Why am I not sleeping?

It's almost 4am. I got off work at 3am and as I have done a few times now, I called back home to my old job on my way to my apartment and chatted with everyone for a half hour or so. I got off so that I could go to bed, but the second I hung up was the second I woke up. I think it hit me that in just a week and a half I will see these people again! And in exactly two weeks I will be hugging and loving on the the kids that I came to love this time last year. Excitement has taken over and yet part of me knows I have more goodbyes to make...which I am never good at. So here I sit, writing a blog and watching Fox News.

Speaking of goodbyes...this past weekend Kara and I were going to Baltimore, but since she was getting sick, we decided to go out to dinner at a cute place on a Friday night. We had such a great time, but it was never far from my mind that at the end of the night, who knows when I would see this amazing girl again? I can't say enough good things about Kara, if you haven't met her, you are missing out. She is a beautiful young woman striving desperately to serve and honor God through her life. She's not perfect and stumbles like the rest of us, but she is truly repentant...not only in her heart, but her actions and words back her decisions to change what she feels isn't pleasing to the Lord. She is a great listener and an extender of grace. I just look at her sometimes and think..."it would be so nice to articulate my thoughts, ideas and emotions as clearly as she does." She is also the type of person that would be saying "no, no, no" if she were reading all of this. Plus she's got a great sense of humor! I just have to laugh that God put us both here in Philly at the same time. It was not an easy goodbye...and we decided we will meet again. Hopefully in the DR or in Atlanta.

On Saturday, Kristin and I went to dinner with her friend Mark who was in town. It was a super nice chinese place. I tried all sorts of things that I had never had before, but my favorite was the dessert which was ALL chocolate, like 6 or 7 different things that were each incredible! We spent a lot of time laughing. Mark is Chinese and was showing us pictures of the misinterpreted chinese to english translations during the Olympics. Kristin has been a good buddy here as she is a traveler too. We have a blast together and I am sure our friendship as I go south and she goes to Arizona. Eventually we'll probably end up in California for a stint there. Here is a picture of us outside "Susanna Foo"


I can't believe how fast the time has gone, but I know the time is coming to a close. God sent me here, right in the middle of Philly (not to mention during a huge election! Philly is not a fun place for a conservative individual such as myself), for a reason and he's moving me for another. I am just so thankful he has provided people along the way and that He is who He is...constant and faithful. I have lacked nothing and have more than I need.

I think I'll go to Boston...

What a great weekend! On Thursday I picked up Laurin and Camille from the airport. If they sound familiar, it's because they were on staff with Makarios while I was in the DR. We walked around downtown Philly for a bit and then met up with Kara for a dinner outside on the sidewalk of a cute Italian place. After we picked up some ice cream (for them) and milano cookies (for me) and went back to my place to watch The Office. I had to go into work at eleven, so I didn't see them long but it was so good to catch up and see how life was going for everyone now that they are back in the States.

The next day I headed out with a friend to Boston. Apparently everyone wanted to join us b/c our 6 hour drive turned into 9. We got to the hotel at 11 and went to bed knowing we had a big day up next. She and I both slept terribly, but not to be discouraged, we drove downtown and found our way around via a hop on hop off trolley...I feel like I am a pro with them now since this is the third I have taken. But it's a GREAT way to see the city cheaply and seeing only what you feel like taking the time to see. We saw everything from Paul Revere's house, the church he got the signal from, the graves of many famous patriots and the 5 killed in the Boston Massacre, Boston Massacre site, Boston Commons and of course Cheers.

Boston is a very cute city and I could see myself going back there with no problem. I have decided since I have always believed I was meant for and wanted a husband with an accent; the accent can be Australian, Scottish, Irish, British or Bostonian. I could have just listened to conversation all day! And the people are really nice! I was expecting to be treated like I was in New York, but I was wrong.

USS Constitution, nicknamed "Old Ironsides"

Big wig of Maritime's house

Part of Boston Commons...a BEAUTIFUL park


Boston's Old State House

Where everybody knows your name...and yes, we ate lunch there with the whole gang

On Sunday we went to Salem, MA home of the Salem Witch Trials and a very cute little town. Both Boston and Salem have the small town, cute atmosphere of Cedarville and Yellow Springs only a little bigger and a lot older...making it even more fun to be in. Below in the Witch House...really it's just the home that one of the judges and his family lived in while in Salem. It does look creepy though doesn't it? And yes, all the leaves are changing and I was so in awe of God's creation and what an artist HE is.

We were there during a festival, so it's busier than normal, but you can still see the cuteness of it.

In other news...I was offered a position at Scottish Rite, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in Atlanta, GA. I quickly accepted it as I hear Atlanta is a cool place to live and it puts me closer to my brother and his family, one of my best friends in Raleigh and is the same distance from my parents in Dayton. I start November 19 and end on Feb. 14 (AKA Single Awareness Day). This is what I get for stating back in May, "I would never live in Atlanta!" well look at me now! Actually I am VERY excited about it! Maybe I should take erase my comment about a husband with an accent! Ha HA! For all you thinking..."I thought she was going out west after Philadelphia." I still am, I just wanted to be close to home for the holidays...this will be the first in Ohio with Emma...pray for snow so I can take her out on a sled! =)

Four score and seven years ago...

Yesterday I decided to venture two hours west to visit Gettysburg, the site of one of the most major battles fought and most men lost on our soil and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. At first, you think, well it's just farm land, but you are quickly struck with the immense struggles that took place here. Gettysburg only had 2,800 residents and in a matter of three days they had to dispose of over 51,000 bodies. Three friends born and raised there were all killed just days apart, 2 of them sweethearts, one of them carrying a letter from him to her, she was the only civilian killed when a stray bullet came through her sisters kitchen where she was baking bread for Union soldiers. The two young men died in battle. Another story of two brothers on opposite sides, seeing each other, embracing and then both dying the same day in the battle just hours apart. It's sobering, to think of hand to hand combat, or of Pickett's Charge, running to death shoulder to shoulder. The battle at The Wheatfield is said to have so many dead that you had to walk on bodes to get across, there was no ground to walk on. Yet, among the horrors on war, especially civil war, when you look out at the farms, mountains, trees and quaint little welcoming town, it seems like a beautiful and simple place to live. There is always hope, no matter how bleak the circumstances. I also put in more pictures of Washington DC. If you ever get the chance, these are two places you need to visit. Very interesting...
National Soldiers Memorial, the place where Lincoln stood to give the Gettysburg Address

A memorial to the two minute speech. When Lincoln finished, he thought the people hated the speech, little did he know it would be one of the most famous speeches ever given

Pickett's Charge



Past soldiers meet present on Little Round Top

Lincoln Memorial in DC, it looks like he just sits there looking over the city...straight to Capitol Hill. I wonder what he would think today.

Vietnam Memorial...overwhelming

Korean War Memorial

In front of my home at the WWII Memorial



A little side note...less than ONE MONTH and I will be back in the DR loving on the kids that have stolen a part of me. Thankfully I get to see the some of the DR girls this weekend as they are coming to the East Coast for a visit!