volunteers of america

I wonder if my few readers have given up on me...but nonetheless I shall give you an update!

I've started to settle in to life Sioux Falls. I think it's finally hitting me I'm not just here on vacation but that I live here. However, the suitcases that are currently my closets aren't helping the case. I'm living at my sister's for now but hope to be in my house in the next few weeks. I just keep reminding myself I'm glad to be here. I have some of the most incredible friends that have helped me remember what it's like to be 25 again!

I started working with the Volunteers of America. We are not volunteers, so the name seems to be a bit misleading. But, it is such a perfect fit for me. They call themselves a church and remind me so much of the place I left and loved for three years. I'm working at the Bowden Youth Center in the kids summer camps for June and July. This means my days are filled with Uno, tetherball, walks downtown and trips to the swimming pool. Doesn't get much better than that right! The kids are precious and remind me daily how grateful I am for the experience I had in Detroit. Can't pull too many fast ones on me! They are every color of the rainbow and voice of the sea (Avalon...right Donny? :) which is new for me and fun to experience. I learned Karundi swear words on about day two- which is right about on par when working with kids. But, they are beautiful, and precious and loved by the Creator and I hope to love on them and teach them as they are so deserving.

Starting in July a new and unexpected grant will allow the Bowden to expand so I will be running this camp in a few weeks. It is specifically for refugee children from the Family Immersion Center school in Sioux Falls. I'm excited for this new challenge, and excited to meet more families in Sioux Falls. We'll be studying Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs based solely on the rich themes and vocabulary (...not for my fascination with this darling children's movie...)

Wednesday starts Under God's Canopy with the other part of my life here....look for that update soon!! (And, I promise some pictures...getting a little boring I know!)

Love

been a minute...

well a million things have happened. the smile has not left my face...even as i tiredly (is that a word??) fall into a new bed each night. let me give you a little recap

Detroit: i said goodybe to my friends and family in detroit. through a few tears i had a fabulous last week with my loves and did everything one last time. but, rather than dwelling on 'this might be the last time we....' i remembered the incredibly beautiful memories i made in the D and continued to smile. Dana and I loaded up the Bonnie Saturday morning, made an emergency u-turn back to elias donuts and then headed for milwaukee

Road Trip: Dane and I had a fabulous time in the car. We stopped at the chocolate garden, got wined and dined by her son who's a server in downtown chicago, devoured some Garrett's popcorn, and made a pit stop where we were so well taken care of at my cousin's- Becca and Charlie's- in Milwaukee. We had a SUCH A BALL! Then Sunday came and we got to share breakfast with my old CHicago friends...bruce and lyssie...and then we drove...and drove, and drove, and drove. Minnesota is one big state. Sunday got a little long but we were so grateful to have no problems and an easy drive

Sioux Falls: We got her Sunday night arrive home to my excited family. I showed Dana all the sights and we spoiled ourselves with pedicures and haircuts too. It was so fun to have her here with my family and to see all the things she's heard about over the last three years. I took her to the Omaha airport Wednesday evening and miss her already...but we just said so long, instead of goodbye :)

Life: So, now I live in Sioux Falls and I often find myself grinning as I drive down Cliff Avenue one more time (kelli and i live at opposite ends of Cliff....it's perfect). My house isn't done, my parents house isn't done, and kelli's house doesn't house us all....SO, i'm suriving off the kindness of dear friends and always have a hot meal and pillow for my head. I'm so blessed.

VOA: I got a job with the volunteers of america to supplement the after school program I'll be starting. I will be teaching English to hispanic families with young kids and kind of acting as a community liason. i am SO excited and could not have worked this out better. I have all other kind of job news I could share but will save that for multiple other posts.

THank-you for your thoughts and prayers as I made this transition. I miss my Detroit family, but am loving being with my Sioux Falls family too. I will update again soon ...so much going through my head!!!

LOVE :)