Reminiscing

While I do not miss doing dolphin interactions everyday, and I do trust that God is calling me to Uganda to teach, I have recently been missing being around animals. I have always loved animals, and growing up as a year-round swimmer, I always loved the water. I think working at Discovery Cove was an overdose of water though. I felt like I lived in it. I have no clue what the future holds. I know that the next two years I will continue to teach and I get to live in Africa (certainly a dream come true)! Will God call me into long-term missions? Will he call me to come back and teach in the States? Will I go back to animal training? Or something completely new? I don't know, and I'm not too concerned about it all right now, just reminiscing I suppose, and maybe dreaming a little.

Playing with dolphins and a few of my fav kiddos, the Swains! Love them!

This summer I'm planning to spend a couple of weeks in Orlando. I'm so looking forward to seeing friends while I'm down there. While Orlando wasn't my fav city, it is definitely home to some of my FAV people, and I can't wait to see them (and hopefully some old animal friends too :))!

The Final Stretch

Have I mentioned that 85% of my support has been pledged and I am just shy of having all of my one-time costs! I am in awe of God’s provision. Each of my financial and prayer supporters are a valuable part of this ministry. I am grateful to each and every one of you, and it comforts me to know that you are behind me, caring for me as God is bringing me to the mission field.

There are 27 school days until the end of the year. I started packing up a few things and it is really beginning to hit me that the time for me to go is so near. My pre-field training is scheduled for August 1-19^th and then, as long as 100% of my support has been pledged, I will be able to move.

If anyone has been waiting until it is time for me to go to give, now is the time J It is time to start making final preparations, but I do have to be at 100% in order to book my plane ticket. Faithful prayer supporters will you please pray that God will raise up the last bit support quickly. I need $325 in monthly pledges.

Last Day in Nashville

 The top floor of that high rise is the condo of Taylor Swift- 5,000 square feet! We were gonna stop by, but she ended up being out of town.

 We had lunch at the amazing Pancake Pantry in Hillsboro. Great food and cute shops!

 Grand Ole Opry

 Little Jimmy Dickens

 Josh Turner

Singing on stage at The Grand Ole Opry

What a fun week I've had with Ashley and Christa. We have a short time left tomorrow to tour the RCA Studio and then it's time to head home, and back to real life. Love you Christa and Shlee!

Nashville-Day 3

 Music City Walk of Fame Stars

 Ashley and I think this building is cool because it looks like three buildings in one and it is nicknamed "The Batman Building." It's a stretch, but we are pretending to be Batman and Robin...just imagine "Boom!" "Pow!" spread across the picture :)

 Elvis Presley's Gold Piano

 Johnny Cash's Guitar

 We stopped by to tour Ryman Auditorium and decided to form our own band and hopped up on the stage to perform. We are still working on the band name.

Tonight we are heading back to the Ryman for the Opry Country Classics show!

Nashville-Day 2

Today we just stopped by a few friends houses. Ya know, people like Dolly Parton, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Kick Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Trace Adkins, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw. Actually we went on a tour that drove us all around Nashville, and by the homes of all these artists.

 Dolly Parton's House

Ronnie Dunn's House

We had dinner at BB King's where we enjoyed some local blues music and then headed over to Tootsie's where we were treated to the Trailer Park All Stars. They were awesome!

Hello Music City-Nashville Day 1

Today Ashley and I arrived in Nashville to meet up with Christa, an old friend of mine who I met when I was 8 and who I haven't seen in 8 years! We are having a reunion this week in Music City :)

 Ashley and I spent the afternoon at the zoo while we waited for Christa to arrive. Of course the giraffe had to come over and say hello to Ashley :)

 We went to hear live music at the famous Bluebird Cafe. Many famous names in country music were discovered at the Bluebird Cafe. When I say we had front row seats I mean we were sitting at a table two feet away from these guys as they played.

  Music in the round with Keni Thomas, Billy Montana, Jay Knowles, and Buddy Jewell.

Hanging out with Buddy Jewell :)

DC Cherry Blossoms

My cousins and I had a wonderful time wandering around DC today. We enjoyed Eastern Market, had fun riding the metro, filled up at Good Stuff, and of course went to see the famous cherry blossoms surrounding the monuments. What fun memories with fun girls.