up, Up and away.Growing up.<br />
Those are two words that came into my vocabulary from time to time, but I don't think I ever understood the deep meaning behind them until recently. It all started one night as I was sitting in my room about two weeks ago. My mind was swimming with logistics (as it always is), except this time, those logistics were a little different then they had ever been before.<br />
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I reasoned with myself, "thousands of young people have done this. They have all moved out of their parents house, wether to get married, go to college or live on their own. Why am I any different? Why is my mind having a hard time wrapping it's self around this idea?" And then it struck me. This was <i>new </i>to me. Not the moving part, not the packing up, leaving a house, unpacking, making new friends part. That was all familiar in a strange sort of way (probably because I had done it nine times before. The new part was that I was doing it alone. Without my family, without my parents. It was also strange because I had to pick and choose what to take. And that seemed like an enormous task as I didn't want to take <i>too little</i> with me, but as stuff piled up, it all began to seem like <i>too much</i> for my three month stay. So with my logistical brain running around like a horse on a race track, and my hands packing up boxes like I had 2 hours left instead of the 60 I really had, I let my thoughts wander off to a place they rarely go. A place where I thought and asked deep questions of myself, and of God.<br />
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I knew that moving to Nashville for the fall semester of school was where He wanted me. I had prayed and talked it all over with my parents and other people months before, and I had felt His clear leading. So why did I now feel like it was all a bad idea? Why was my brain going separate ways? Part of me was super excited about my time in Nashville. I knew I loved the family I moving in with, and I also knew that my new job of part time nanny, part time student, would fit me well. But then there was this other, little part of my brian-the part I didn't go to very often-that kept going to how much I would miss my family, my friends, my home. I would miss all these little things that happen every day. From getting up and enjoying my morning tea, to lunch with my mom, my dad coming home, making dinner and laughing in the kitchen late into the night while baking with my sister. The thing that puzzled me most was that I had been traveling all spring and summer, and had missed many of those events in the same way I was going to over the next three month. But I think -after the fact, looking back onto that late night- what was getting me was the newness of this unique circumstance. And the fact that I felt like this move was some rite of passage. Some sort of moving from childhood into adulthood.<br />
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That night, I ended up slowing down that horse, and putting my hands at rest. I remembered a song I had heard about a year ago, and I curled up in bed and listened to it's words. Words I felt that came from my very core at that moment. (Taylor Swift songs-though sometimes annoying- have a way of speaking words when you can not.)<br />
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There I sat, in the still and quiet of the night, curled up in my bed. Those words pinging off the deepest part of my brain. All I could think about was how many moments I had not appreciated. But I guess that is part of life. You like those little moments so much more when they are gone. </div>
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All of these thoughts almost got forgotten in the back of my mind, until this Sunday. I was trying out my first church in Nashville, and I was super excited to go. Then I left late, the drive took longer then I thought, and I got lost. When I finally walked in the doors of that church I was relieved. For about 5 entire seconds. Suddenly I felt all alone. Not that the church was not welcoming, it was just a lot harder then I thought to walk into somewhere completely strange, alone. As worship started, I had a lot of feelings coming on rather quickly. I felt scared, lonely, intimidated and frustrated. I knew that church was the last place on earth I should feel lonely! After all, I am surrounded by like-minded believers, not to mention having an all-knowing God beside me every step of the way. I kept trying to shove those thoughts through my brain, as I fought back tears of homesickness. Church has always been a social place for me, and a lot of the time it's one of the days of the week I get to see many of my friends. So walking into church all alone, watching as friends greeted one another with hugs and laughter, was a painful reminder of just how far way all of my friends were.<br />
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As the first song ended, my mind started clearing up, and I was able to put my focus where it belonged- on God. I felt His nearness, and though it was the exact feeling I had been hoping for, it was just what I needed in the moment. Though the church turned out being very friendly and nice, it was too far away, so I will not be returning.<br />
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My point of this entire post being- Growing up is hard. It is beautiful, but it's hard. I wouldn't change one moment of my childhood, but I do wish that it wouldn't have flown by so fast. And that I hadn't been so ready to be an adult. Maybe I have learned my lesson. Maybe I will treasure the moments of my young adult year just a little bit more. Hopefully, I will.<br />
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When I sat down to write today, I had a totally different subject in mind. But as I started typing, these words just flowed out. So I guess they were ones that needed to be said :)<br />
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~Rebekah<br />
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<br />Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-35748869442144472982012-07-31T18:07:00.001-04:002012-07-31T18:07:29.630-04:00Traveling as a nanny ~ Copenhagen, DenmarkIt is very late here. But I wanted to fit in just a few words about Europe before I headed off to bed.<br />
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We arrived in Denmark around noon on Sunday after leaving DC at around 3. Our flight was over night, and the kids slept most of the time, which was nice. (I, on the other hand, didn't sleep more then 2 hours of the 8 hour flight because I kept having to put kids back to sleep ;) We switched planes in Amsterdam, which was very quick. The security there was crazy. They did not care about all our liquids at all, but they made us take every single electronic thing out of our bags and they went through the scanner twice.<br />
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Once we did finally arrive in Copenhagen, we checked into our hotel, which is beautiful! The best part is that we are on the 16th floor, and we can see almost the entire city from our window!<br />
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Interesting things about Europe so far:<br />
The people here have AMAZING style. ~ Just saying.<br />
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The language is Dansih, but everyone speaks English when needed. ~ I think this is awesome. I am experiencing a completely different culture, but when I actually need to comunicate, it's really easy.<br />
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The old architecture here is beautiful. ~ Beyond Beautiful<br />
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I LOVE the weather. ~ We all know by now that the weather will make or break my view of a city. And it totally makes it here! I can wear just the right amount of clothes to be stylish (pants or capris, shirt and cardigan.; maybe scarf.) Without being hot or cold ever.<br />
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On that note, the weather here is insane. ~ One minute it's bright and sunny and feels like 85, the next it's cold and windy and feels like 60. The next minute it's pouring and your completely soaked. And this cycle happens about 3 times a day :)<br />
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If you want to smell like a local, use the hotel body wash. ~ Let me just say, this city has a certain smell. It's very different from any city in America. It's not bad, just different. I took a shower the other night and opened the hotel body wash, it smells exactly like the entire city. I guess that is their favorite body wash brand or something ;)<br />
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Europeans sure know how to eat ~ There is a coffee shop on every corner, and about 5 restaurants a block. The food is all amazing, and healthy at the same time. They have a few fast food places, but even those are trendy, healthy ones. (Think Panera.) My favorite fast food is Joe and the Juice. They literally make your juice right in front of you with a juicer. (They add all sorts of things, and yet the juice tastes amazing!)<br />
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Off to bed for me!! I will try to post some pictures tomorrow :)<br />
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<br />
~Rebekah<br />
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<br />Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-48336429249292179562012-07-20T19:14:00.002-04:002012-07-20T19:14:44.939-04:00Day 24, 25, 26 and the end! - Chicago, Holland Michigan, and home!<br />
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We have been talking lately about our favorite stops, sites,
people and activities. The days we spent in San Diego seem like forever ago,
and the truth is, three weeks have passed since that wonderful first stop.</div>
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Today is my last blog post! I am home safe and sound, and it
is so very good to be here! (For the first time in 45 days, I might add!)</div>
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The last few days have been crazy and busy but wonderful. We
came back to Union station in Chicago from our hotel at about 12 noon
yesterday. We had about 6 hours until we left, and we had planned to go and
explore Chicago. We hit a little bump in the road because the only place to
store our luggage was lockers, and all of the lockers were full. Sweet Rebekah
offered to stay with our stuff, since she is going to college 2 hours away from
Chicago for the next 3 years. So off I went, to explore the city! I had read
Kelle Hampton’s blog the other day when she was in Chicago, and she pointed out
a bunch of places she had wanted to take her daughter. I had mapped them all
out before I started on the trip, but since I only had a few hours, I did a
condensed version. </div>
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First thing I noticed about Chicago was how very, very hot
it was. And we all know how much I hate heat! So of course I was not too
pleased that I had to walk around for the next 5 hours in that terrible
weather. The second thing I noticed was how similar to NYC it was. There were a
ton of tall buildings, a huge majority of the people were all in biesness suit
and shuffled quickly by. The other percent of the people were tourists who
stopped every 5 seconds to take pictures. Now if you have read my blog very
much, or been with me to a city, you will know that since I moved to DC 3 years
ago, I have become quite the city girl (or city “snob” by Rebekah’s
terminology) and I love to fit in with all the city folk. So of course as I was
walking around Chicago, I tried to blend in with the buieness people, and
apparently it worked because people kept asking me for directions! I had been
wanting to try the new Rolo McFlurry from McDonald’s since Rebekah had told me
all about it-Note: One of the very, very few times I eat at McDonald’s-and
since it was so hot I stopped by one on the way to my first destination. It was
wonderful, and definitely my new favorite McFlurry, the only problem was that
it completely melted within 3 minutes of being outside. (No really, not joking.
That’s how hot it was.) Luckily it was just the think to cool down my core
tempiture long enough to let me survive the mile walk to my first stop-
Garrett’s Popcorn. I got a small bag of the Chicago mix. Later on Rebekah and I
tried it, and to be honest, I didn’t think it was all <i>that </i>good. Rebekah said it tasted like cheese puffs and
cracker jacks, and it really did. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My second stop was Millennium park. I took a picture with
The Bean, and looked around a little. It is a beautiful park, and the shade was
a nice rest. Next stop was to pick up some pizza for Rebekah and I. (Just a
little note here. I forgot my water bottle, and got really thirsty. If you stop
in any Starbucks, they will give you a free glass of ice water. And another bonus-
carrying any Starbucks cup adds to your buniess person look – I got some of the
famous Giordano’s pizza, which was amazingly deep dish! On the \way back to
Union station, I stopped and offered to by a homeless man lunch. I took him
inside a Panera-like place, and told him to order whatever. He just oreerd like
$7 worth of food, but that was the BEST $7 I have spent in a really, really
long time. The smile on his face made me want to go out and spend every penny I
earn on buying people lunch. He was so grateful too. If only I could remember
to be that grateful every time someone got me something. He introduced himself
as Joe, and I started to say that my name was Rebekah. But before I could
finish, he said “Don’t worry, I won’t ever forget your face. Thank you.”
Sweetest guy ever.</div>
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After Rebekah and I shared our pizza for lunch, we spent
some time waiting around, and then it was time to board the train for Holland! </div>
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We had a wonderful ride to Holland, even though there was a
little hiccup because we almost didn’t get seats :/. Once we arrived in
Holland, one of Rebekah’s friends picked us up and took us too the favorite
coffee shop by Rebekah’s college campus. A bonus- it was Fair trade! I got an
Italian soda, which was just delicious! Rebekah’s campus is beautiful (even at
10pm at night!) and then we went to the 24 hour doughnut place <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
The people we were staying with live at their parent’s bed and breakfast, and
we slept in their living room. They have an empty hot tub in the living room,
and Rebekah jokingly told me to sleep in there. I decided to do it anyways, and
I slept perfect. (But I sleep perfect anywhere, so I wouldn’t call that much of
an accomplishment!) Bright and early in the morning we were off to Chicago
again. Once we arrived I put my luggage in the locker, and then bid farwell to
Rebekah as she headed to the airport! (She is home now, safely in Texas!) I had
about 8 hours until my train took off, so I decided to go have a nice lunch at
a highly recommended restaurant called The Gage. It was stunningly good. I
ordered the Mushroom sandwich and soup of the day (which was a chilled
cucumber-melon.) The soup was the best part, by far. I have to explain
something before I tell you about the Sandwich. I hate mushrooms. I mean, I
really loathe them. But I have been reading a book on French eating lately, and
they were talking about how one of the reasons the French eat so well is
because they expose themselves to many different things and aren’t afraid to
try new ones. My waiter had highly recommended the sandwich, and so I went with
it. It was good. The sauce and bread were beyond amazing. But there is just
something about the texture of mushrooms I can’t get over. The French book I am
reading said that you have to expose yourself to something 12 times before you
really get a taste for it. (and 98% of the time by the 12<sup>th</sup> try you
will like it.) So I guess I have 11 more times to go!</div>
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An embarrassing story from today: </div>
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I had ordered tea and dessert at the restaurant. It had
arrived, and I had taken one bite, but I really needed to use the restroom. I
don’t eat at restraints alone very often (read: never.) and so I wasn’t sure
what the etiquette was. I walked up to a waitress and asked where the restroom
was, trying to communicate that I was leaving my table and please don’t let
them take my food. But apparently I didn’t do a good enough job because when I
came back, all my stuff was gone. Fortunately, I had a wonderful waiter who got
me new ones right away, and I got to enjoy both, which were delicious yet
again. </div>
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After lunch I went to Whole Foods to pick up a few things,
and to Marshell’s to get a new pair of flats! Now I am on the train home, which
should arrive in about 14 hours! I am so excited to get home and see my family!<o:p></o:p></div>
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How bittersweet it is to have reached the end of our
wonderful trip. Our days have been very full and adventurous, but I enjoyed
every one of them! I miss Rebekah desperately. Through all of our fighting and
bickering, through every stressful moment and every irritating one, we stayed
wonderful friends. And for her I will be eternally grateful. I have not been
home in so long it almost seems like a dream that I will be there in 24 hours!</div>
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My highlights of the trip:</div>
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Favorite City: San Diego. For the weather, the bus system,
our CouchSurfing host, and the attractions in general. </div>
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Favorite city for the activities: Gold Beach, Oregon.
Learning to Surf, zip lining, going to deep crick, walking on the beach, and
wandering through my Aunt’s garden.</div>
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Favorite city for the people: Seattle. 20 people in one
house equals one big party!</div>
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Favorite moments:</div>
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Riding horses in Tucon</div>
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Snorkeling in San Diego</div>
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Holding a sleeping baby at the food pantry in San Diego</div>
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Fireworks in Disneyland</div>
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Sorting egg cartons in the LA food pantry</div>
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4<sup>th</sup> of July in Sacramento</div>
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Learning to surf in Oregon</div>
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Spending a night baking cookies in Seattle</div>
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Bagging diapers in the Seattle food pantry</div>
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White water rafting in Montana</div>
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Getting asked for directions in Chicago</div>
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People kept telling me that this trip was the chance of a
lifetime, and boy, was it ever! I am thankful for everyone who made it
possible, and of course of my wonderful friend Rebekah, for whom it would not
have even been a dream without. And of course for my amazing God who got me
through every hard moment and even taught me lessons through some of them!</div>
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Well, goodbye for now! I will try to blog about my trip to
Europe as a nanny next week!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Edwardian Script ITC'; font-size: 36pt;">~Rebekah</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-13697714405558726632012-07-18T01:24:00.001-04:002012-07-18T01:24:18.092-04:00Days 20, 21, 22 and 23<span style="font-size: large;">Well, it's late (for about the umpteenth time) and I don't feel like spending the time to make 4 separate blog posts. So you get something special! 4 in 1. That's the good thing about this being my blog. I can do what I want. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Day 20-To Montana we go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our evening on the train was very nice, and we both slept
from 10-8. We got off the train shortly after and spend a little while waiting
for our host to pick us up. Once she did, we drove back to her house (which was
lovely!) but heard the unfortunate news that she had been robbed the night
before! She was quite busy with trying to find the thief, and so we offered to
just stay in a hotel in town so she wouldn’t have to drive us back and forth.
We found a motel and booked it, but we had to wait until 3pm to check in, so we
just walked down the country road for a while. Montana is just as beautiful as
I expected! I love the rolling mountains, tall green trees, fields filled with
flowers, and light breeze that makes for a beautiful scene. We got dropped off
at the motel, and pulled our suitcases up quite the hill. The motel is very
convenient though, because it is right next to the train station. (literally we
can see the station from our room! We unpacked and then went to explore the
tiny town of West Glacier that is just about a 5 minutes walk from us. The town
is cute, and we booked a white water rafting trip for the morning. Then we went
to a little café right by our motel and had huckleberry pie with huckleberry
ice cream while waiting for our pizza. Now we are back in the motel resting and
watching some tv! A wonderful day even though not quite what we expected<span style="font-family: Wingdings;">!</span></span></div>
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(What I do on the train. Color and look out the window while listening to my travel playlist. Such peaceful times.)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Day 21- Adventures in Montana.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We went white water rafting today! This is something I have
always wanted to do, and we weren’t sure if we would get to do it, but we did!
As I have said quite a few times before, I love water. I also love anything to
do with water, and white water rafting was no exception! It decided to pour
this morning. It was lovely to wake up to the piter pater of rain, but it did
make our walk to breakfast a little wet today. We went down to the little diner
right by our motel and had some huckleberry pancakes, which were just amazing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then off we headed through the rain to the rafting place. We
thought our trip might be canceled because of the thunder and lightning but it
stopped right before we got there. We suited up, which was just basically
throwing a wind breaker over our shorts and t-shirt. We then headed out for a
bus ride up the river. We started rafting, and basically floated for 45
minutes. Then we hit our first rapid! Though the water was cold, and we did get
splashed quite a bit, it was a blast! My favorite raid was called Jaws. When we
were in the middle of it, a big wave hit us so hard that I flew up in the air
(luckily I landed in the center of the raft) We went through about 10 more
rapids before it was all over. There were also a couple times when the water
was calm, and we could jump in. No one wanted to do it because it was super
cold, but 4 out of the 6 of us did end up jumping it. When I went in a just
slid off of the raft onto my back. It was freezing cold, but I’m still glad I
did it <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
The rapids we went on where 2’s and 3’s. Both Rebekah and I agreed that we
would love to do some 4 and 5’s next time we go <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After we got back, we were sooping wet, and walked back to
our hotel. Luckily our room was ready early, and we both changed snuggled in
under the covers while eating leftover pizza for lunch and watching a movie. We
both fell asleep, and ended up sleeping until about 6. Then we got up and went
on a walk, dropping some postcards in the mailbox and buying some lunches for
the train the next few days. Off we went to the little diner by our motel for
dinner. I got the black and bleu salad, which was steak and bleu cheese, and it
was just wonderful. Then we went back to the motel room and rested for a bit,
and then headed down to the diner again for some more huckleberry and
razzleberry pie. Both were wonderful, even though I think we both liked the
razzleberry pie best. Off to bed we went!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Day 22- Farwell Montana- hello train!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The morning started out with me checking the train and
seeing that it was a couple of hours late, so we slept in. We had a relaxing
morning packing up, and then headed off the train station. The train ended up
being about 3 hours late, but we got to have a nice morning so it was fine <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
We are now on the train, and have about 36 hours remaining until we reach
Chicago. I can’t believe that our trip is almost over, but I have had such a
wonderful time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Day 23- Train and more train.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a description of my day:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eat, write, read, watch movie. Repeat. Repeat again. Find out train is running 4 hours late, and repeat again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not joking. That is exactly what I did all day. But good news! I finished one book and now I am half way through 2 others. And I got a lot of thoughts off my mind onto my computer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then we found out that our train was running so late that we missed our connection to Holland, Michigan. So we are now staying overnight in a hotel (compliments of Amtrak, of course) in the outskirts of Chicago. Exciting times!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Edwardian Script ITC"; font-size: 36.0pt;">~Rebekah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-3977305867238654882012-07-13T19:35:00.003-04:002012-07-13T19:35:38.116-04:00Day 19- Seattle and Beyond<br />
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Today is our last and final day in Seattle! Yet another city
that I could see myself living in, another city I have fallen in love with. As
Rebekah and I were talking today we realized that the best thing about this
city has been the people, mainly the people we stayed with. These hosts have
blessed so many people! They are really just amazing, genuine people who like
to have a good time. And because of that all of us surfers have a good time
too! </div>
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As we headed out this morning it was sad to say goodbye, but
good to start another adventure. We have affirmed, yet again, that we will
never pack this much stuff for another trip. It really doesn’t help that one of
the wheels on my suitcase has stopped working, so half the time I am dragging a
60 pound suitcase down the street! The two of us, our host, and another surfer
headed to our host’s office to drop our luggage off. Remember those hills we
had to walk up yesterday? The ones that were super steep and long? Well we had
to take ALL of our stuff up a few. Luckily we had our sweet couchsurfer friend,
and he pulled my suitcase while I pushed. We must have been quite the site
going up that hill, because there were some business men staring out the window
laughing hysterically at us. Thanks guys, thanks. </div>
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Once we did eventually make it there, we dropped the luggage
off and headed out for our last day in the city! Today had been kind of cloudy,
and as we were walking around looking for a coffee shop, it started to rain!
(Imagine that, rain in Seattle?) We go in a coffee shop just in time, and sat
doing some work on our computers until it was time to head to our movie. We
were going to see Ice Age 4! The movie was ok. There were some hilarious parts
where I laughed my head off, and then there quite a few just ok/boring parts.
But over all it was a cute movie.</div>
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Afterwards we were looking around the mall for lunch, but
couldn’t find much. All of us wanted pizza, so we found a cute little place a
few blocks away. Mods pizza was awesome, and definitely reasonably priced. I
got a Dillion James pizza, which had: sausage, basil, mozzarella, tomato and
garlic. Delicious! Once we were done with lunch we had to say goodbye to our
newfound friend, which was sad. Then off we went to pick up our luggage! We
took a taxi from our host’s house to Union station, which even though it was
only half a mile, it was a very long way to walk with a broken 60 pound
suitcase!</div>
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We are now sitting in the train station waiting for our
train which has been delayed at least an hour. It is so hard to believe that I
will be home in just one week. I have been gone from my house for 34 days now
and it seems like forever! So much has happened in that long, and I have
enjoyed every moment of it! But truth be told, I am feeling ready to get back
to my home, my family and my other friends. This has been the trip of a
lifetime, and I can’t wait to enjoy the next week of it!</div>
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<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Edwardian Script ITC'; font-size: 36pt;">~Rebekah</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-38356231834933458462012-07-13T03:03:00.003-04:002012-07-13T03:03:49.479-04:00Day 17- Seattle<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This morning was a fairly early morning, as we had to head
out to volunteer at our last food shelter! We had tried to volunteer in every
city, but some we were staying in were just too little, or the shelter we had
arranged did not work out.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIHOLLcqFEGyvW357rp2pnz_vgg6_mbW3VW0ZwQiixvXNL3irOxVRZubIcQIwaMxCiXvpqzxng3oGYWO1MgGQkyeitQyCOxJ5BKJv-EtZ2vH6rZga3qz_OrKwm3U-i5ooB-5QtpUIYZE/s1600/IMG_2961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIHOLLcqFEGyvW357rp2pnz_vgg6_mbW3VW0ZwQiixvXNL3irOxVRZubIcQIwaMxCiXvpqzxng3oGYWO1MgGQkyeitQyCOxJ5BKJv-EtZ2vH6rZga3qz_OrKwm3U-i5ooB-5QtpUIYZE/s640/IMG_2961.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMsuxZoaahheM2cCQFzr_nhpTQ8_QkQFNy6hhA2O07Dqvoxttteu4E5jStDX9-RMNyMAekRLWOuz2dc77HUnfW20-kHHyWhhQ0t_LgCtu2iugdAr05Xnc93QUd6uKEOdJ4RADj2OjUdM/s1600/IMG_2963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMsuxZoaahheM2cCQFzr_nhpTQ8_QkQFNy6hhA2O07Dqvoxttteu4E5jStDX9-RMNyMAekRLWOuz2dc77HUnfW20-kHHyWhhQ0t_LgCtu2iugdAr05Xnc93QUd6uKEOdJ4RADj2OjUdM/s640/IMG_2963.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We rode the ferry over once again and then had to walk about
7 blocks. 7 blocks didn’t sound very bad, until we realized that those 7 blocks
were up hill. And not just any hill, crazy steep like San Francisco hills!
After huffing and puffing our way the last two blocks, we finally made it!
(Just a side note- if you ever move to Seattle and have to walk to work, you
might just be very tone after your first few months living their. No gym or
diet needed!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The people working at this food shelter were super friendly
from the start. They welcomed us in and immediately put us to work bagging
pastries. This was kind of funny, because it was like the one job we haven’t
done yet. In LA we did the sorting of good food from bad food. Here we took the
food that had been sorted and bagged it into individual sizes. In San Diego we
handed those bags out to the people! This shelter was definitely my favorite
place to bag stuff. They had a very neat system set up, with nice plastic bags
and holders, and then the awesome thing ever- a bag taper! You would put the
stuff in the bag, give it a twirl, and then insert that twirl into the tape
machine, and pull it out. There would be a perfect little piece of tape around
the bag! That was just a blast to do, and it made our time bagging seem to fly
by. After we had bagged pastries we bagged diapers, which was still fun <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
Then they wanted us to get out to the customer service for the last half. They
had us sit behind tables and help the customers coming through the line. We met
quite a few lovely volunteers, and it was just an amazing experience! All too
soon we had to say goodbye to our new-found friends, and though it was sad to
leave, both Rebekah and I were hungry! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had planned to get Indian today for lunch, and that is
just what we did. I found a restaurant using my Iphone, and off we headed. The
restaurant was ok. We had their lunch buffet, and though it was good, it definitely
wasn’t the best. Kind of average Indian food. We had also planned to get our
nails done! I was in desperate need of both a Mani and Pedi, and it felt
wonderful to get off our feet for a few hours! Though I ALWAYS go with a French
pedicure, I decided to go wild this time and get a bright fun yellow! I love
how they turned out even though they are a little bolder then I expected. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After our little pit stop we went to just walk through Pike
Place Market one more time. We stopped at this stand and got the OMG peaches.
Let me just tell you, they are amazing. The best peaches you will ever taste in
your entire life! We walked through a bit more, but since we had already seen
it yesterday we decided to sit on a little park bench overlooking the water and
finish our peaces.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We then hopped on the ferry back home, and once arriving,
started cooking dinner! I made one of my favorite meals, garlic chicken wraps.
It took a little while because all they had for a grill was a stove top that
turned into a grill. It was totally awesome, but small. The chicken did cook
eventually, and we all chowed down. The chicken was a little dry, and missing
some flavor, but everyone loved it! Even the 4 French students came back again
and again! (I think one of them had 4 wraps!) I was so glad they were a a hit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The evening was another wonderfully relaxing evening, with
more cookie baking, and this time something very special- Henna tattoo’s! Henna
tattoo’s are a temporary tattoo that normally lasts for about 2 weeks. The mom
here is amazing at them, and I can’t wait to post a picture of mine. (It will
have to wait, as we will be on the train tomorrow and won’t have wi-fi!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is late and we have an early day tomorrow, so goodnight!</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-18883138854839668062012-07-12T04:28:00.006-04:002012-07-12T04:28:58.013-04:00Day 17- Seattle, here comes the Couchsurfers!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This morning we ended up sleeping in a little later then we
had planned, which is just what we needed after staying up until all hours of
the night. As the morning progressed we said goodbye to our new friends form
Czech Republic and Costa Rica, and 4 of us Couchsurfers decided to head out as
a group into Seattle! The hour ferry ride over was just lovely. We all sat
together conversing and laughing and talking about our lives, interests, and
Couchsurfing in general. I learned so much about many different cultures, and
it was only the beginning of the day! </span></div>
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Hello, Seattle!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After we landed in Seattle we headed to Pike Place Market. Now
everyone had told me I had to go here, including my sister who was in Seattle
just 3 months ago. So off we went, walking and talking and running people over.
One of our new Couchsurfer friends was from New York, and is going to school
for photography. We hit it off and I enjoyed talking photography stuff with
her. As we talked we both mentioned how sometimes we just don’t feel inspired
to take photos while on vacation. It is vacation after all. I also said that
for me, most of the photos I have the opportunity to shoot are of more touristy
things, and that is not really want I want a memory of. And honestly, the few
memories of touristy things I do want to preserve, I can capture very easily
with my Iphone. So that is just a small explanation to all of you out there who
have been wondering why I don’t have many pictures in a lot of these posts. For
those of you who followed me while I was in Hawaii in February, I find it much
easier (and I am way more inspired) to take photos when I am photographing children.
Children were always with me in Hawaii, children are never with me here<span style="font-family: Wingdings;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pike Place Market was just not what I expected. I thought it
might be like a huge mall, with overprices tourist traps. Instead, it was a
beautiful open air market that was similar to a very large flea-market. There
was amazing fresh fruits and vegetables, every kind of noodle you could want
(including dark chocolate1) There were also lots of cute little shops. After we
had walked through, one of the Couchsurfer’s friends texted her and told her
about an amazing place to get Mac and Cheese in Pike Place! We headed there for
lunch, and boy was it good! Very rich, but delicious, and filled with cheese
they make on-stie! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKmMwytzrHY4jq-PViq962wiAYA5Aq49n1g3Ze4jrphnJUHl-QTS5YO9IvqGEEOpuFv5WlMp7OjJerj2fRGwFBBW1CU7ZTYRuOZqxtZZ1Id0Q7fAsmoloNCRB9zirT7LBcNKANB2dOMM/s1600/IMG_2947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKmMwytzrHY4jq-PViq962wiAYA5Aq49n1g3Ze4jrphnJUHl-QTS5YO9IvqGEEOpuFv5WlMp7OjJerj2fRGwFBBW1CU7ZTYRuOZqxtZZ1Id0Q7fAsmoloNCRB9zirT7LBcNKANB2dOMM/s640/IMG_2947.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After that we split up so that there was just 4 of us, and
we headed down towards something we wanted to do, but then realized that we
wanted ice cream. My sister had recommend a place that was two blocks back, so
off we went in the other direction. The ice cream was from Cupcake Royale, and
it was just amazing. (Don’t you love my <b>“diet” </b>for the day<b>?</b>) I got the
WA salted toffee with fudge swirls. (or something like that.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then</b> we headed back
in the other direction, and made our way to something we had heard about called
the Underground tour. I was a 75 minute tour that I thought was overpriced, but
I certainly learned TONS of information. The basic gist of it was just that in
the late 1800’s Seattle was having some flooding problems, so they built the
roads up so that everything reached the second stories of buildings. Therefore,
there remains to this day, sidewalks and doors that are literally under the
streets of Seattle. It was neat to see, but definitely not the best tour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And this, lady and gentleman, is where I have exciting news!
If you have been following Rebekah over at lovingforreal.blogspot.com then you
will be pleased to hear that the rest of the day is different on each of our
blogs! I ended up going back to our host’s house with two surfers, and Rebekah
went to see a few more sights with 2 other surfers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The ferry ride back was again wonderful, and I really
enjoyed getting to know the couple from New York. Once we got back to the house
we discovered that there were four more surfers for the night, and they were
from France! They had cooked a dinner for us, called Tartiflette, which is
basically a brie, potato and bacon dish. It was just wonderful, and I enjoyed
every bite!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilS8B5rtVwOUPtls34Em1OGfYqAasAqsbNx4gDsHlalVodxINgr2fZgseNJrZPzXkGQVUDIHGKc3ClSTfpOXInGGpJBXQOFsO0Ig03vmkDG8sjdLRR_UXn9X3Dag0EF3mmcV5GvBf9gIc/s1600/IMG_2952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilS8B5rtVwOUPtls34Em1OGfYqAasAqsbNx4gDsHlalVodxINgr2fZgseNJrZPzXkGQVUDIHGKc3ClSTfpOXInGGpJBXQOFsO0Ig03vmkDG8sjdLRR_UXn9X3Dag0EF3mmcV5GvBf9gIc/s640/IMG_2952.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After that the New York surfers and I headed out for some
grocery shopping and enjoyed more wonderful time getting to know each other!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I sit here, enjoying Trader Joes’s mints, a cup of Tazo
Calm tea, and writing this post. It has been an amazing day, and enjoyed every
second!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRKnl6fPhdg2v139bEOpuI-ofqB_SIyAbroF8GaU4qCwZHmjppfJjqpHnJ0w5GXQV_q3VN4zhiNpBK9UUfxKckJcIwdlsWgsaDhC3BKlhL8kFvZ9InozshHHETJaYzahY8uo_jSnevR0/s1600/IMG_2956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRKnl6fPhdg2v139bEOpuI-ofqB_SIyAbroF8GaU4qCwZHmjppfJjqpHnJ0w5GXQV_q3VN4zhiNpBK9UUfxKckJcIwdlsWgsaDhC3BKlhL8kFvZ9InozshHHETJaYzahY8uo_jSnevR0/s640/IMG_2956.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Before, I go, I want to give you a quick blurb on
Couchsurfing. If you have not done it, DO IT. If you have not been able to tell
how amazing and wonderful Couchsurfing is from my posts, well, you must not be
reading them. I understand that it will not fit every personality type, but I
really do think that it fits a lot! You get to meet so many new wonderful
people, learn about them, their culture, their lives, their traditions, and
also teach them about you and your life! It had presented so many wonderful
experiences (and no negative ones!) and I will never for get all the wonderful
friends I have made through it. If you get the chance, TRY IT. (Go to www.couchsurfing.com
) for more info.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">~Rebekah</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-75061881696445065962012-07-11T04:10:00.001-04:002012-07-11T04:10:53.754-04:00Day 16- Oregon to Seattle (Via Portland!)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today was quite adventurous. The morning started out bright
and EARLY at 4:25am. We head from Eugene to Portland on a quick trip, eating
breakfast and watching a movie. In Portland we were able to store our bags at
Union Station, and so we had about 4 hours to explore Portland! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of Rebekah’s friends had recommended Voodoo doughnuts
and so we headed straight there. I got a doughnut covered in Oreo’s peanut
butter and fudge. It was crazy sweet but amazingly delicious. Since we had so
little time and didn’t really know what do, I called my sister and she told us
to go and take a picture of every coffee shop we saw. We also were looking for
fair trade coffee shops and record stores for her. We ended up seeing all of
downtown Portland, walking from Coffee shop to record store, and meeting some
cool people in between. Portland is like the Austin of the Northwest, and I
love it. Their motto is Keep Portland Weird, and it is filled with hippies and
hipsters. Though I don’t exactly fit in either category, a lot of them are
awesome people <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next came the train from Portland to Seattle, with another
movie and lunch. And maybe a nap or two as we had gotten up at 4am! When we
arrived in Seattle, we had to find our way to the ferry, which was a little
more difficult then it sounds. Not only did we have to weave our way around
horrible construction, but we had to drag all of our luggage, which if you read
our LA adventures you know that amount of luggage is not small. So we are
dragging our entire homes down the street, and my wheels work wonderfully, but
they will occasionally not work, and then when they decide to have a mind of
their own, my suitcase runs into people, things and falls over, with the cooler
and bag I have on top of it. Then the bread that is in the bag falls out in the
middle of the road and I pick it up and carry it across the road while dragging
my suitcase with bags falling off. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think God was using this experience to teach me some
meekness (which is much needed on my part!) I really wasn’t that frustrated
about the stupid suitcases; I was more frustrated that the things they were
doing were making me look stupid. They were making me look like a fool in front
of other people. And I hate that. I always want to look put together and I
didn’t. And it was ok. I survived. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We rode the ferry (a beautiful hour long ride!) over and our
Couchsurfer hosts picked us up. From the moment we met them they were just
awesome! We piled their van high with our luggage and off we headed. From the
moment we got in the car we talked and laughed and had a fantastic time. And we
learned that they have hosted over 100 people in the last 2 months. WOW.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When we arrived at the house we met lots of amazing people.
The hosts have 5 kids, and then there is a total of 12 couch surfers staying
with them tonight! From all over; A couple from New York, Utah, Cota Rica,
Cetch Rebublic, Mexio and more! It has been a blast meeting and spending time
with all of them and I can’t wait to hang out with them more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let me just attempt to give you a glimpse of the amazing
night we have had here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To start off with about 6 of us cooked dinner together
laughing and joking in the kitchen. Then about 20 people ate dinner together
wherever they could sit. Then as some people ran to the grocery store, us girls
turned on a movie and baked some amazing cookies together! I have learned so
much about so many different cultures and people, tonight, I am in heaven! And
it feels like one big family! Best night so far!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sorry for no pictures. It is super late, and we have to get up super early. So maybe tomorrow?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rebekah</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-46280035245425844282012-07-10T16:57:00.001-04:002012-07-10T16:57:33.104-04:00Day 15- Oregon<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our day started out with a little bit of sleeping in and
packing up. Last night was our last night at Aunt Darcy and Uncle </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Mike’s. It
was sad to be leaving but we still had a full day ahead!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first thing on our agenda was to see the redwoods! We
headed down to the Redwood national forest which was about 45 minutes away. On
the way we stopped to see the Smith river, which was just stunning. We stopped
to get drinks at a cute little dinner in the middle of no where, and then we
stopped to stick our feet in the river. It was a little cold for this time of
year, but still beautif</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">ul. There is something so relaxing about the sounds of
water running over rocks!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNw-P6sGcJjfRlKT2N-Az0o_pxObEwsEf1fX_CyZl1efN6djr45YpiKuWJN2aqQsDctgH9MEB4xJaVf9pz-hOk1-mgKXxm7vlfvy0qZ2Pq4KrJYEeAgeURwoWXnq5SwAaMatECpCsWhWI/s1600/DSC_0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNw-P6sGcJjfRlKT2N-Az0o_pxObEwsEf1fX_CyZl1efN6djr45YpiKuWJN2aqQsDctgH9MEB4xJaVf9pz-hOk1-mgKXxm7vlfvy0qZ2Pq4KrJYEeAgeURwoWXnq5SwAaMatECpCsWhWI/s640/DSC_0042.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When we got to the Redwoods we got out and walked on a trail
for a couple of minutes. I have many memories of coming to the Redwoods as a
child. I remember walking through and looking up at these trees, not even being
able to comprehend why and how they got so big. This time I had a little more
comprehension, but they still amazed me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After we headed back home and on our way stopped for a
“quick” hike to see some natural bridges. We could see them a little bit from
above. Rebekah and I were just going to very quickly head down the trail and
see them closer. Except we encountered a small problem. The trail split. I
thought we should take the one that looked like we were walking through a jungle, but Rebekah said it was a bad
idea and it looked like when they guy in Beauty and the Beast chose the path
that led to wolfs. But we went down it anyway, climbing over tree trunks and
going through thorny bushes. About 10 minutes later we are at the end of the
trail after many interesting experiences. We made it back up, through all of
that again, still not great view of the bridges.<span style="font-family: Wingdings;"> It was quite the adventure!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We left in the afternoon for Eugene, and it was a lovely
road trip. I just love Oregon! The drive was beautiful. We had Thai for dinner,
which was excellent! We are now in a hotel and well soon sleep and then wake
for a very early train tomorrow morning!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Edwardian Script ITC'; font-size: 36pt;">Rebekah</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-5833250104255728022012-07-10T16:41:00.007-04:002012-07-10T16:41:45.382-04:00Day 14- Oregon<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This morning stated out early with me waking to make some
breakfast. Time in the kitchen is like meditation for me. I am alone, I will
occasionally turn on music, but most of the time it’s me and the sounds of a
whisk or a knife. And I love the thrill of making food, especially good tasting
healthy food. After a quick breakfast we headed down to the beach (which is
only about 5 minutes from Aunt Darcy’s house!) for surfing lessons. Yesterday
when we were at deep crick a lady we met had told us about a 4-h camp that we
could join. So at 8am we met about 20 other 4-h students on the beach. We
suited up in wet suits, as the water was about 50 degrees. One of the
volunteers gave us basic lessons on the sand, then handed us boards and out we
went. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was not sure what to expect the first time I caught a
wave. I was just lying on the board, waiting. It came all of a sudden, and it
felt like a roller coaster. It was amazing. I continued to surf just laying
down on my belly for while. Learning a few things like how to paddle, what
waves were good, where to lean on the board. Then the instructor said I could
try kneeling/standing up. The first time I tried kneeling, it was hard to get
up. My wet suit kept sticking to the surf board. The instructor had said the
key to standing up is doing it quickly. So at this point I just tried to catch
a wave and get up quickly. After a few tries I got to my knees and was able to
stay there for an entire wave, which was pretty encouraging. Next I tried
standing, which was so much harder. By the end I had stood up twice, but both
times I fell off after standing up for just a few seconds. We had a snack
break, and after I was so excited to get back I the water, but the waves were
bigger because the tide was coming in, and my arms were very tired. I continued
to try to stand up, but I had started getting to far forward on the board. I would
catch a wave, but after it pushed me about 5 feet, the tip of the board would
go under the water (because I was too far forward) and I would flip of, the
board would flip over me, and when I would try to stand up the wave would come
over me and push me down. The first time this happened, I will admit I was
pretty freaked out. I love the water, but when you are trapped under 50 degree
water it feels like an eternity of trying to get up. In reality it might have
been all of 5 seconds. Then I would stand up, catch my breath, and head back
out to catch another wave. This happened three times before I figured out that
I was too far forward. After I adjusted that, I was too far back. It took a few
more tries but I finally got my position right again, and I caught a couple
waves. At this point I was so tired that I just belly surfed (which is still
amazingly awesome!) until it was time to be done. I am so very glad we got the
chance to surf! I now absolutely love doing it and cannot WAIT to try again
sometime!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After the surfing lesson it was already 12:30 and we headed
home to prepare for a few friends that we coming over at 4. I made the potatoes
for the cook out and helped set things up. I also got to make a few flower
arrangements, which was SO fun. My Aunt Darcy is like a crazy gardener, and has
so many beautiful flowers in her garden. I loved how the purple one turned out <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
We enjoyed my Uncle Mikes ribs for dinner, which are the best I have ever had!
Just amazing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Over all our stay in Oregon has held many adventures, and I
am so glad we were able to fit so much into our three day stay!</span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-2410789655550570982012-07-07T00:08:00.001-04:002012-07-07T00:08:40.895-04:00Day 12- Sacramento to Gold Beach, ORWe don't have wi-fi, so I am writing on my phone. Please excuse typo's
This morning started out as the sub rose, and peaked through the curtains in our train seat. I slept really well overnight, even though I did not get quite a full nights sleep. We had breakfast on the train, did our indivial things, and then started a movie together. Once again, the train is such a wonderfully relaxing place. I am looking forward to our two really long trips. They should be so enjoyable.
After the train arrived in Eugene around two, my Aunt picked us up. She let me drive, which I so enjoyed. I have become my daddy's daughter. I love just driving long road trips and looking around. This 3 1/2 hour drive was just stunning. Trees and mountains on either side, a river flowing through the valley. Aunt Darcy had a new blues CD which made the trip all the more relaxing!
We arrived in Gold Beach, which holds many childhood memories for me, as my mom grew up here, so we have made quite a few trips to visit. She has shown me all around her old stopping grounds, and I am so looking forward to
Doing the same with Rebekah!!
~RebekahRebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-51907959757216840192012-07-05T20:14:00.001-04:002012-07-05T20:14:48.090-04:00Day 11- Sacramento (and 4th of July!)Again, I am sorry this is a day late! I have a different excuse this time though... our host home's internet was down, which allowed for a very relaxing evening as I had not computer responsibilities to tend to, but of course I was not able to blog. So here I am, sitting in Panera blogging. But of course I forgot my camer and my iphone cord, so there will be no picture today either. Maybe I will add them to tomorrow's post :)<br />
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The morning started out as another relaxing morning, and then Rebekah and I decided to head down to an ice cream shop that I had heard about called Gunther's. We rode the light rail down, and for the first time, saw a not so nice part of Sacramento. Though it still wasn't as bad as parts of LA, it was not the nicest area. We were fine though, and arrived at the ice cream shop after seeing another mile of Sacramento. I got the lemon and the fudge brownie ice cream. The lemon I got according to a recommendation online, and I am so glad I listened to them! It was perfectly smooth and silky. It had a very nice lemon flavor that was distinct, yet not too sour. Rebekah said it tasted like a lemon cookie, and I completely agree! The fudge brownie was not very good. It tasted just like something you would get at the grocery store, and I was very disappointed. <span style="background-color: white;">Rebekah got the mango which was delicious. Over all we enjoyed it very much, and it was a nice little trip into Sacramento.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">After we got back to our host home, we helped set up the party they they were hosting for all the college students we had met the night before. It was a wonderful party! Our hosts have a pool in their back yard so there was eating (of course) swimming, and lots of laughing and chatting. All of the college student's were so welcoming and friendly, and by the end of the night I felt like we had made 20 new friends! I got to play in the pool with 3 little kids for about and hour, one of my favorite parts of the trip so far. When you are around little kids every day (babysitting, nannying, homeschool co-op and church) you don't realize how much you value that time you get to spend with them. But whenever I travel with out children, I start to miss having little kids to pick up and hold and play with so much! Those hours spent in the pool were just what I needed :)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
Once I got dark, we got to shoot off fireworks, which was so much fun! (They are leagal in CA!) Although there were some huge and very cool fireworks, plain old sparkalers are my favorite!<br />
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It was such a wonderful 4th of July, with many memories and new friends made. The whole night I was marveling at the fact that I was in CA, and it was 4th of July! And also that we had made so many friends in such a short time. I love how being a Christian seems to bind people together. Wonderful to know we can probally make friends where ever we go!<br />
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I hope to upload pictures later<br />
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~RebekahRebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876003205450256186.post-423807446876082612012-07-04T15:00:00.003-04:002012-07-04T15:00:28.825-04:00Day 10- Sacramento<span style="font-size: large;">This is a day late, I know. But I was kind of super tired last night and fell asleep on my computer. Opps. I was super tired because we had a very full day! It was a wonderful day though. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We started out in downtown Sacramento, and walked right by a Farmer's Market, so we got some stuff :) We picked up some Cherries, some bread sticks, some home-roasted almonds and a whole-wheat chocolate peanut butter chip cookie! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We kept walking, and basically walked half the city of Sacramento (the downtown city at least). I love Sacramento! There were so many vintage-looking houses, and I was quite surprised at how very clean the city was. And quiet. As we walked there really weren't many people around (except when we walked by the Capitol, of course!) It was very peaceful and serene, and I loved it! It was also beautiful. There were tons of flowers on every street corner, and everything was so well kept. It's quite the change from SoCal, and I loved it! </span><br />
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(izze break at Starbucks)</div>
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(These are my favorite type of flowers. ~ <span style="background-color: white;">Hydrangea's )</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">We then walked to Old Sacramento which people had told us was a must see. And indeed it is! It is lined with cute little shops (about 50% of them being candy stores!) and </span><span style="background-color: white;">restaurants</span><span style="background-color: white;">. It was a very enjoyable afternoon (filled with lots of candy-too much candy!) One of the candy stores we stopped in let you sample any of their salt water taffy for free! There was about 50 different kinds of salt water taffy- enough said. I got some of the peanut butter and the buttered popcorn. They were amazing!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">There was an old school house in OldSac, and it was so fun! I just love things from that time period (Pioneer/Little house on the praire/late 1800's). I kept daydreaming about actually being able to be a school teacher in that type of setting, but at last, I am not sure that will happen :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After we stopped for lunch at a little restaurant overlooking the water, and then headed back to our amazing host home on the light rail (which again, was very nice and clean. I love you Sacramento!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This candy apple was delicious. Lots of stuff (like every candy ever made!) but oh so good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our host is a youth pastor (and his family) and he invited us to his college group at his church. It was wonderful! The worship was wonderful and the message, very convicting. It was on James 3:1-12, and about our words, which is something I personally struggle with a lot. It was very encouraging though!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then we headed to Buffalo wild wings for 50cent wings Tuesday! Over all, it was such a wonderful day, and I am so glad to add the memories to our trip!</span><br />
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~Rebekah<br />
<br />Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17865257877370363351noreply@blogger.com0