Home Sweet Home...

Hi again...Sorry its been such a long time since ive written a blog...Its been an up and down kinda life style for me lately. For those who don't already know i was put in the hospital in Honduras in August due to gastroentritis or severe food poisoning (not sure which but they go together so it doesnt much matter)... it was a nightmare to cut the story short.... i finally was released and got back to teaching my kiddos in Ocotepeque, but kept getting sick over and over... I also noticed i was having pain throughout my arms and legs alot- and just didn't have the energy to get up and move around... I also noticed when my kids would give me hugs or hang on me it was hurting more then anything else.. I kept trying to push through but after i moved to Comayagua, I got ultrasounds and had many visits with the doctors there i was told it would be best to come on home to get my health straightened out. So after 3 different docs telling me this i decided to pack my stuff and head on home... I got back early February but during the time of me coming home it was also a busy time for mom and dad with packing and moving stuff and figuing out what stays and what goes due to the fact that we were moving to Florida due to dad's job moving here..so its been a busy transition and tough with sooo many doctors visits... I've been to several docs..i've gotten poked and stuck with lotsss of needles and had tons of x-rays and cat scans..but everything was coming back normal so i was getting very frustrated. We finally got a doctor to help figure out what was going on and would listen. After several tests she ruled with lots of confidence that I have: acid reflux (which we kinda thought), i am also lactose intolerant which we already knew as well- But the maian problems are i have IBS(irratable bowl syndrome) and Fibromayalgia and with everything adding up; I'm in a nutshell miserable and full of pain. I am working with the doctors to figure out medication that will help with the pain and stiffness that doesnt have too bad of side effects. The 1st meds i tried made me sooo sick, the meds i am on now help some but we're not sure how well or long I'll be on them.. I am getting an appointment in June to see a rhumetologist to see what all i can do for the pain, and to help get things straightened and managed better. I have good days and bad days. The good days are great i can move around,I'm not in too much pain but i always have a little, but im not stiff and i have energy and thats awesome. but on the bad days i cant hardly get out of bed, i hurt so bad and am so stiff i cant hardly move my fingers or legs plus im totally drained with no energy so its been up and down alot. But through it all i know Gods got a plan for me and He's always with me so im relying on Him to guide my doctors and help me get back to real living...and to show me my next step in life. Its soo nice to be home while im so up and down with being sick. I love our new place, its little and cozy and we got a poooooool can you say FUN!,but its a blessing in disguise becuase that has been the best excersie to help my stiffness and pain throughout my body. Sometimes life's confusing or rough but these are the times that I know Gods trying to teach me and mold me for what he has in store next. So im excited. Im soo thankful for my parents helping me and dealing with their big baby cause thats what i turn into when i hear another test, another needle, another I.V. and let me tell u its nooooo fun! but im getting through it and since my doctors confident in the diagnosis the pokes and prods should be over with for the most part...Just please continue to pray for me as were figuring out meds right now. And thanks for all the prayers so far they have helped out more then i can say. Well my fingers are yelling saying no more typing so im gonna hop off here for now... Love and Blessing to you all...I'll update again soon! TTYL :)

Christmas Blessings!

First I want to wish you all a very Merrrry and Blessed Christmas! I also wanted to share with you my Christmas. It started last friday: in November I picked three families to help for Christmas. One was a family that has two children in the school I volunteer at, then the other two families were people my puperia( a little store in someones house) friend helped me find in the mountains. I spent my time in Nov. buying and getting food, toys, clothes, shoes, ect... then last friday went to deliver it to my the families. It went amazing, the children loved their big stuffed animals, cars, toys, clothes, shoes, ect... I just had a blast taking pictures, spending time with each family, and seeing God's blessings pour out on them this Christmas time!Saturday I went to my second family and did the same. I was soo touched because they decided they wanted to make me tamales, and gave me some family photos of the children to keep. What a blessing- now I'll have pics and memories to last a lifetime, plus new friends here in Honduras! I also just today did Christmas with Casa de Maria- one of the most rewarding, fun , exciting things i think i've done all year! I had soooo much stuff that God helped me get it all there by allowing me to get a taxi right near my house ( very very hard to do by the way). Then it was Christmas time with the kiddos- first they all got dressed up; they put the two little girls becki and maritza in my dresses and shoes i bought them which were perfect fitting and beautiful!!!!! Then they all say around me while I passed out noisey toys, stuffed animals big and small, pop push toy, and elmo/cookie monster vaccum that made noise, shoes, socks, clothes, cookies, diapers, ect... One special thing they did was bring out Anner to celebrate with us: and i had something very special in store for him. I got him this baby bed thingy to lay on the floor for him the had a rhino rattle , plus mom and dad had bought him to rattles to put around his wrists, which he shook and moved and smiled at the noises. It was just a blessing to make him smile and happy! All the children loved the toys,and i know when it's time they will love their coooookies to :) the last thing i put out for them was this long red tunnel...When i did Freddi just started squealing and screaming with excitement! then he took off inside to play. The others are smaller so they were kind of unsure of it, but they would wonder close to it, hit and push it ect... It was one of the best Christmas times ever here in Honduras! It's also my first Christmas without my family so I thought it might be sad and kinda lonely; but Gods blessed me with three days of Christmas', plus my puppy here with me. Plus my friend from my puperia invited me to their house for Christmas eve all night long with her whole family (which no joking lasts ALL NIGHT long) and then Christmas dinner! So that should be fun- just hope my spanish holds up around all her family. Don't want to look dumb in front of all of them...lol...anyways Christmas this year has been more amazing, and fun, and such a blessing. I hope you all feel that way about your Christmas'. And if you never have before try to help someone on Christmas or for Christmas I am telling you it will change your life. It's an amazing feeling to help someone else on such a special day! Well gonna go spend some cuddle time with my Chewy pup since I'll be gone later tonight- so I love you all!
Merrrrrrrry Christmas!! Happpppppy New Year too!! :) Dios Te Bendiga,(God Bless You)

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Just a little chit chat, update....

Hey Ya'll, Hope everyone's doing great. I know your all probablly scurring around busy getting Christmas stuff, and cooking, and traveling to visit family memebers.... I am staying pretty busy to. I got tutoring 2 hours a day, then (and this is my biggest news) I got myself a puppy. His name is Chewy. He is a Boxer mix pup, that's 2 months old. He is an amazing little thing. He is full of energy, and silliness. He loves to play, which means he also loves to bite; but were working on that. I want him to know that won't be going on in my house..No Biting!!!! lol. But hey it'll just take some time, he is only 2 months old, just a baby; my baby chewy pup. I am also collecting the stuff for the families i have been lead to helping this Christmas time. I have been buying clothes, shoes, toys, food, ect... for three families, and Casa de Maria. So thats pretty time consuming, trying to get things together and ready. Remember if you would like to help out with this you can by donating money to NIWG Ministries which i will in turn buy things needed, and when I deliver it all I will be taking pics for all to see. I am very excited for all the things going on in my life at this moment. Gonna buy a little Christmas tree soon, and start listening to some of my favorite songs...Christmas Songs!!! Well thats just a little update of what my lifes been like here lately. So I'll update more later. Keep in touch, and remember I am praying and missing you all very much. God Bless!!!! :)

Exams, Ideas for Christmas, and Internet!!!

Hey again! Hope everyone is doing great today... First big news, well least I am very excited about it. But I have just received internet here at my house! I am sooo excited. That will make it easier to keep in touch with all of you. Plus I am hoping to save some money with not calling the states on my cell as much (man that gets expensive after awhile)...lol, however I will now have internet to pay for--- but I think it is worth it. Anyways, so I am hoping to get emails, keep up on facebook more, and blog more.... So keep an eye out, and you keep in touch with me to. Let me know what's new in your life, church, work, ect... I miss talking to everyone and being around to hang out and stuff. Second - things at school are great. This is exam week and so far so good for my classes. I have 1 more exam today; its for my 5th grade grammar class. I am hoping they do as well as I think they will. :) After graduation (which is coming up next week , I think) then I will be helping do tutoring till classes start again in Feb. It'll be three times a week for like an hour... I think, but you know that can always change depending on the child and what they need help with. I am excited to work more one on one with some of the kids. I will also still keep visiting the children at Casa de Maria too. Speaking of Casa de Maria, that leads into my third thing... I would like to buy presents, stuffed animals , toys, clothes, shoes, ect.. for the kids there. Most do not have someone (family wise) that visits often, if ever.. So I would like this year to be very special. I want to ask the needs from the sisters there and then deliver what I can to them through Christ's blessings and your help. I have a desire to help a family here as well, but I am waiting on which exact family to do this for. One of the sisters who run the school wants to help me find someone in need to help. So I want to throw this out for you all to be apart of. Since its not possible to send me things to give out, if you feel lead to help, please donate whatever God puts on your heart, to NIWG Ministries--- and in the memo just write "Kids Christmas Project" and I will be able to access that in order to buy things here, to make the children and families in need have a better holiday. As well as share with them the love of God on this special day. To also show that I love them and want to make their lives a little easier and happier. I'm hoping this touches someones life and possible if they haven't already lead them to accepting Christ as their Saviour. Plus just to see the smiles and happiness that we can give them through God is the best gift ever! I will try to take pics as well for you guys to see what I bought and so you will be "apart" of the giving to the families and children. I will post them on my facebook. I know Christmas is a time for giving, families visiting, and just a busy time for everyone, but if you will just take some time to think and pray about those (even in the states) that may not have someone to share the holiday's or don't have the money to give their child a special gift, or and this is the most important reason--- may not know the "REAL" reason for Christmas... I think you will realize that its more important then anything to help when you can, follow God's lead and you can't go wrong. I want to get a start on buying things now, while there isn't a mad rush for things, so the sooner the better.
The last thing I wanted to say is that I miss everyone so much... You all are very important to me even if we don't talk all the time, or chat, know that I still think of each one of you, and pray for you daily. I also posted a family/ friends wall in my room: so if you would like to send me a picture for my wall, please send it to my mom and dad as soon as possible. Then they can mail it to me so that I have it by Christmas time, then I can see you for Christmas! I love and miss you all... Keep in touch...God Bless!!!! Talk to you again soooon :)

Happy Birthday to MEEEEE

Hey I wanted to tell you about my birthday... It was awesome, I reallly missssed everyone back home, wished I could be there to celebrate too. But you all were with me in my heart. I had a great day, it started off by going to see my Becki at Casa de Maria. She was sooo giggly and happy that day too. I always have a blast seeing her before I head to school. Then it was school time. When I arrived, some of the teachers ushered me around the corner where the whole school was waiting! They sang happy birthday for me and cheered and hollered too. It was a very nice surprise. Then since I share my birthday with one of my third graders and Ana Penman, one of the ladies who runs the school, we waited for her to come , sang to her all together then the school had 2 special cakes for us three. And man were they gooooood! I then exchanged presents since Adonnis (my 3rd grader ) had a present for me, and I had one for him. So afterwards while I was standing around several of my kids bombarded me with hugs and kisses and presents. I was sooo surprised and excited! They reallly made my day bright and happy! Afterwards we started classes; of course most of my classes we sat around and talked and goofed off. (Hey it was a special day, if you can't slack on your birthday, when can ya?) LOL. Later in the day my 6th graders called me to their classroom to talk for a second. But really it was a party they had done for me and Miss Ana, with yet another cake , soda, and chips.. yummmmmmmmmy! Three cakes in one day, can you ask for anything better...lol. So we listened to music and goofed off some more! Oh forgot to tell you that the whole school every grade put on this show for us three too, where each grade preformed a dance/ song for us and made us sit up front and everything. It was the most coolest thing ever for the kids to do. My last class was cool we actually had class because they wanted to do a party but didn't have time to get all the stuff, so I told them if they reallly wanted to , they could talk about it later, and plan a party for Monday. However I wasn't sure if they really wanted to , so it would still be kinda a surprise if they did. Afterwards I went home to relax and have a movie afternoon/ night. Plus then I went to Ana's house where her mom had made us dinner (tamales) YUMMM...
Some of the best Honduran food- I love tamales!!!! Then Monday came around- It was a very lazy, fun, relaxing birthday weekend... So I figured now was time to get back to work, which in most of my classes we did.... But when I got to my last class it was Party Time!!!! They had brought sodas, a cake (that was blue, with purple roses) my two favorite colors. They also had nachos and cheese, and candy...So let me restate 4 cakes 3 parties and presents , what could be more fun!!!!! Plus it just made my day to be with the kids and know they cared about me enough to do all that for me. I also got cards for my birthday from momma who sent them to me a few days before- so I still got to feel like I was celebrating with you all back home! Thanks again to everyone who sent, they made me feel very special and important on my 26th birthday!!! (man to know I have been on earth for 26years.... if you said I had this car or this whatever for 26 years I'd say wow, thats old..... yikes I think I man be getting older but hey that means more wiser too right?????? LOL well I love you and miss you all, just wanted to share my special day with you, so you knew what was happening here in little ole' Ocotepeque, Honduras.

Classes, Parades, and more Classes...

Hey guys, just wanted to tell you about the school here and the classes I teach, since I haven't been able to update since I got out of the hospital..... The school's name is: My Little Red House Bilingual School. It is a little , cozy, adorable school. It teaches kindergarten to 7th graders. I teach all grades except 4th grade. I mostly teach reading classes in English. My schedule changes from day to day, with a few exceptions. I teach reading to 1st graders (only on Friday) reading to: 2nd, 3rd, and 6th graders throughout the week. Grammar to 5th graders. I teach a journal/ conversation class to the 7th graders. This class is mostly to get them speaking and practicing their English, which I think for being my newest class (I am a week into it) its going great! I am really excited about it. Also M-Th I read a story to kindergarten and the Preparatory class (which are the kids going to first grade next year.) I am enjoying my time here in the school, as well as at Casa de Maria. I have been in two school parades, I carried signs and stuff, it was awesome!!!! And the latest thing I have done was be on tv here, for the school. I was on it with my 7th graders, two of my 1st graders and one of my 3rd graders. Plus the whole 4th grade class.... It was fun, I think the kids really enjoyed their time. Plus it's all in English , so it gets out to the people who live in Ocotepeque that they speak English and shows them what the school is like and how we are helping the kids here. I was sooooooo nervous I thought I was going to puke, but it was good for the kids, so we fought through our nerves and showed all of Ocotepeque what we were made of. I fidgeted alot with the papers I had in front of me, but hey we all got through it and had a blast. Even though my "blast" came from it getting over with...lol.... well just wanted to update you all so you knew what I was doing here, and about all my classes. I will be writing another blog here shortly about my birthday too. It was great! Talk to you sooooooon. Love and Miss U All!!!! God Bless!