fun fact friday!

DID YOU KNOW???

Monkeys are one of the most common mammals in Costa Rica.  So are bats.  This could be interesting...

family time, the last hurrah!

Transition can bring some beautiful things.  Unexpectedly, this transition brought about a family vacation!  And it was so great!  So from New York I drove to northern Michigan (of course taking a 9-hour tour of Canada at 62 mph...sooo long!)

Although the customs officer was confused why my car was so full if I was just visiting a friend, they let me back into the country and I made it to Charlevoix!  I equate my childhood with northern Michigan.  Although I only spent the weekends there and two weeks of every summer, some of my best childhood memories are sprinkled along the coast of northern MI. Needless to say it was great to be back!

Charlevoix Municipal Marina.
Dad got his fish from The Villager...Happy guy.

Harbor Springs.
This visit was, thankfully, a less eventful one than in the past.
No broken props, dead fish spines, dog attacks, or poison ivy.

Pentwater Municipal Marina.
A family favorite vacation spot.  This place never gets old.

Vacation was such a treat.  Didn't even think it was going to be a reality, so really grateful that it happened.  It was restful and joy-filled.  Perfect.  A good break to the chaos, movement, and whirlwind speed of the past weeks.  Felt good to get some quality family time before leaving for 10 months.  E, thanks for traveling from Florida and bringing the sun from the sunshine state with you!  Zach, we missed you.  Way to rock your new job!  Can't wait for you to join us next year!!

fun fact friday!

DID YOU KNOW???

As of June 2012:

http://www.younglife.org/AboutYoungLife/FactsAtYourFingertips.htm

Young Life ministry exists in 5,468 schools and outreach locations.

There are 45,592 Young Life leaders serving worldwide.

Young Life has impacted 1,228,082 kids.

one step closer...

I BOOKED MY FLIGHT TODAY!!!  Well I didn't, but Jessie did.  She's the Area Director in San Jose.  I have only met her via Skype, but I'm excited to become real friends soon!  Needless to say, it's getting real.  But August 15 really is not that far away.  Getting even more excited for this adventure and seeing/experiencing what the Lord is doing in Costa Rica!  I know it's going to come quick!

#sweetsweetsaranac

Driving back to Michigan from Virginia, I decided to make a pit-stop in Saranac Lake, NY.  I know what you're thinking...NY is not on the way to MI from VA.  And you are correct.  But the beautiful thing about a car and some time and some sweet sweet friends, is that you can make it on the way.

Three years ago I did Summer Staff (volunteered for a month with other college students) at Saranac Village, a Young Life camp in upstate New York.  At the time, I had no idea what I was in for.  I wasn't planning on doing Summer Staff (SuSta) at all until about a week before leaving, and I had never been to Saranac Village.  Well actually, I had never even been to the state of New York.

But August 2010 turned out to be one of the best months of my life.  The Lord showed up and did big things.  Hundreds of kids met Christ that summer and I met some of the sweetest and truest friends in the world.  These friendships are deep and raw and I am so grateful for them.  They span several states, and at times countries, but I am grateful that three years later we are all still friends and that all of this still matters.  Extra thankful for cheese platters, margaritas, boathouses, ice cream cones, wedding dresses and porches.  Those are the things this weekend that reminded me of the Lord's presence.  Of His goodness and provision.  Of how compassionate and adventurous He is and how He overflows with love.  

fun fact friday!

DID YOU KNOW???

Costa Rica does not have an army. It was abolished in 1948 by President Jose Maria Figueres. The country uses the money that would've gone to the army and invests it in health an education initiatives .

see ya in a year rva!

Welp, it's real.  It's here.  And it's finally hitting me...I'm leaving RVA today.  Mixed emotions for sure.  Sadness and excitement.  It's crazy for me to reflect on the past two years, and how much change and transformations has happened.  I never thought Richmond would be a hard place to leave.  A year ago, everything fun and exciting about living in a new city had worn off and I was practically begging to leave this place.  And now, just twelve months later, I find myself begging to stay.  Hitting the brakes and wishing for one more day here.  Just one more day with these sweet sweet friends that have made Richmond feel like home.

On my way out of town I was feeling sentimental, so I stopped by the Virginia War Memorial to take in one last look at the city.  Love this view.

Linda, Sarah, Mary Ellen, Calli, Kayla...remember when we walked here?
Yeah...not actually that close to my house...

So thanks to everyone who made Richmond great!  Its been two years I can't imagine not living!  See ya next year, RVA!

Courtesy of my sweet friend, Stanton.  

the moving company has arrived!

The moving company, aka Mom and Dad, came this weekend.  They are seriously the BEST!  Thank you for making the 13+ hour drive to come get all of my stuff.  We've gotten really good at this moving thing over the years and set a new record -- 2 hours to load everything up!  Allowed us to hit up a couple of our favorite spots in Richmond quick before they left.  Of course we had to have chicken salad sandwiches at Cafe Caturra.  And how could we not walk across the street for a final Pearl's Cupcake?  Thanks again for your muscles, couldn't have done it without you!

fun fact friday!

DID YOU KNOW???

Costa Rica is said to be one of the happiest countries on Earth according to British organization, New Economic Foundation.  They used the Happy Planet Index and conducted an independent study of 151 nations worldwide.

http://www.happyplanetindex.org/data/