cheery.

there has been a lot of blog traffic the past few days.
thought I might take this opportunity to give a shout out to my very talented friend lauren manche.
she's currently in vietnam.




i have a lot of really cool friends actually.
bummer to be so far away from most of them.

working this morning. then hoping to see my little cousins later.
and tomorrow....St. Patrick's Day!!!! You know what the Irish say...."yeehaw!!"
:)

obssessed with this guy. but you probably already knew that.


sidenote - I do a lot of flight booking overseas with my job. and just a heads up, flight prices are going up fast!! I'm not sure about domestic flights, but if you want to get overseas this summer, you need to book flights asap. I mean, you could guess that much with rising fuel prices, but I have received several emails warning about new ways airlines are going to try charging people. also - the olympics this summer play a huge factor in prices too! just a tip :)

thankful today. period. life isn't perfect, but I am loved wholly and completely. and that's more than enough.

wedding fun

this weekend I am in Plant City, Florida filming my friend Lillie's wedding.
happy to be with the Paynes too.
i'll be sure to share the video with you guys once it's all done.

yeehaw.

pumpkin post

Sorry for the lack of posts this week.
Things have been pretty busy and honestly...I haven't been quite sure what to say.
I think somethings are better left unsaid, ya know?
That's a lesson I've learned the hard way. ha.

but....I leave Kenya in 48 days (thanks for Ashley A's caterpillar countdown).
And that is blowing my mind. (I'll post on that later.)

Things have been a little tense here in Nairobi the past week, but I am safe and well.
I was supposed to run the 10k in the Nairobi Marathon tomorrow, but will not be running due to security alerts and threats made against Nairobi. I'm pretty bummed...a good run would be fun right now, but I think it's best I listen to my mission's directions and not push it.

I've been teaching at the youth group here that I've gotten involved with on Sunday nights. I'm loving it! The kids are so awesome and teaching/hanging out with that age is one of my very favorite things in the world!!
Makes me miss some other really special guys/gals back in the states (shout out to my west palm crew -love you guys!)

This week I've really felt loved by God. And I know that I always am, but I've just felt it more than normal the past few days, and I'm thankful for that. I am so unworthy, yet He chooses to love me. and change me. and use me.
He is worthy.

My grandma has been in the hospital this week - she had several strokes and now is in a rehab/nursing home type place to recover.
In some ways, my heart has been elsewhere - longing to be home with my family.
It really got me thinking about how my heart really is in so many places. I mean, I'm here in Kenya and love it and can't even imagine leaving, but a part of my heart is also in Pace with my family. And a big chunk is in Gainesville. And West Palm. And Peru. And Nashville, etc, etc...and all these places that I've gotten the opportunity to live and places where my loved ones are.

And it's a good reminder that my heart will never have a home here on earth.
Because as much as this little heart is spread across the U.S. and the world...more than anything it longs for it's true home.

But anyways, it's my bedtime. Love you guys!
In case I don't say it enough- thanks so much for your prayers, sweet messages and emails, and encouraging words!


Tonight I had some friends over and we carved pumpkins. A lot of fun!
Kenyan pumpkins are different than American ones. ha.

[been obsessed with this song "jealous". okay now i'm really done.]