Engaged!

I have been horrible about updating since I got home and started working. I am not only loving my job but got engaged tonight to the absolute love of my life! I thought I would share a few pics!

Hawaii

I know I am a horrible blogger this summer. I promise to update later!



Training has been awesome this week. I am a bit overwhelmed and on information overload but it will be great! I can't wait to come back and work.



I am coming back because I am heading to Hawaii in a few hours! I'm going to spend a few days with my honey and to bring him home to me! I can't wait.



I promise pics later, and more updates!



It has really been a fun summer full of blessings!

Job!

I got the job! I interviewed this morning and it went awesome! I will be working at Central Elementary School in Putnam City. I start on August 3rd for training. That is till the 5th. Then I will go to Hawaii to see my Honey. We will leave together on the 11th. (He is never to really leave my side ever again!) We will arrive in OKC on the 12th. I will go to work for the year on the 13th!

I know only I would plan something like that.

But I am totally ecstatic about my new job. Love my new principal and new co-workers already!

I cannot wait to see what God has in store for my life this year!

interview

I have a job interview! I'm so excited. Apparently I have been getting anxiety attacks the last few weeks due to stress. I get myself a little worked up about not having a job yet since school starts in a few weeks. So I have applied for over 30 more jobs in the last few days. One of the principals called me today for an interview. I'm so excited!

I don't know anything about this part of town but its in Putnam City and not too far of a drive from Edmond. I'll let you know how it goes!!

Family Time!

I know it has been forever since I have written anything. I have really been enjoying my time in America thus far. I have been spending a lot of time with family. I haven't really seen many friends yet. That will come. I have been relaxing and unpacking! Here are some pics to show what I've been doing.

my first time meeting my cousin Jarrah, grandbaby #56, I think
Noah and Sara at the dance studio taking Hip Hop

I love these cousins, Noah and Jarrah.

FYI their momma, my aunt is 20 months older than me!

Happy 4th! My family at the 4th of July parade

After the parade at the McFarlin's for a pool party. My sis Sara, bro Bub and his lovely girlfriend Lauren.

Last night we went to see some of our friends in the musical Music Man. It was a great show! Here is my whole family!

Siblings

my parentals. I like them

Bub and Lauren

Leaving on a jet plane..............

In exactly 24 hours my plane will be taking off at Domodedevo airport in south Moscow. I'm not really sure if I will ever come back here. I have lived here 2 years and visited St. Pete once before that. If I think about it, that is a lot more time than any other countries I have really loved. Though I have never made the kind of lifelong relationships in any other country either. But while I was at tea with the girls last night for the last time we were talking about how it really is such a small world and who know where we could end up and where our paths could cross again.

I thought I would attempt to make a list of the things I will not miss and the things I will. Now I'll go ahead and say that some things will overlap for sure. And these will be in no specific order

Things I will not miss:
1. the harsh way people speak, even when they are not actually angry with you
2. getting in trouble for not doing some paperwork correctly that I didn't know existed in the first place.
3. feeling like a sardine on the metro and smelling that lovely smell
4. having to walk next to and sit next to beggars and long to help them and give them everything I have if it would make their life better
5. walking home in the rain/snow with 40 mph wind and a ton of groceries
6. having to leave no later than 7.20 am so that I wont miss the 8 am bus and not make it to work
7. being so far away from the people I love
8. Pough! (its like big balls of flying cotton and its everywhere!)
9. Getting really sick and wishing I was in America where I can fully understand the Dr. and what is wrong with me to get proper care
10. the constant feeling of being unsafe and having to be extremely aware of my bags and all that is going on around me
11. not being able to go out after dark
12. kids being raised by nannies and body guards
13. my 3 bedroom apartment that cost $3,000 a month
14. language barriers and never being able to fully communicate
15. 9 months of winter

Things I will miss:
1. PEOPLE. I was asked at small group this week what I was most thankful for during my time in Russia. It was definitely people and my relationships with them. That has made all the difference in the world and I wouldn't have made it without them.
2. Chocolate! It is amazing here
3. Blini, it has become a favorite
4. traveling to other countries for so cheap
5. MES, it was a lot of things for me
6. PEOPLE! This really is the most important to me.
7. my apartment
8. my small group and the fellowship
9. tea with the girls every Thursday
10. tea with Polina every Tuesday
11. being immersed in something so foreign to me.
12. walking so much


I'm sure there are more but that is all that comes to mind right this moment.

There are also a ton of things I am really looking forward to in the U.S.

1. PEOPLE. of course, my family, Cliff and friends. I have really really missed them
2. Mexican food
3. Italian food
4. Sonic Diet Dr. Pepper!
5. Diet Dr. Pepper! it deserved 1 1/2 spots
6. Chickfila
7. driving to the store and then putting all my bags in the car!
8. no language barriers
9. PEOPLE, did I say that I missed them
10. My CHURCH, I have really missed that too
11. my next journey. I'm not sure what it is yet but God knows.
12. mom's cooking
13. dad's grilling
14. buster, the little fat dog
15. not working this summer but instead, laying by the pool, scrap booking and playing a ton of Rock Band!
16. getting to meet all the new babies in my life that have been born while I have been away!
17. PEOPLE, I'm not sure if you get it yet
18. putting the suitcases away and filling an actual closet and dresser!
19. T.V., I know so trivial, but it will be nice to have tons of channels of nonsense all in English
20. air conditioning when it is really hot, thought this will be quite an adjustment

Well that is a ton of stuff already so I should probably stop now.

I (and Sara) will be arriving into Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport on Saturday, June 27th at 2:05 pm!

SO I BETTER GET TO PACKING!

Ballets

We have had the wonderful opportunity to go to 3 ballets the last 2 and a half weeks. When we were in St. Petersburg we went to Mariinsky Theater and saw Don Quiote. It was truly amazing! I have never seen such great technique and people flying through the air. Then in Moscow we saw Giselle at the Bolshoi Theater. It was also good but a bit of a sad story. My friend Tania went with us to that show and then she ended up getting us free tickets to another show. So the next day we went to a smaller theater and saw Cinderella. It was great too.

Sara, me, Laura and Allyson on our way to see Cinderella. We came out all wearing blue. Sorry the pic is a little blurry.
Sara and I in front of the theater

This was a cool statue sort of thing in the entry way of the theater.

me and Tania, again blurry for some reason

Sara and I about to go in

Here is Tania and I in front of the Bolshoi theater

a little closer

Sara and I infront of the Bolshoi

a pic of the inside of the Bolshoi

The outside of the Mariisnksy theater in St. Petersburg

Sara and I about to go in and see Don QuioteSome costumes at the Mariinsky. Swan Lake, Juliet, and Giselle

This is where the Tsars used to sit when they would come to the theater

more of the Mariinsky theater, this is where they currently send their best ballerinas

It was such a fun cultural experience of me and Sara. And great entertainment!