1. How do you decide where you’re going to travel?

• We really just travel how we live our lives which is by the seat of our pants, so we don’t necessarily have a plan for travel most of the time. Italy wasn’t that high on either of our lists but we found tickets for $280 roundtrip so to Italy we went! Since we budget travel, we usually just go where its cheapest! Like I found tickets to Russia the other day that were cheap and we didnt buy them but… you never can tell where we will go.

2. What are some things you can’t travel without?

• Morgan. He is the best traveling companion ever.
• We both bring reusable water bottles with us, and not just for the environment! We have discovered that many cities will require you to pay for any water you request. The restaurants will often charge because the water they do have is bottled so we learned quickly to fill our Hydro Flasks in the morning before we left! We use Hydro Flasks but I have heard these actually do a better job and for much cheaper.
• Our phones, obviously. We use them sparingly for Google Maps and Google Translate and they have saved our bacon!
• A good pair of shoes. The first trip we took I was naive and regretted my shoe choice the entire trip. We literally walk miles in a day and good shoes will make or break your entire trip. I haven’t found a specific pair I’d recommend.

3. What is the best experience you’ve had traveling?

• We have had pretty amazing experiences anywhere we’ve traveled. People are the same all over the world, I’ve discovered. If we talk to them they always talk to us. They are better than any Google suggestion or guide book. But I think I have too many favorites for this question. Some of the best experiences happened with just water and the sun or a good conversation with a lovely gray-haired lady about books or the smells that come out of shops while you ride down gray cobblestoned streets.

4. What are the requirements to travel with you?

• I laughed at this question. First, you need to be flexible. We decide where we’re going with just ideas of places we would like to hit but are open to not doing them all. We have to give and take. Being flexible also covers things like sleeping in hostel rooms with other individuals you quickly get to know. Sometimes the hostel is full and it’s St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin and you sleep under a plant in the airport. If you like to plan out where you’re staying and every part of the day, you probably shouldn’t travel with us.
• Secondly, you need to be on a budget. Budget travelers are sort of rare these days. Everyone likes to go to the resorts or Airbnb’s or luxurious cabins. These all have their place but the best way to get the whole experience is to travel cheaply. We buy cheap tickets, take the cheapest trains or buses, and don’t buy trashy souvenirs. We like to find things from the beach or hikes or the odd painting I can’t live without. We eat two meals a day instead of three, usually late breakfast and early supper because food gets expensive. When we stay at hostels for a couple nights in a row, which is rare, we buy stuff for spaghetti or something else cheap and it usually results in saving money and food sharing. If you like to spend money and have set meal times, you probably shouldn’t travel with us.
• Thirdly, you should be able to pack for two weeks in a backpack you will carry most of the time. This is a tough one, but necessary. If you bring even a carry on roller suitcase, you will have to possibly lug it through the streets as we go because rarely do we spend night in one place and leave our bags. I am so used to bringing only a backpack that it’s the only thing we use to travel anywhere now, weddings and all. Who knew I could change so much? haha. If you like your luxuries and can’t fit them in a backpack, you probably shouldn’t travel with us.

5. What is the best food you’ve eaten?

• Pizza in Naples, Italy, hands down. Wait. There is also a place called Mediterranean Breeze in Olympia, Washington that is the best Turkish food you will ever eat outside of actually going to Turkey. I wrote about it in a previous post when Morgan&I went up there for a job. If you’re near there you need to check it out!

6. What is a country you want to visit?

• Mauritania, Africa. Big goddess style women like myself are revered there so that’s basically the only reason I want to go there. I think it’s mostly desert. haha In reality, I just want to see as many places in the world as possible so I’m not really picky at all.

I guess that’s it for now..thanks for reading. Message us if you have any more questions!

I’m drinking french press coffee on this cold California day out of my least favorite mug but i’m wrapped in my favorite warm mustard sweater which makes up for the mug. the fridge is making funny noises in the kitchen. my weekend high is over and dreams of favorite people from Alberta spin through my mind.

We went to Pincher Creek for Joel&Jenna’s wedding time. It was too short, basically. What else is there to say? We saw as many people as we could in the weekend and it was worth it but now in my little house I’m sad I’m away from all those favorite dears again.

The chili supper is coming up this weekend. Last night we met with James&Jenn to finalize some stuff and then it’s on! We have lots of different chilis coming and cinnamon rolls too. I think we have most of our unsuspecting judges rounded up as well. As a foodie, I’m very excited to try all the things. Bison, shrimp, chicken, and beef chilis are all on the menu. We decided to try this out this year and if it is successful, maybe there is an opportunity for next years to be a fundraiser sort of deal.

in other news, we bought a bus! we drove up by redding and looked at it and drove it home. to say we’re excited would be an understatement. It’s going to be a TON of work but we have the seats out and are working on removing the floor and walls. our game plan is to live in it full time as a house by late next spring. The bus is 30 feet long and 7.75 feet wide with about 165 square feet of living space.

I think we are sort of crazy but we also believe its possible to live simply and still have a fulfilling life. It goes against human nature to have less, I think. We all want to keep things that we slowly gather. I’m in the process of going through our house and getting rid of stuff we don’t need or haven’t used recently. I get in this mindset that because I don’t want to offend anyone, I have to keep everything people give to me whether I’ll use it or not. This should not be the case so I’ve recently worked on myself and if I don’t use it, out it goes. Storage in a bus is very limited, so I think we’ll store our few sentimental boxes somewhere like at folks. They don’t know this yet. And I definitely have a few sentimental boxes. I keep cards from old friends, and dresses from childhood, and shirts that my Dad wore, and notes from my Mom. I suppose everyone has different things they think are special. My mom thinks I get rid of too much.

Anyways, I am going to be working on getting back into the blog here. It’s been sort of touch and go the last couple months but hopefully I can get it back to normal. I have had a new opportunity present itself so I may be doing more blogging than just here, which is super exciting. have a good week everyone! chey

Morgan, Jalen and I drove out to Kansas. We left the 24th of September and got to Texline the morning of the 25th, where we called and invited ourselves to Uncle Dennis & Aunt Jolene for a quick breakfast before we left for Copeland. Mom and Madi and Ann arrived on Wednesday evening and Dillon’s were there when we arrived. We spent the week mostly relaxing at Max&Rose which is like our second home. Morgan did some riding along in the combine since they were in the middle of harvest. Friday the 27th (also my 28th birthday. gah. please stop time.) we invited a bunch of people over for the evening because we couldn’t get to all our friend’s houses! It was so cool to catch up with old friends and meet new ones (Morgan has class buddies who’s wives I got to meet). Sunday afternoon we all left and went to Central. Dillon’s, Mom, Madi, and Ann went to Halstead to be with Renae’s family because Madi hadn’t seen Darvin since she donated her kidney to him and also Dillon’s are spending some time there before they leave. Morgan and I went to Mark&Melody for supper at Hesston with Dani&Becky (I taught with Dani) and Carl&Marsha (old school board). Then we went to Anth&Treva for the night. Monday we met my family for coffee in Galva and for lunch, we all went to Newton for pizza and Julie and Sebastian met us for lunch! I think Morgan was ready to see a familiar face after all the introductions I’d forced him into:) Then we had to tell Dillon&Renae goodbye which was awful of course. You’d think I’d be better at goodbyes by the age of 28 but noooooo. We went to John&Shar for supper at Inman with Rhett&Mel who I remembered from meeting in youth but hadn’t seen for years so that was a good time. When we left there, we drove to Copeland and picked up Jalen and drove through the night to Center where we ate breakfast at Rhoda’s restaurant at 7 am Tuesday. From there we drove straight through home! With a small supper stop for Navajo Taco’s in Flagstaff. You’re only young once as they say so we’re taking advantage of it.

So we saw a LOT of people and missed way more and I hate that because I have such good friends I would like to have seen but it just wasn’t possible. My apologies. Also come to California. But lots of people had questions about this blog and places we’d been and we encountered some of the same questions quite a few times so I thought I’d maybe do a Q and A on here soon because you’ve maybe wondered the same things?

This month has been crazy. I wrote this a couple weeks ago with the intent to post it the next day but…life happened. I flew to be with Madison for a few days to be her “caretaker” and flew home in time to pack and leave for Kansas for a few days. We also got the news that the house we just moved into is being sold so that’s disappointing. After I got home I was working in Turlock and had an accident and totaled our new “used” vehicle and in the process messed up my hand. This week I’ve been pretty down about it all so I haven’t left the house much, partly because I can’t do my own hair or anything else. It’s the first bone I’ve broken and I AM thankful that was all the worse it was! Does anyone else have weeks like this? Luckily Morgan is the best and has made suppers and helped so much! Tuesday Morgan was in San Diego working so I drove up to Glenn for Anthony’s funeral. Today Mom, Kelli and I went out for lunch to this little place called Grub that was delicious so that cheered me up from it all. Tonight we are going to Canaan&Tara’s wedding ceremony which is going to be beautiful I think. Outdoor ceremonies always are.

Anyways. I’ll be doing the Q and A soon so if any of you have questions about how we travel, apps we use, how we decide where to go, how our travel could work for YOU, etc., please email me at cheyzzle@gmail.com so I can answer your questions! I wish all of you a good weekend!

This is a prayer request.

Most of you know that my sister, Madison, donated her kidney a year or so ago. The surgery went fine with no complications, but she had several scary times when she couldn’t breathe. That, in turn, caused her to panic so it was a cycle that happened a couple times in the hospital. Last year while teaching in Oregon, she started having what she thought were really bad asthma attacks. She would cough some but mostly she had chest pain and just couldn’t breathe. It happened at first when she would play sports or be active, but then started happening for no reason. She ended up in the ER a couple times, I think, but they just gave her asthma treatments and sent her home.

Over the summer she did some doctoring in Michigan with little results. They started running a few tests but continued to diagnose it as asthma. She was prescribed with a nebulizer at home and was supposed to do several treatments a day but the medicine made her hands and body cramp up so bad that it was hard for her to do it. Mom would have to massage her legs and hands while she did the treatment so she would get circulation back.

She went back to Oregon a few weeks ago to start another school year, but a week ago again started having intense chest pains and couldn’t breathe again. It went on for several days and finally Monday evening Lanae took her into the Albany ER again and they admitted Madison right away. They ran extensive tests so they could rule out as much as possible but so far have not found anything. She has a very high pain tolerance but says her pain has been a 7 for several days without much relief. They have given her Ativan to slow her breathing but nothing has helped so far. She takes very shallow, fast breaths because she’s in so much pain. Her memory was poor yesterday, from the meds I suppose. She slept better for part of last night but woke up this morning from the chest pain and her shoulder is causing a lot of pain now too.

As of 12:30 here, she has been dismissed from Albany because the doctors had done everything they could at a smaller hospital. Val is on her way to Portland with Madison and is taking her to the OHSU hospital ER to see if they can find out more there. (if she goes home and makes an appointment, it could be several months, so the Albany hospital suggested the ER as a faster way possibly.)  If she is admitted this afternoon, I will drive or fly out to Portland. If not, she will have to go back to Mike’s with no help for the pain so we are praying something can be done in Portland.

Our biggest fear is that they will continue to find nothing wrong, and Madison’s is that she won’t be able to make it to Kansas next Wednesday to tell Dillon’s goodbye before they leave. Please pray that we can all be calm and remember that God has a plan, and that the doctors in Portland can find the real problem. Thank you.

Mom in law took me to the train station in Merced on the morning of Thursday, June 6. Little did I know that my opinion of Amtrak would soon go down the hole. I waited five hours once I got to Sacramento. On the platform. When the train finally arrived I was already hot and grimy and the trip hadn’t even begun. I found a seat and spent Friday and Saturday on the train. The scenery going through the mountains was absolutely worth the wait. When the train went through Nebraska and Iowa I got to see the awful flooding happening there. The railroad tracks went right on a path through the water, maybe a foot above the water. I didnt know if we’d make it or not. I got to Chicago 7 hours late, so missed my train into Kalamazoo. Instead, the 10 of us going into Michigan were forced onto this “party bus” where bachelor parties are held. Yes. Tinted windows and big speakers and leather seats and a mini bar. Well we 10 smashed in there literally knee to knee and shoulders touching with all of everyone’s luggage and two drivers who weren’t sure “whose stop was first ” which made us all insecure. It was the coolest ride ever, people wise. We had an older lady who was a lawyer with her mom, a lady electrician from Somalia originally, an older couple, a guy who was a genius, a corporate high roller, and a couple other random people. We had a lively intelligent discussion about religion, travel, billionaires, and con men and criminals of the past. It was so fun. This random group of people just shoved together. I loved it. Mom and Madi picked me up and we helped a lady with some car issues and then headed home.

Tuesday renae, mom, madi and I drove to PJ Hoffmaster and spent the day on the lake. It’s not really warm here at all yet, since I’ve been here anyways, but it was sunny and the sand and waves hadn’t changed much but the water was 50*. It was beautiful.

Wednesday my favorite Morgan flew into Detroit so mom, madi, and I went and picked him up. Dillons met us at this amazing cajun southern place in Owosso called Lula’s. Honestly the best chicken and waffle ever. The waffle was infused with vanilla and cinnamon and had maple syrup on it so if someone could make that for me in California that’d be nice.

Thursday we started the chore of going through moms garage. Most of it is school stuff and things like that but we kids each had a box mom had stored for us from our school years and our old baby clothes and different things. It was quite funny reading old school essays and reminiscing about those days. I am embarrassed honestly. So we organized and sorted and got rid of most stuff because finally you cant keep everything. Then we had to go through all of Dads things. That was difficult. When we moved from Kansas to Michigan, we’d put all of dads stuff in boxes and didnt go through it until now so there was sadness for us to finally go through it. All of his shirts and his special fishing shirt and swim trunks that he wore when we went fishing in Mexico and his loafer shoes he wore to grill literally every day. He collected vintage tennis rackets and vintage hockey/goalie gear and vintage baseball bats. Then we found his wallet and the clothes he was wearing the night before he died and I just sniffed all his shirts and wished i could somehow smell him but he is gone from them. It makes me so sad. We got it sorted and each took what we wanted. I took a couple of Dads Sublette EMS shirts and a shirt that was my favorite on him. Since we’ve gone through those boxes, I’ve had just awful nightmares every night so subconsciously must be dealing with it again. Its real folks.

And then I think of the Duecks at Westlock and the Millers at Swan and the people involved there that I love and it’s hard to know that they have a journey now too. I have lost my dad, but I have not lost a close friend, or a daughter, or a sibling, and that must be equally as awful. Dont forget those families. Pray for them because you never know what small or big thing your prayer may help. The battle is never really over with grief. There were the well meaning people who held my hand and said “it’s been a year dear. Dont you think you should have dealt with it more by now?” I think it was people’s prayers that stopped me from totally losing my marbles on those people. And the days you think will be normal are the days you hear your dads favorite song, or see someone who kind of looks like them that you want to go up to and hug in Target, just so life seems ok again. Those little times hit the hardest. Just remember those sad hearted families who have lost someone very special.

Thursday evening Mom went to Battle Creek and picked up Grandma Jul from the train!

One night we went to Ross and Nats for supper with the Breakfast Club and sat around the fire. Saturday we went to Grand Rapids shopping at Cabelas. Sunday was Fathers Day of course, and we called Wynn&Katie’s wedding in. Then we took Morgan back to the plane Sunday afternoon and Grandma wanted to eat at Cracker Barrel on the way home so we did. Morgan is going home to hike with Jalen for a week on the Pacific Crest Trail. Tuesday us, grandma and Nae went to Shipshewana Indiana to shop for renae fabric for her mission dresses and also to go to the flea market. Shipshe is very interesting with lots of different types of amish and Mennonite people everywhere. I cant say it was the coolest place but it was interesting yes. One day we stopped at church and visited dads grave too.

Grandma Jul left this morning on the train and it’s way too soon. I love being all of us together here! I fly home Saturday so more updating then since well be getting packed and ready to leave for Honduras! Super excited! Have a good week☆

Well it’s been a month since my last post and lots has happened of course. I put my blog on hold for May because it seems like it’s such a busy month at school. On top of the end of year activities, we moved to a new house! So basically I will start writing again now that stuff is settling down (sort of) and I’ll have time to write.

May l8 which was a Saturday we left early in the morning with Jalen and David and Paul and drove across those snowy Sierras until we came to Lone Pine. We met some of Jalens hiker buds and I liked them immediately although they all stink from not showering much. And one girl I talked to said she hadn’t shaved her legs for 3 months. I guess a dinky frozen mountain stream is less than ideal. We had coffee with some of the people and went to some gear shops before the 5 of us found a campsite outside of Bishop and set up tents for the night. It was nice and breezy while we cooked tacos over the fire. We woke up to cold cold cold and it had snowed all over the mountains around us and Bishop so it was a beautiful thing to wake up to. We packed our gear up and drove over to the hot springs which is honestly the best part. I sat on the rocky bottom of a spring that’s in the middle of grassy flats between mountains and watched the sun on the mountains and watched the moss floating on the water and it was truly glorious. Later dropped Jalen off after we ate lunch. Sad to see him go again!

End of school program was Friday the 24th with each class bringing their part in poetry. My class said the poem “Shut the Door”, a poem Miss Connie Wedel had us learn in Grade 2 there at Copeland! My kids were honestly the cutest. We were invited to stay at the grad party after of two of Morgans cousins graduated. Saturday was play day and it was a very interesting day. I’d never been to a play day here since last year we were at Moms program in Michigan. The games committee had the morning planned with different relays and contests. After lunch the 9th and 10th boys played softball with their dads in a very political game that stressed me out. We spent the afternoon there watching the game and i went home when it was over. Morgan stayed to play abit with young couples and youth. We went to villas for Mexican food later. I am completely stunned that school is over again. I told my students if they were younger or going into grade 5 again I’d teach them but 6th is just too old for me and they all said they wished to flunk and stay in 5th so hopefully they didn’t have toooo tough of a year with me! 😁

Memorial Day was very lowkey. Morgan worked part of the day and we spent the afternoon packing and organizing. We went to folks for a pie iron supper with the Koehns later.

Tuesday morning we finished packing and at 4 Joe’s, abe, Hayden, and Levi came over and helped us move to our new place. Which brings me to the sad news that justin&shenda went away to georgia with their little dog and left us this cute house to move into but also they’re living in georgia now without us and only their cat remains here. So we moved all of our stuff into this new house and Rachel made us this awesome carnitas supper and afterwards I organized our closet and then we sat around our new firepit with the Koehn boys. It was a happy start to our house.

I worked at home today, Wednesday, trying to sort and set up and clean the new house. Morgan grilled pork loin for supper and we had that and wilty green beans. Guess grocery shopping is being forced upon me now that we are moved. After supper we went to Chance&Charity and spent a very fun evening with Melody and Kaden who are our cousins from Scott City and Glen&Charlene who are also out visiting. I always think it’s such a mental boost to be with people who knew/know my family and parents and who I am and where I come from. Sometimes living away from my family makes me feel alone because nobody knows my story here like the people do in places we used to live. Confusing I know.

So we will get settled and I leave on the train next Thursday for a couple weeks in Michigan where Morgan will fly to join me for a few days. I find it so funny I’m taking the train but I’ll be so busy up until when I leave that I thought itd be fun to relax and watch the world go by for a couple days. We also have our tickets bought for Honduras and are leaving June 28 so shortly after we get home from Michigan! Lots of things to look forward to. Have a good week everyone♡

i haven’t written for a long time and i keep telling myself to buckle down and do it so here i am. we have had a very busy april and now it’s almost the end of it. I wanted to just write a little piece this morning about depression, which is somewhat of a taboo subject among us. I decided this morning to just be humble about this and write to you like you are sitting next to me while we drink coffee.

I was diagnosed with severe depression after dad died in 2013. I don’t think i went in right away after he died but kind of just lived along until after we moved to Michigan, where i was diagnosed and started a medication for it. It’s interesting to see how people react when they find out you take medication for depression. Some people tell me they believe if you are depressed, you have something spiritually wrong or are trying to quiet your conscience. I feel my depression is caused by deep sadness and my brains inability to cope with the loss of something important. Some people’s depression is caused by something else: life changes, the world around us, loss of a loved one, sickness, family issues, inferiority, being unable to have a child, etc. It is no respecter of persons. All walks of life experience varying degrees of depression and it is not abnormal. I fully believe God can help heal depressed minds or feelings. I also believe the medication i take enables me to see a little more clearly what the ultimate goal is. I do not take it to replace a need in my life, or to replace my conscience. I’ve had friends shame me quite publicly for depression itself. I am not ashamed of it. My life has been a very different journey than theirs. If you have never been depressed, it would be hard to understand. But for those of you who have been depressed or fight it every day, I love you. I understand. I know the feeling of the cloud that just covers everything. I know the feeling of wishing to be invisible so nobody can see your faults and worse, the feeling that maybe you ARE invisible. Text me sometime and let me know you’re low so i can pray for you. It’s a battle nobody should face without God and friends.

That all said, my month felt off because of different things. It seemed like i’d have a bad day and God would send an open door for me to give of myself and it would cheer me up. Some of the highlights since the last post: Saturday the 13th folks and Reubens came for burgers. An excellent evening. Wednesday the 17th we went to Geneo’s for supper with Jakes and Jons. I went home and did a yarn project afterwards and Morgan went to basketball. Friday the 19th we went salmon fishing with Jon&Alicia and Dad Kevin. Our group limited out and none of us got seasick so that was a plus! Madi and some friends came out to our place over Easter so we had a grand time for several days. Explored San Francisco Saturday which I can never get enough of. Easter lunch we all had at folks. I think Mom served 40 people that day! We had taco truck for supper with Jake&Hannah and the kids went to the Peasters later after church. Wednesday evening the 24th Morgan made supper YAY and Hayden and Levi came over for supper before they went to ball. After they left we went to Jons with Bennys and Grandma of Jon. Friday night was the Grace Home benefit in the evening. We helped folks fry catfish again this year so you could have catfish or brisket for supper. I peopled out pretty quick but we stayed for part of the auction at least. Saturday Morgan went to pick up Harry Peters for Ty&Charity’s reception in the evening. I met them for lunch at John Martin’s appreciation lunch in Winton and then i went to sherri’s and swam and spent the afternoon forgetting my cares. Morgan went to the reception in the evening. Sunday we had lunch at folks and went to Livingston in the evening for the Grace Home speech and stuff. Today was our field trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was a swell day and I thought again how much I’m gonna miss my kids!♡

I hope you all have a wonderful week. We’ve been having some 95 degree days already so summer’s definitely coming! Another sad/exciting bit of news.our friends Justin&Shenda are moving far away to Georgia, but leaving their house open for rent so Morgan and I are going to be renting their house when they leave mid May. Year end program, practice, packing up at school, packing up at home, and moving are all happening in the next month. think of me. xo, chey

Kelsey Baerg came to visit March 28th so i didn’t have too much time to be sad i wasn’t still in Italy. He was out for several days and it was honestly the best thing to hang out and talk and be with someone who knew “before marriage”. I drove him to the airport on Monday the 1st. When i got home Morgan and i went over to Jenn and Audrey’s for Southern food with Reubens and Levi for a trip report of sorts. Otherwise our week was pretty normal. Grocery shopping, fire meeting, folks for supper.

We flew out of San Francisco late Thursday night the 4th, for Grant and Cori’s wedding and had an overnight flight to Atlanta. Dillon&Renae, Madison, and Mom picked us up Friday in Dillon’s work pickup, a tight squeeze, and we did some shopping and got lunch before driving out to Louisville, Georgia. We met Dan&Brenda and Ty&Alyssa for supper at this southern buffet place called Angie’s for supper Friday evening and spent the night at Dwonn&Tam’s. Their house is wonderful and in such a quiet, relaxing place that we didn’t really want to leave ever. Saturday morning we were with the family, Mark&Rhoda, Mike&Nada, Ty&Alyssa, Tyson&Megan, Peter&Rach, Les&Lanae, to name just a few. Oh my. I love those people. Always seems way too short with them. We had breakfast and listened to choir and talked and caught up with everyone. Supper in the evening was at school. Ty’s came over to Dwonn’s and the guys went swimming later. Sunday was the wedding where Cori was darling in white and Grant was happy and our emotions were high because we missed Brett and my Dad. The wedding was nice and we got to eat beside Dillon’s and Madi which was a rare treat. Thought about our dear friends Lilly&Sanford in Othello and Charity&Ty in Homeland who got married Sunday as well. Very sad occurrence to know all six people and only go to one of the weddings! Sunday evening we went to a supper at a shed and had to tell everyone goodbye and it seemed we’d only just arrived. Monday for lunch Dillons, Mom, Madi, and us went to Dwonn’s restaurant Home Fresh Bistro for lunch and met Papa Jay & Mama Mary there. So neat to visit places where we have friends like that. My family dropped us off at Atlanta airport late afternoon Monday and we got back to our little house on Hull Road at 130 am or so.

This week we have achievement tests at school so i’ve done some work on my smash book/ travel journal thing and blogged and caught up on some things while my students are thinking their brains out. We were just at home last night which was so great! I made this chicken bruschetta recipe i found online and corn casserole for supper which i never make really but every time i do i absolutely love it. Morgan is working in LA today so not sure when he’ll be home this evening. It’s been windy the last few days so my skirts blow and my hair is tangled and my lungs feel pleased with the fresh air.

So something fun and exciting is happening for us at the end of June! Morgan and I have been wanting for awhile to volunteer or give time somewhere and checked a couple options out that didn’t seem to open up. A couple months ago we got connected with a lady from Edmonton who lives in Honduras now and runs a clinic and a school for children with HIV/AIDS so we’ve been talking to her and we submitted applications, had a phone interview, and were “hired”! So we will be going to teach Grades 1-8 for several months in Honduras, on a little island called Roatan. Honduras has the highest HIV rate in Central America and there is lots of discrimination against the people who have it. The children at this school either have HIV or live in a family that has it so we will be loving these children and hopefully helping them to feel safe. We are so excited about this opportunity to give back for a little bit of time for now at least! We will be leaving the end of June sometime.

That said, Dillon&Renae also called us last week and informed us they put their names in to serve in the mission for a 3 year term! They don’t know where they’re being placed until May so we are waiting to hear! We are very excited about them going…it’s hard to believe i have a younger sibling going to the mission. Makes me feel like I am 45 years old. Dillon&Nae will be the youngest couple in the field when they go i think! So please keep them in your prayers while they await orders from headquarters.

As you can see, it was time for us all to be together as a family and process all this craziness. I just keep thinking how proud Dad would be of all of us growing up and trying to live for God and serving others. Madison teaching in Scio, (she’s going back next year), Mom teaching in Michigan, (also going back) Dillon’s going to the mission. I’m so incredibly proud of my family. Five years ago when Dad died, I never would have guessed this is where we would all be right now. God has truly been so good to us. Thank you, each of you, who prayed and continue to pray for us and help us out, especially those who help Mom when we aren’t close by. We will never forget it.

This morning we got our little flat cleaned up and had c(H)eerios and oranges for breakfast. We stood on the terrace awhile and just watched the Italy water because we soon have to leave. Then we walked down all the mazes of steep stairs into the Main Street. We went through the shops and had pizza for lunch before catching our train to La Spezia. From La Spezia we got our last train that took us through green hills and by Spanish style houses and into Rome. We took another taxi ride which are hilarious in Rome and got to the airport. It’s very sad to leave Italy. This trip has been unreal. Houses, pasta, canals, pizza, motos, the sea. Shout out to Cy Schmidt for having the best pizza we’ve had that compares closely to the pizza we’ve had here!

Today I feel rough. Its good the cliff jump was sort of at the end of our trip and not the beginning. We found out this morning the cliff that I face dove off of is actually 53 feet high. I cant move very well today.

We flew into Munich, Germany, at 9 this evening and got a shuttle to our hotel. The airport here is about an hour away from the city so were staying night right near the airport tonight. Just like that with an hour flight we are away from bustling, graffitied, old fashioned Rome and into clean, organized Munich. Such a vast change in cities! We were talking on the plane and we all agreed we didnt ever see a modern building in Rome. Today is Levi’s birthday! We spent most of it traveling kinda towards home. We all got to bed early ish.