sfsd

13 hours in a uhaul with one of my dearest friends, a busy week of interviewing, meeting and celebrating, and my last plane ride for awhile and I'm already back in Detroit.

I had a blast getting a taste of Sioux Falls last week. I unloaded all of my stuff into my new house and couldn't be filled with more anticipation of what's to come in that house. I met some of the kids that will be coming their daily and I feel so truly honored to get to be a part of this journey of life. Check out Pastor Brian's blog to read a little more about this exciting upcoming project.

Since that will only be part time to begin with I was patiently...err, or more anxiously...waiting for the perfect thing to compliment this. I was sure I wouldn't end up as a barista extraordinaire, but was open to that too. However, through some miraculous funding I was able to interview with an incredible organization, the Volunteers of America (VOA). VOA is doing incredible things in Sioux Falls and really targeting those in need and certain areas of the city. They are holistic in what they do and meeting basic needs of people but also are just doing life together. They do church together once a month as a staff, as they are 'spiritually-based' organization. Sounds oddly familiar right? So, although I haven't officially been offered a position it is looking very positive that I'll be involved with this organization. I'll leave it at that for now :).

My head is spinning as I sit in between two worlds. One that is very bittersweet to leave and another that is calling my name. I am so blessed with incredible family and friends back home but will sadly say goodbye to those that have become family here. I am so lucky!

Love, jm

P.S. Congrats to my beautiful friends Josh and Becky Tigner- I was so blessed to be a part of your day! And...congrats to Dan and Morgie on the arrival of your sweet baby girl Brooke, can't wait to meet her!!!!!!

tooth fairy fail

Well, the uhaul is loaded and I'm heading out Tuesday morning for my first journey back to Sioux Falls. I packed up the last two weeks and had some incredible friends come over put my whole life in that box truck. To think I moved here in my car, there wasn't room for one more thing!

In packing my bedroom up I was folding clothes and cleaning out under the bed. I found a bag of quarters. I thought to myself, wow strange place to find quarters. Though, if you've never heard- many 'brown people' store important items under the mattress. If you're laying on it nobody can get it right. However, this was not the case with the bag of quarters. I thought for a minute and suddenly remembered a sleepover with three sweet girls- Ashley, Angel and Krissie.

Ashley had lost her tooth during the day and we had had many conversations about the tooth fairy coming. I felt so much pressure, I had never been the tooth fairy before. But, I do remember the tooth fairy visiting my sleepy head and real or not- it was a big deal. So, I let them go to sleep (i.e. waited as long as I could before I feel asleep) and tip toed upstairs to deliver the goods. They were all snoring and all piled on top of each other as usual so I thought I was safe. I deposited the bag under her pillow and whipped out my wings and flew away. Ashley didn't say anything the next morning but I certainly couldn't bring it up, worried my wings might show.

Well, Ashley didn't bring it up, because Ashley didn't get it. That lonely bag of quarters didn't quite make a little girls day and I threw it in another box and taped it up hoping her hopes and dreams were dashed that morning. Someday, I hope to be able to apologize to Ash for my tooth fairy fail and somehow maybe restore her hopes in the tooth fairy!

See you Wednesday Sioux Falls friends!!!