Packing

I am not an organized person and I've never felt so disorganized in my life. My clothes and belongings are everywhere. I'm still not freaking out about moving, but I am most definitely stressed. I've had to move before (when I went to Biola), but that experience doesn't even begin to compare with this. Since I'm going all the way across the country I'm so afraid of forgetting something I'll really want. After going through this I cannot imagine having a family and moving a whole household. It's stressful enough with just one person! Grrr...I just want it all to be over! Despite the stress of packing I have had a little fun in the process. I've rather enjoyed taking out my stress by putting my clothes in these travel space bags and squeezing out all the air (it's like vacuum packing without the vacuum). God bless the man who created those bag things! I've been able to fit almost all my clothes in one suitcase. If I ever find him I'll give him a big fat kiss and say thanks.

Squeezing The Stress Away!
(I don't know why I look so freakishly large compared to my mom.)

The Final Fantasic Product

I HATE IRONING!
(Just thought I'd throw this in!)

3 DAYS

I leave in 3 days. I leave in 3 days and I am moving my entire life across the United States. You think that simple fact would somehow impact my feelings at the moment. I feel like I should either be crazy excited or totally freaking out. Instead I'm more or less what you might call "hohum". When I actually stop, in between the madness of packing and running errands, to think about that fact that I'm moving to North Carolina, all I really think is, "OK, so I'm moving." Maybe I'm in denial, or maybe I really am OK (I highly doubt it!). We'll soon find out. I recently talked to a good friend of mine who went to school for a year in Boston. She told me she was fine...until about 5 minutes after her parents left. Then she completely lost it. I'll keep you posted on that matter.

I have a secret...

Some of you already know. Most of you probably don't. I'm a bit ashamed to admit it. I am...drum roll please... an Oprah fan. Yes, although it's hard to believe, it's true. Me, the daughter of a missionary, a closet Oprah junkie! I became a fan in college. My good friends from Biola, Kati and Emilee, got me hooked. Unless we had class, you could almost always find us in Em's room at 3 o'clock every afternoon eating pretzels and watching Oprah. Sometimes, if we missed the 3 o'clock show we would actually stay up for the 1 am showing. I know, it sounds crazy!! I don't think I'll be doing that again when I go to North Carolina. My job broke me slightly of my Oprah addiction (I worked everyday at 3), but I still remain a fan. When I say the word fan I should note that I am not what you might call a diehard fan. For example, if I saw Oprah I wouldn't be the type to scream, cry, and tell her how she has inspired me to love myself more. I am the type of fan who enjoys her show, wouldn't mind going to see it someday, and makes fun of what she wears on occasion. I am also the type of fan who now owns Oprah's 20th Anniversary DVD collection.

The Weather

Honestly 75 degrees at Christmas is just WRONG!!! Daniel and I decided to document our confusion and sadness about this insanely warm weather with a few pictures!
......Basically we got bored! :)

Hey where's the snow!?!?




















Since there was no snow we had to use leaves.
















Grass angels are not nearly as enjoyable.

Billy's Bible

One of the kids at YSPIRIT doesn't talk. For the sake of privacy I'll call him Billy. Instead of talking he has a communication book that he carries around with him. It's this really neat photo album thing that my boss made, that has pictures of him with food, near a bathroom, with toys he likes, washing his hands, etc. Then with each individual picture we made a recording on the album saying the actual words (bathroom, food, toys). When he wants something he brings out his book and presses the recording that corresponds with the picture. None these details are really that important for why I wrote this blog. I'm not sure if Billy has been doing this all the time, but it seems that in the last month or so he has been taking his book with him when we go out into the community. Instead of carrying it normally under his arm he carries it out in front of him, arms extended as if to say, "LOOK AT THIS BOOK!!!" It's quite a funny site to see him marching along down the sidewalk holding this book out. Sometimes he even holds it above his head which communicates a message more along the lines of, "WORSHIP THIS BOOK!!!" The joke going around work was that Billy's communication book was his Bible. I finally got a picture of it today. It doesn't do it justice but you can sorda see what I mean.

YSPIRIT

A chapter of my life closed for a good while today. A BIG chapter of my life. Today was my last day at work. I will be back in the summer but after that I'm not sure. For those who don't know I have worked for the past year and a half at an after school Recreational Therapy program for kids with special needs. I've come to realize as my time at work has wound down how different my life will be without this job. Simply put, this job has been my life. I come home every night at dinner with all kinds of stories about the kids. Ask any of my friends and family and they'll tell you I don't hesitate to talk about work. Sometime I won't stop talking about work! Sorry to anyone who has had to listen to my incessant blabbing.

I remember when I first came to YSPIRIT and how unsure of everything I was. That feeling was only made worse after witnessing some of the kids having what you might call "episodes". I remember one of our girls getting upset during circle time and yelling out, "DO YOU WANT RED MICKEY MOUSE CAKE OR A BLUE ONE!?" My initial reaction to that was, "Ummmm OK... I'll leave now." However, over time I got used to things. That reaction changed as I learned how to help the kids cope when they got upset. I've learned so many things at this job there are too many to count. Perhaps the biggest lesson I've learned is RESPECT. Yes I know it sounds corny! But, a little goes sooo far. By treating these kids with respect and not like they're stupid, I've seen wonderful things happen and come to love each and every one of these kids like equals. I will miss them all dearly. As one final tribute I say "Dirt, Chick-A-Mama, Flower, Daughter, and Niece!"


Say cheese!


Don't blink!!


The Whole Crazy Gang


My boss (in red) and coworkers.

The Official Countdown

I now have less than two weeks before I leave. I'm fine...um...for the most part. :) It's a bit hard to deal with at the moment because Christmas is almost here. Between holiday shopping and my last week at work the reality that I'm moving across the country hasn't really hit. However, this isn't to say I'm not thinking about it. I go to bed dreaming about the potential conversations I'll have with students at ECU. I wonder what kind of reactions I'll get when I say I'm from California. I sit at traffic lights thinking about how the heck I'm gonna make it for my 8 o'clock class Tuesday and Thursday morning. I've already established the fact that those will be my, "Ugly Days". And finally I stare into my closet thinking, "Will my California butt be warm enough?" I guess I just haven't truly freaked out yet. I probably will...sometime next week. Stay tuned....