Kisses From Katie

There are some things that you all should know.
I am leaving for Uganda in May.
I'll be gone for a month.
A year and a half from when I land in the States, I'll be going back to Uganda, to student teach.
I'll be gone for 11 weeks.
And about 6 months after I land in the states, I'll be going back to Uganda again. To live.

As soon as this book Kisses from Katie hit the bookshelves in October people started telling me to read it. "It reminded me of you," they would say, and the book looked great, it was on my Christmas break book list. So I'm reading it. All those people who told me "it reminded me of you" were under-exaggerating. In fact, this book is so prophetic of my life to come that sometimes I cannot read much, it's almost scary, like I'm receiving a letter from future me.

Katie and I have one difference though, only one that I can see. She went there not knowing what she was supposed to do, only that she was supposed to go, and I have an idea of what I'm supposed to do. My idea meant that I needed a college degree.
My goal is to start the first Special Education program in Central Africa.

Well, now you know.

Awesome and Awkward...Friday?

I know, I am remiss! I missed Thursday, so will you forgive me and allow me a Friday post instead?
Oh good, I knew you would.

Awesome:

My very wonderful friend Erin coming in on Christmas Eve Eve and playing with me.
She's so amazing, we both love Africa, we both will end up in Uganda, we went to the same camp as kids, were in the same church district, went on a trip to Missouri together and yet we didn't meet until this summer at Fourth Estate in San Diego. If that's not crazy, what is? 

The last few chapters of the gospel of Luke.  

My crazy family. My extended family is enormous. My Mom has 6 brothers and sisters, so when we all gather we're talking about 31 people. They're pretty funny.

My good friend Haley meeting me on my lunch break.

The new Sherlock Holmes, go check it out.  

The year of the boot! Ethan got me these terribly awesome boots  and my Mom got me Hunter boots (the really classy green ones just like Princess Diana)! I'm serious, the year of the boot. I like boots.  

Awkward:

Wearing short skirts and being picked up. Oops. Good thing I had on tights with holes in them..yipes. 

Your 89-year-old Nana telling you about a man who has a romantic interest in her. Oy. 

 The Dentist. Even when it's not awkward, you feel awkward. 

Ringing up a customer for a seventh of what they owe and having them tell me, "uh, we owe you more money."

This picture from yesterday, I think I am afraid of my house:

Watoto

Skirt: c/o CAbi Shirt: Gap Scarf: F21 Boots (!!!): Gift/Steve Madden

WATOTO: The Swahili word for Children

So, something I should probably tell you guys..
I'm going to Uganda in May.
Umhm!!!
Right now I'm hoping to work at an orphanage called Watoto. I sent in my application the other day. It's this amazing place that takes in unwanted babies from all over Uganda. I don't think I can do it justice, so you have to watch the video below. It's worth the 3 minutes, I promise. The babies are so stinking adorable I think I've watched it about 10 times.

Baby Watoto from Watoto on Vimeo.

A Merry Christmas To You

 

It might be the day after Christmas, but I hope you're still Merry!

Readings

Christmas break spelled out two words to me before the semester ended:

BOOK LIST.

I love reading, but I spent most of this semester reading books for my children's lit class (and loved it). However now it's time for big kid books. So here is my Christmas Break List:

 I just finished this, it was great. But definitely some hard to take stuff. You have to be in a strong mood I think.

Has been on my list for ages, time to go pick it up. 

I feel like I really must see what all the hub-bub is all about. 

Because it's a must know when you're jetting off to Uganda in May. 

And Again. 

Did I mention I have a gift card to Barnes and Nobel?

Happy Day. 

What books are on your reading list? 

Awkward and Awesome Thursday

Almost...

Awkward:

Having three young men help me put on a ski. Yep, took three. And about 5 minutes. Five minutes is a long time when there are three young men helping you put on a ski.

Falling while skiing, I'm a pro fall-er. I should medal in falling. You think I'm joking, you think wrong.   

Late night commercials. And the fact that I find myself thinking, "Ooh, I should get that."

Glamour Magazine, I never read magazines, but I was in a waiting room for about two hours, so I thumbed through Glamour. It's scary in there! Lots of things I'm not sure I ever want to know about all sorts of lady things.  

 Awesome:

All kinds of people I know are going to the chapel and gonna get married.  

Working at the toystore, all kinds of little people and their little hats. Adorable. 

Grandma's Christmas cookies that ended up in my purse somehow. She's a good Grandma. 

Skiing, you may notice that I went skiing from above. Did I mention Ethan and I went skiing? 

Buying Christmas presents! I believe I've got them all, now on to wrap!

A Merry, Merry Christmas Eve Eve Eve to you! 

Hey There, Cold Stuff.

It's Christmas Break.

Break. 

In case you are confused on break's definition, it literally means "NO HOMEWORK."

And yes, it does mean working almost everyday, but for now, let's focus on the NO HOMEWORK aspect. 

Furthermore, it's Christmas Break. 

Christmas. 

I've never gotten much into the commercial part of Christmas, Santa is alright and presents are fun, but my very favorite part of Christmas, is the manger scene. 

This year, my very favorite part is Mary and all the emotions she must have gone through. I mean, it's your baby, your heart living outside of your body, but he's GOD. How do you react to that? What do you do? How do you let anyone else hold him? So many things that must have been factors of Mary's thinking that we would never have to think about with our own babies. 

And then there's the whole reason for the manger scene, love incarnate. 

It's all pretty.. well it's just beautiful. 

Merry Christmas Break everyone.