Well it looks like I am going to be a mom…to a German 17-year-old for nine months. Crazy, huh? Here’s how it came to be:

This summer as I read our weekly local newspaper each week I noticed that there was continual advertising for host families for foreign exchange students. It looked like they were pretty desperate, as there seemed to be no families stepping up to take these kids in. I thought about it and thought that it would be fun, but ultimately decided against it because I wanted my freedom and figured that these kids are coming over to live with families and that they wouldn’t want to come over and live with just me. So I brushed the idea off and that was that.

Then a couple of weeks ago I went over to my parents house for dinner and my mom showed me an article in the Kingsburg Recorder about Tammy. Tammy is a German girl who was placed with a family here but due to medical issues (of the family) she couldn’t stay there anymore. If another family didn’t step up to take her then she would have to move to a different school. I felt so bad for Tammy. I couldn’t imagine having to move to a different country and experience that cultural shock (even though she signed up for it) and then barely get used to the high school and then be pulled to another city and high school. So, I thought that this was God tapping me on the shoulder. I called the rep and told her my situation (single, very busy, never home, etc) but that if nobody else took her that I would. Well, another family did take her. So again I thought that that was that. I felt better with myself because at least I tried.

Soon after that I got a call from the rep again. She told me about Jasmin. Jasmin signed up to come over for the year but since nobody else wanted a student she has been sitting home waiting ever since. She watched all her friends in the program leave. Her visa is about to expire and this is pretty much her last chance to come over and do this. The rep asked me if I would be willing to look at her profile and consider taking Jasmin. I said I would and when I read about her I knew she would be a good fit. She is interested in cheerleading. She loves to do “girly” stuff. She is interested in going to church and youth group, etc. I called the rep and said I would take her but only if she went to KHS - as I live right by the school. (There had been some talk of Jasmin going to Fowler or Selma as KHS only wanted Tammy.) I prayed about it and basically figured that if I were meant to take her that KHS would let Jasmin in. Long story short they did…and Jasmin (to my complete surprise) is coming on Tuesday. This is all happening so fast!

Jasmin has written me a couple of times and seems to be really excited about coming here for the school year. She has never been to the States and wants the whole experience. I hope that you all will get to meet her and know her. Overall I am glad about this experience. It will teach me to be more selfless and help me to know more of what it is like to be a mother.

That is my big news of the week, other then seeing one of my BFF’s Kristin! I am so glad that she is in town – even if it is for a short bit. I miss her sooooo much!! We hadn’t seen each other for four months. That is the longest we had gone in three years. Sad!!

Anyway, I am off to clean my house. I am hoping to catch up on all of your blogs soon. Happy Sunday!

Hi All,

I am writing this from work. Sometimes we have super busy days. Sometimes we have super slow days. Today is definitely one of the slower days… But – it gives me time to write in my blog, right?:-)

My birthday was last Thursday and quite honestly it felt like any other day. I worked from 8-8:30 (as usual…see my last blog entry) and came home and did some things around my house and went to sleep by 10:30. Exciting. But, my family did have a nice dinner for me on Saturday. I got to choose the dinner and I selected chipotle tri-tip, rice pilaf, sourdough bread, corn, and salad. My grandma also made the best lemon dessert ever. It was a great time. For my birthday my parents (and I am chipping in too) are having all the dark wood in my house painted. I cannot wait to get that done!

I am doing well. Right now I am either sick or my allergies are acting up…I really can’t tell. It’s annoying but I can live with it. Last night was our first YL club and it was interesting. It was really difficult for me to not know any kids and I began to miss the YLWJ kids like crazy. I also ran YLWJ much differently then Kingsburg YL runs theirs (which doesn’t mean it was better or worse) so I have to readjust what YL club means to me. But, with time I will feel more and more comfortable. Overall I am happy to help because I know they (and the kids) really need it.

Sulli began walking this week. It’s fun to watch…!

I looked at my calendar and blocked out some dates when I will be visiting friends in Washington State and Northern VA. Now I just need to ask for the time off… I am really looking forward to jumping on a plane and going somewhere. These last four months have been the longest time in like three years when I haven’t been flying or extensively traveling somewhere. It’s so weird!

The weather is nice and cool(er) today. Yay!

Guess that’s all for now. All in all nothing really exciting going on here. I am going camping next weekend. That’s fun! And the cheerleaders are continually keeping me on my toes which is fun as well (most of the time.) :-) Come to our game tomorrow - we are performing!

Have a great day! I am going to get back to work…

Good Sunday morning! I have a few minutes before I need to start getting ready for church so hopefully I can update you on my life in the time allotted. I hope that you all are doing well!

First of all I want to mention how much I love reading your blogs – even if I only catch up on them about once or month (or more!) or so. I read all of your posts and leave a comment on every one so you know I was there. I’m sure that all of you have noticed this with me and I wanted to thank you for being patient. I love each of my friends so much and of course want to know everything about his or her life so I encourage you to keep up the good work so I can be nosey and know all about you.:-)

This reminds me – Alisha – I can’t leave comments on your blog???

Some of you have asked about work. It is going well but I still feel like I am a bit, or a lot, over my head. I have so much to learn about the foster family system, state laws, etc. Once I learn everything I do think that the job will be a good fit and that I will really like it. In the meantime I am just trying to not to screw it up. I get to get out of the office when I go do court, home, or supervised visits so that is nice and helps to break up the day. The staff seems really nice and I enjoy the office atmosphere a lot. I also love the mission of Valley Teen Ranch so I am very excited about working with such a wonderful organization. Overall I know this job will teach me a lot and even though the pay leaves much to be desired I feel very blessed and grateful for the position.

Now that I have a full-time job my life is very, very busy. Here is my schedule:

Monday work 8-5 coach cheer 6:30-8:30
Tuesday work 8-5 coach cheer 6:30-8:30
Wednesday work 8-5 young life 6:30-9:00
Thursday work 8-5 coach cheer 6:30-8:30
Friday work 8-5 coach cheer 6-9:30 (at games)

I am busy, busy, busy. I have only been at this schedule for a week but so far so good. We shall see how I feel about it in two months.;-) That being said I want to try really hard to have relaxing and fun weekends where I have as much time with friends and family as possible. I am hoping to go to Washington State over Veteran’s Day and go back East this fall as well. I will have to do it over the weekend (a long weekend) but that is better then nothing so I am ok with it.

I have been really aching for “home” (the East Coast still feels like home to me) lately. I have told myself I can’t make plans to move back until I have been here in CA for a year because I still need to be open to staying here if that’s what God wants me to do. If I could choose right now though I would move back – and move in with Kristin. Does that mean I regret moving here? No, not at all. I know for sure that God wanted me to move home. I am still committed to being obedient which is why I am here. I am just home-sick. I can’t really mention missing the EC because my parents get irritated with me and nobody else seems to understand or quite get it. Therefore I hardly talk about my life there anymore. I am still young and able to move which is why I am really considering moving back this summer. I don’t want years to go by and regret not taking this chance again. But of course we shall see what God says about it this next summer.

My birthday is on Thursday. Wow, 29. My last birthday/age ever! Hehehe I truly cannot believe I am getting this old. I’m sure I will blog on this as it begins to sink in later on this week…

Gotta run – my time is up! Enjoy your holiday weekend! I know I am!