Truth

Bday Girl!

 We celebrated Hannah's 18th bday with a delicious dinner at Bull's in Lancaster! We had cake and ice cream at home. The party hats were essential much to the bday girl's demise. It was a low key night but it was super fun.

For Han's big gift we got matching tattoos. They say 'Follow me and I'll follow you.' This is something Han and I found awhile ago and we've been thinking about it ever since. I love it. I love that we will have it forever and ever. The purple idea didn't come up until Hannah was sitting in the chair. We are so glad we got purple! Try to find two sisters closer than us, it will be hard I am sure!

Sendafa, Ethiopia

I have been back for two days and it's been an incredible adjustment. I was completely prepared to go to Africa because I've read dozens of books and watched even more documentaries, so I didn't experience too much culture shock. Coming home was a different story. It was harder to come home than to go to Ethiopia. I haven't been able to really collect my thoughts since coming back. I'm still trying to comprehend everything I saw and experienced and deal with the adjustment of coming home. I will say that it's been great to be back with my family and dog and boyfriend and bed and food!

Waka Waka Africa!

Okay so I am leaving for Ethiopia tomorrow. In 12 hours I'll be half way to Germany! I was cool as a cucumber until about 3 minutes ago. I am feeling very anxious and I have nervous butterflies in my belly. I think I'm all packed, I'm sure I didn't forget anything. I just really hope the plane ride is safe. Nothing scares me more than that. Then after I land safely I'll be able to focus on what I'm doing which as of right now I don't even know what to expect. So I'm going to stop dwelling on it and do to bed. I'll try to update when I'm there because I think there's internet at the cafe. My mom had me fill out this questionaire about what I expecting. It was so teacher-y of her. Kyle is in NY visiting his cool college buddies. It's fine though bc I'd probably be even more emotional if he was here. I'll be taking deep breaths and praying and thinking positive and not dwelling on my crazy nerves. Here goes nothing! Hopefully my next entry will come to you from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!
Peace!

Get Real

I have no idea what the point of this blog is. I know Kyle and I started it because we wanted to record all of the cool, lovey things we do. But now I'm pretty sure no one reads this and I'm only ever writing in it for myself. That's fine though. I don't need to write for anyone or any reason other than for me. From this point on I will treat this like I am just writing in it for Kyle and I. It'll be like a little journal. That'll also help me keep more accountable to writing more often. Sometimes I choose not to blog because I think I have nothing good to say. This is like a journal that will never go away since it's on the internet forever!

The Wedding of a Hippie and a Gypsy Best

On Thursday Kelly, Sarah and I traveled to Virginia to start the wedding festivities for our bff Maggie. Thursday Night we had a professional henna artist draw all over our bodies. She was amazing and the designs were so beautiful. There were 9 bridesmaids, most of whom I did not know before. I really loved them all.
Friday we decorated the church, rehearsed, and enjoyed burritos at the big texan dinner! It was so fun.
Saturday was the big day. We got our hair done, primmed and prepped and prepared to walk down the isle.
It was the most unbelievable wedding I have ever witnessed. It was ethnic and cultural and amazing. I teared up when Maggie walked down the isle. I feel honored and so thankful that I was able to be a part of the BEST day of her life.

 My henna-4 days later and still dark and beautiful

 Maggie's outrageously perfect dress that she made. I got teary when I saw her in it for the first time. Not sure why I was surprised her dress wasn't white. No one could ever pull that off as fantasticly as she did.

 Kyle came to the wedding. I'm so glad he was there to experience this with me. When I asked him if he now had wedding fever like I did he said, "No, but it did reaffirm that I will in fact love you forever."

Kelly, Sarah, Bethany and I before the ceremony.

  Now we're back home. I miss Maggie, Kelly and Sarah, and all of my new friends. I wish Maggie and Justin the BEST. I can't wait to see their professional pics and hear Maggie's reflection of the day. She's going to report back if it's worth having a big ceremony and reception or just skip the whole deal. I'm interested to hear!

January Celebrations

Last year at this time we were playing/shovling in the feet upon feet of snow. Now this year, all of the snow falls we've had have been just light dustings. I am praying for a big one! I'm not really interested in shoveling so much as missing school.

I have a lot to look forward to in the month of January. Next week Kyle and I are venturing to Virginia for the wedding of our dear friends, Maggie and Justin. I am just adding this to the long list of all of my friends who are engaged/married. I have the honor of being in their wedding. She was kind enough to let us pick our own dresses, and I found a really pretty one that I am uber excited to wear! It is a BIG event! I cannot wait to be there and I can't wait to write about it when I return!

This is Maggie and I when we lived together while attending Eastern University. In that short amout of time we grew as close as any two people could. We laughed a lot, shared clothing, food, tears, prayers, stories, etc. I feel extrememly close to Maggie and I am so thankful for her presence in my life.



School starts in less a little more than a week, but that's obvi not something I'm trying to talk about. It could be the last semester of my senior year. But obvi I've spent a lot of time taking classes I want to take vs classes I need to take which is really prolonging my graduation date.



Also in January I will be venturing to Ethiopia. I don't have much to say about this. I have little clue what to expect or what I'll even be doing there. I have gotten more help and advice on what to expect from Maggie who's been there than the group I'm going with. Again, thank God for Maggie.