Leaves and Waterfalls

November was busy. BUSY! But we had much to be thankful for because every single weekend was filled with family and friends. And both sets of parents made the long car drive out to see us - Brad's parents came for a week in the beginning of the month and my parents came for the week of Thanksgiving. Hosting family is always such a great break from our regular work schedule and reminds us of what is really important!


With Mike and Jolene, we spent a weekend exploring western North Carolina. We drove on the Blue Ridge Parkway (the little bit that was still open), saw lots of waterfalls around Brevard, and stopped at Chimney Rock for some gorgeous views.

  

Mike dabbles in photography, so he was really enjoying shooting all the waterfalls. Brad and I had our own photoshoot to pass the time. The boys also got up super early one morning to try and photograph the first light on a big fall - us girls choose to stay in our warm beds however!

Chimney Rock was our last stop and the fall leaves were on full display! The waterfall there wasn't quite as impressive as all the others we saw but the hiking trails were great. Another state park checked off the list!

 

 

Bucket List Win

Since last March, the chalkboard in our kitchen has had a list of things we wanted to do in North Carolina. For the long Columbus Day weekend, we finally checked one off: kayaking and camping on Bear Island. Except we didn't exactly kayak - we canoed. It was the only way to fit our gear plus a dog. But it still counts in my book and is definitely a trip we would do again!

Bear Island is only accessible by boat and going in mid-October when the ferries aren't running often meant there are very few people there. And no bears if you were wondering.

We canoed the 2.5 miles on a rather rough and windy day - not the easiest feat with a dog in front but we managed. We set up camp and it was so wonderful to simply enjoy the ocean uninterrupted. Cleo also loved having so much open space to run around.

 Nightfall did get chilly with the wind, but wow, was it worth it by morning. This was our view from the door of our tent - blue skies, crashing waves, and not a person to be seen. So peaceful!

Mission Trip Update

Let's be honest - the most daunting task for our upcoming mission trip to India is raising the financial support. Asking people for money is never easy, but we knew it was something we needed to put our trust in the Lord as part of our journey. And wow, did he answer (as he always does)! The outpouring of support for our trip from our friends and family has been truly amazing!

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do and your plans will succeed.” –Proverbs 16:3

We need to raise $5800 for our trip and had set a goal of having 50% raised by the end of August. Instead of half, we had almost 80% raised thanks to generous supporters. Now at the end of September, we are working on fundraising our last amount - only $600 left to go! 

Will you join us in making our trip to India happen? It would only take 12 people to donate $50 each and we'd be there! Of course, any size donation helps, so please consider donating whatever you are able! 

If you would like to support us, you can donate online at: http://goo.gl/cA50wZ

Our passports have returned, complete with India visas!

We are also working on collecting supplies and care packages to take with us. Most of the items we are seeking donations from local businesses - hygiene products such as toothbrushes and soap. But there are a few things we could use your help with! 

Maybe you have some of these, are willing to purchase, or know someone else who would want to donate? We're looking for:

• 3 large suitcases to take supplies/clothing over and leave in India. We are talking the largest bags to check possible - the more supplies we can fit, the better! Do you have one in your closet you never use?
• Small Toys - think Happy Meal size. Maybe you have a bunch in your child's toy bin you would like to get out of your house? We will meeting some children who would love to own toys like this!
• Stickers - All kids love stickers! Easy and quick to hand out, great to leave behind.
• Bubbles - What kid doesn't want to play with bubbles? I'm wondering if someone has a bunch left over from a wedding?

Would you like to donate but don't know how you'd get the stuff to us? Both our parents will be making trips to North Carolina in November and are willing to transport items to us (thanks Mom and Dad)! Just let us know and we'll arrange it.

Finally, please keep us in your prayers! Specifically right now, we could use prayers for continued trust and confidence in the Lord as we work to raise the last of our funds and reach out to businesses for the donations of supplies. We appreciate your continued support - thank you, thank you! We cannot wait to meet the community in Pune - only 3 months until then!

Impromptu Vacations

Sweet summertime. Mine started off right with a few trips to the beach and a visit to the Big Apple to see wonderful family. But after this, I didn't have much planned. I looked forward to my weeks of sleeping in and doing absolutely nothing - my reward for months of very long hours at school. Of course, the nothingness didn't last long and here, we are - already at the end of summer and school is just around the corner. Where did summer go?!

Well, it was filled with some weekend camping and shenanigans. I may or may not have been involved in tin-foiling every inch of my principal's office when he left for vacation himself.

Friends came to visit and we got to show off our state some more. These girls bless me so much every time we get to catch up, it makes my heart happy! Then plot twist...Brad got a new job and suddenly had a week off in-between jobs. Naturally, we decided to road-trip back to Iowa. Because isn't that what everyone would do if they had an impromptu week off? So in the car we went and drove 16 hours.

Our spontaneous trip home meant we got to spend time with all of Brad's nephew, including Chris, who was visiting from Idaho. It's been a while since we've seen all the boys in the same place! Some day, I'll remember to take pictures when our family is altogether.

 Soon, we were back in the car and driving to North Carolina. (Anyone notice a trend of my navigators always being asleep?) The road tripping didn't end there though! After just a few days, I turned right back around and drove back to Iowa with my friend, Molly. This second trip was planned when Molly realized she too, had some time off work. We had a little more fun with this drive though, stopping overnight to visit friends along the way, rather than powering straight through. Thank you Karen and Laura (and Mitch & Diane)!

For this second week in Iowa, I spent time with my side of the family. I helped my parents celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary (WOW!) and checked out the good ol' county fair. It's funny to see my dad still in charge of the exact same things he was as when I was growing up - some things never change! My mom and I got an entire week together - I realized it had been since 2007 that I have stayed home at my parent's house for more than one night in a row. Brad and I are usually on such a whirlwind to see everybody when we're back, it was nice to have some quiet time to relax at home!

Once back in North Carolina, our summer was essentially gone. My weeks of nothingness were successfully filled up in grand style and I won't complain! Time to head into school and start getting ready for the new year. But there's no better way to say one last goodbye to summer and my freedom than baseball and fireworks! Go Bulls!

To India We Go!

If you spend any time talking with us, you already know working abroad has been on Brad and my heart for some time now. We feel God is calling us to go use our talents overseas. 

How else can I explain the persistent desire to go abroad and work with children? Seriously, every time missions is brought up in church (weekly? bi-weekly?), I scribble notes on the side about our dream to go. 

And so we are! 


Brad and I are excited to announce our first opportunity to go and work together! We will be traveling this winter with Global Hope India for a mission trip to Pune, India from December 26th - January 4th. 

India has more human need than any other nation. It tops world charts for improvised people— those without land, homes, job, education, good water or basic healthcare. India has the world's largest number of orphans with an estimated 31 million. And sadly, that number is only growing. 

Brad and I want to join those already in working to make a difference in India and spreading the word of God. We don't want to just travel there, see the immense poverty, and return home. No, we want go with an organization working towards sustainable, long-term development. 

Global Hope India (GHI) is a organization I found through our church that is dedicated to serving the people of India doing just this. GHI focuses on church planting, village development, and child rescue. The non-profit is headquartered in Raleigh, NC and you can find out more about the work they do at www.globalhopeindia.org. 

Back to the specifics of our trip: Brad and I will travel with a team of ten and work alongside local church planting pastors in Pune, India. Our team hopes to advance the Gospel through outreaches in the village slums and orphanages, as well as deliver much needed supplies and care packages. While there, we will be able to support and encourage church planters working towards community development. 

Brad is most excited to experience and learn about the daily work of a church plant. I am most excited to spend time loving on the children - showing them the love and care Jesus has for them too! We both hope to begin relationships with the church planters and community members we will be able to continue long after we return home. 

But this mission trip won't happen through just Brad and I - your help is needed!

First, we need your prayers through the entire mission. We need the encouragement that can only come from knowing friends and family members are behind us!

Second, we need your help through financial support. The total cost is $2,900 per person to cover travel and supplies. Anything you can do to support our trip is greatly needed and appreciated! We need to raise $5,800 by November 26^th and our goal is to have half of it raised by August 26^th. Brad and I need your help to do this!

Please consider donating to support us. Remember, every - every - little bit helps. If you can only financially support us in a small way, it will still greatly support us in this mission! 

And it is super easy to donate online with the direct link I've set up. Following this link will take you to our designated fundraising page on GHI: http://goo.gl/cA50wZ  

Brad and I hope you will join us in this mission! We thank you in advance for your prayer and financial support! We will be using the blog to update you on fundraising, gathering supplies to take with us, and prayer requests. And of course, you can expect a full recap when we return.

We are beyond excited for this trip and hope you will join us!!

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you 

so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—

and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.  

This is my command: Love each other." - John 15:16-17 

What I Learned in Kindergarten

I never - ever - fancied myself a kindergarten teacher, but life is funny that way sometimes. God has plans we don't always understand at first when we start down a new path. And last August, I became a kindergarten teacher. Yup. 

As any parent already knows, days spent with five year olds are quite the adventure in learning - they are sponges, albeit very active sponges. Robert Fulghum wrote, "All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten." And now I'm in charge of that learning? Yup.

So here's a short list of what I learned while teaching kindergarten:

1. How to navigate extremely short chairs and tables. This is necessary for minimal leg bruising.

2. How to make A LOT of laminated games and flash cards.  

You get pretty good at cutting - and so do the people who live with you.

3.  How to pretend nap during rest time. It's best done completely under blankets.

          4. How to think creatively on all pursuits

          That's a turkey re-imagined. And wouldn't you eat whatever you wanted if you were president too?

 5. How to take brain breaks in the middle of working hard so nothing gets too serious.

Kindergarteners' ideas of toe touches and sit ups are hilarious to watch.

 

6. How to tie shoes, button and unbutton pants, and wash hands thoroughly.  

All essential life skills, practiced innumerable times in just one day of a kindergartener.

7. How to plant and grow seeds. And secretly re-plant them when the first ones die over a break.

 

 8. How to be a princess on my birthday.  Whoa, teachers have birthdays?!

 9. How to speed walk through a zoo so you can gawk at every. single. animal.  

Because no school year is complete without a field trip to the zoo!

10. How to show patience, support, and best of all - "control."

Something may have gotten lost in translation there. But the sentiment is still sweet!

In summary: Take naps, think creatively, tie your shoes, have patience, and find wonderment in all things. Yup, I think that about covers all you need to know in life!

Arizona Spring Break 2014

I had a very late spring break this year - the week after Easter. But we took advantage of the time and went back to visit familiar faces in Arizona. We were missing our former home! Warning: this post is looooong due to way too many pictures to choose from. But in my opinion, they're worth it!

To kick off the trip, we spent Easter weekend in the bottom of the Grand Canyon with our friends, Paul and Leanne. We hiked Havasu Trail, located further west of the Grand Canyon National Park on the Havasupai Indian Reservation. The ten mile hike to explore the gorgeous waterfalls was well worth the pain of carrying a pack in and out! We actually took plenty of photos this trip (props to Brad), so enjoy a recap of Havasu Falls! But first, let me take a selfie... 

 

After driving five hours, the last chunk on a desolate reservation road (watch out for animals), we arrived at the trailhead. Yes, we were really going to hike into that canyon! But first, we set up camp for the night. We wanted to leave early in the morning and since the closet lodging is an hour away, it only made sense to drive up in the evening and camp at the trailhead. So camp on the rocks we did!

Early morning, all packed up and ready to start the hike down.

Gorgeous views - especially in the constantly changing morning light. 

There weren't many other people out yet, so we had the canyon pretty much to ourselves.

 

Obligatory hiking selfie. 

Eight miles in, we got to Supai. Suddenly, the dry desert transformed into a green oasis. This Havasupai village is the last place in the country where mail is still delivered via mule. It is a tiny cluster of houses along the Havasu Creek and populated by mostly horses and mules. They say people have lived here for over 1,300 years.

The campground is two miles past the village, so we kept hiking. Before long, the small creek widens out into a big gully and the first set of waterfalls is before us - Navajo Falls.

The upper Navajo Falls drop 50 feet and the lower Rock Falls drop 30 feet. We saw several people cliff jumping here but all those rock outcrops are too menacing for me to attempt that!

Then we came to the area's namesake - Havasu Falls, a 100 foot drop into a beautiful aqua blue pool. The contrast of the falls and the red rock is stunning!

 

The campground stretches for a couple miles between Havasu Falls and the next waterfall, so we found a spot and finally put down our gear. There are no designated campsites, you just find a spot on either side of the creek and set up shop where you please. There were quite a few other campers - some were set up for a long haul and others, like us, were there with minimal gear for a quick trip. Naturally, we paused for a short nap in our hammocks before exploring onward.  

Mooney Falls - the tallest waterfall at 200 feet is equally stunning.

The trail seems to just drop off the cliff at Mooney Falls, but there is an old miner's route that takes you all the way to the bottom of the falls. You just have to go down blasted tunnels and a series of ladders and chains. Piece of cake, not scary at all. 

Obligatory selfie by the falls after surviving the slick ladders.

We spent some time exploring around the creek and taking lots of photos down here. There is one more set of waterfalls - Beaver Falls - but that is another three miles further with multiple creek crossings. Since it was late in the day and I was the only one with waterproof shoes (Chacos FTW!), we decided against it. Just gives us another excuse to come back a different time!

We went back up the ladder to camp and called it a night. Early in the morning, we joined a train of people hiking out of the canyon. The next few are my favorite pictures of Havasu and Navajo Falls in the morning Easter light.

Again, sweet views as we trekked through the canyon. 

Then came the hard part - going up the canyon wall to the top. That last mile is a kicker! Not quite the same as when we were bounding down all those switchbacks when we started.

Obligatory selfie while struggling. Have you figured out who took all our pictures yet?

Successfully back at the top!

After that amazing weekend, we filled the remaining week there by actually relaxing. We slept in, laid by the pool, and returned to our favorite restaurants. We also got to see all of our favorite Arizonians and even remembered to get pictures with *some* of them!

   

Jen, do you realize we have no photos of us? Good thing I took these glamour shots of your kids!

Ignore that this photo is actually from 7/13 - we are like this every time we visit Scott & Nancy so it's accurate.

I went back to my old school and saw lots of my former students and teacher friends.

 

And no trip to Arizona is complete without small group dinner at Cibo's. Spring break success!