My year in pictures

Just a quick review of my year according to my favorite pictures. This year really has seemed to fly by! 

My year started out with me getting the privalege of staffing Teenpact VA 1 with some amazing people!

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!

I got to take pictures of little baby J, born in March and baby #7 in his family!

I got to go NYC for a few days with my mother, sister and best friend. We had quite the experience, and ate some amazing food!

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!

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. 

I got to go to my first ever concert, which was for a band called Gungor. And it was amazing.

I took pictures of these beautiful children. 

Oh yeah, I kind of graduated :)

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. 

Happy Father's day to the best daddy in the world!

I went to Mexico.... (for 4 hours)

And the Grand Canyon...

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)

One of my highlights of trip was holding a random baby for 4 hours in a food shelter in San Diego.

And of course, going to Disneyland was the best. I mean, the BEST.

I went to Europe for two weeks in the end of July to nanny for a beautiful family. It was a blast!

Random horribly ugly matching dresses with one of my best friends :)

I went apple picking twice in one week, and made 3 apple pies from the apples I picked :)

Then I moved to Nashville, for 3 months during the fall semester. 

Awaiting the baby.

I got to be at the birth of the sweetest little baby I have ever known. Little miss Eva Catherine.

And over the next weeks I fell in love with this baby, and her family. 

(I am the luckiest person in the world, wearing a 3 day old baby in a sling is pure heaven.)

Lots of my favorite moments were holding Eva while doing school work.

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 :)

I made a new friend, long distance, and had many an interesting Skype sessions with her :)

I got to come home for Thanksgiving and go on my first ever cruise to the Bahamas with my family!

We got to go to Universal Studios and Harry Potter world!

I got to spend 4 days in Boston nannying for this precious boy!

And host a Christmas party, which included a gingerbread house making contest :)

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.

~ Merry Christmas ~

A 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.

iphones. Why I love them, and why I hate all other phones. Ok, hate is a strong word. I highly dislike all other phones. It's not that I think everyone needs an iphone. Because they don't. I don't need an iphone. Just like I don't need 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, simplify your life?"

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 don't use them for that purpose then people who do.

 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 do with this magical device I am always talking about. She loved the idea. So here I am.


A day in the life of my iphone:

6:00 am- Alarm on iphone goes off. I turn alarm off, and drag myself out of bed.
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.)
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.)
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.)
6:25am- I get ready for the day, sometimes turning my morning playlist on to get my day going.
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*
7:50am- Once home, I make a list of the school I need to get done that day, (on the reminders app).
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.)
9:00am-I start school, and turn on my classical music pandora list. (on the pandora app.)
9:40am- I take a break from school and either check e-mail on my computer, or Instagram on my iphone.
9:45am- I resume school and classical music. I normally try to work in 40-60 minute increments all morning.
12:30pm- I take a break for lunch and remember a recipe someone sent me. I look it up on my iphone.
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.

(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.)

Afternoon:
I go shopping. Wherever I go (Grocery shopping, Target, various stores.) I make a grocery list on my phone.
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 pull over and use my map app to find where I need to go.
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.
I use the calculator app to calculate something in the store.
I then use my USAA app to check the balance of my bank account because I always forget to do this before I leave home!
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.
I decide I would like an afternoon drink and use the app to find the closest Starbucks.

6:00pm- I play music while cooking dinner.
8:00pm-I use the my phone to make multiple calls to my mother and various friends.
10:00pm- I turn on lullaby music before I fall asleep and set my alarm for the next morning.


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.
Here are some of the other times my phone comes in handy:
~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.

~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.

~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?

~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.

~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.

~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.

~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!

~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!

~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.)

~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!


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!

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.
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.

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 simplifies my life immensely.

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."

I have two answers to this question:
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.

My second answer is goes with the second question:
 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.

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. :)


~Rebekah

Up, Up and away.

Growing up.
 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.

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 new 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 too little with me, but as stuff piled up, it all began to seem like too much 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.

 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.

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.)

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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 :)

~Rebekah

Traveling as a nanny ~ Copenhagen, Denmark

It is very late here. But I wanted to fit in just a few words about Europe before I headed off to bed.

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.

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!

Interesting things about Europe so far:
The people here have AMAZING style. ~ Just saying.

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.

The old architecture here is beautiful. ~ Beyond Beautiful

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.

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 :)

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 ;)

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!)


Off to bed for me!! I will try to post some pictures tomorrow :)


~Rebekah

Day 24, 25, 26 and the end! - Chicago, Holland Michigan, and home!

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.

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!)

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.

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 that good. Rebekah said it tasted like cheese puffs and cracker jacks, and it really did.

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.

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!

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 J 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^th try you will like it.) So I guess I have 11 more times to go!

An embarrassing story from today:

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.

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!

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!

My highlights of the trip:

Favorite City: San Diego. For the weather, the bus system, our CouchSurfing host, and the attractions in general.

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.

Favorite city for the people: Seattle. 20 people in one house equals one big party!

Favorite moments:

Riding horses in Tucon

Snorkeling in San Diego

Holding a sleeping baby at the food pantry in San Diego

Fireworks in Disneyland

Sorting egg cartons in the LA food pantry

4^th of July in Sacramento

Learning to surf in Oregon

Spending a night baking cookies in Seattle

Bagging diapers in the Seattle food pantry

White water rafting in Montana

Getting asked for directions in Chicago

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!

Well, goodbye for now! I will try to blog about my trip to Europe as a nanny next week!

~Rebekah

Days 20, 21, 22 and 23

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. :)

Day 20-To Montana we go!

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!

(What I do on the train. Color and look out the window while listening to my travel playlist. Such peaceful times.)

Day 21- Adventures in Montana.

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!

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 J 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 J

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!

Day 22- Farwell Montana- hello train!

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 J 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!

Day 23- Train and more train.

This is a description of my day:

Eat, write, read, watch movie. Repeat. Repeat again. Find out train is running 4 hours late, and repeat again. 

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.

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!

~Rebekah