Mexico -- In All.

I kept a journal throughout my whole Oaxaca missions trip, so I'm just gonna post the entrees with pictures that were taken of the trip. If you go to the GFM (Global Frontier Missions) channel on YouTube, you can watch what the trip was like. Just click anything from Group 3 '09, and you'll see us!
Anyway, read and enjoy (^_^)

Day 1, July 14th, 2009

Yesterday we got to the church at 5:50 am and left for the airport at six. It wasn't really horrible or stressful because we were still in Denver.

We were all scaattered all over the plane on the first one. Caleb and I were the only ones together on the trip. Kristen sat directly behind me, and Alex was behind her. This one guy tried to switch seats with Caleb, but I was like, "No...! Stay..." so the guy's wife was like, "Let the kid sit next to his sister!"

So we kind of just played along and laughed later.

The plane started to take off and we saw crop circles. Evidently, people plant their fields in circles so they can water them that way.

I wrote for a while on the plane and read a bit. Then before we knew it, we were in Dallas.

We ate lunch at Fuddrucker's and stood in line forever at the ticket desk because Doug and Michael (Michael Anderson) decided to make confettii out of the tickets. So we had to get new ones. And waited in line for a long time, and then when we finally got the tickets, they printed two of Kristen (my sister)'s tickets, so Blacklock and I had to wait a bit longer to get one for me.

And then when we got on the plane, I was in C14 (Mexicana Airlines! Woo!), so I had a asle seat next to people I didn't know. The people across the asle had two cute little Mexican boys.

And I got airsick during the sucky landing.

When we got off, we ran through the Mexico City Airport so we could get past the immigration lines faster, but by the grace of God, there wasn't a soul in them! So we were like, "Wah-hoo!" and ran through it.

We had about an hour to kill, so we hung around. Kristen and I got a mango frapp from Starbucks. Why don't they sell those in America??

I had a seat between an girl Daniel's age and an old guy on the way to Oaxaca City Airport. The girl was drawing, so I started to draw, too. It turned out pretty bazzare.

The flight lady came and gave me el jugo de naranja with ice, but then I remembered Blacklock had said not to eat the ice so I didn't get sick from teh water. So I started diggin' in my cup and the nice Mexican dude sitting next to me kindly offered me his barf bag to stick them in. Isn't he the charmer, hahaha.

The landing was rocky, again. So I got sick, again. I didn't puke, but still, sucky landing skills on the captain's part.

From the airbort we met some guy from GFM (I think his name was Jordan) and we took a four hour van ride into the mountains. We played "What's Behind The Green Glass Door?"

I'll give you a hint: You can take puppies, but not dogs. You can take kittens, but not cats.

Shells, but not the sea. Gazelles but not antilopes (altough you can still take a deer).

See if you can figure it out.

Oh, and you can giggle, but not laugh.

I fell asleep the last hour, and Alex got carsick. I also jacked Caleb's hat.

We got to the base and was greeted by rain, interns, and missionaries -- like José!

We got to bed soon after that.

Day 2, July 15th, 2009

We got up early this morning and ate breakfast, and then a few of us helped out with the dishes. It struck me how well everyone works together here. Nobody was fighting.

Then we meditated ont he Word and learned about unreached people groups. (The 10/40 Window and such.)

I am dumbfounded by the senery and how beautiful God has made it. I am reminded that he is amazing, astonishing, incredible, and that I am humbled that the one who made these beautiful mountains cares about me and loves me. He answers my prayers and watches over me. And today he has revieled to me how privalaged I am that he has chosen me to follow him -- of all people. And to know that I love him.

Day 3, July 16th, 2009

Today we had an amazing worship service. I've gotten over my fear of putting my hands up to praise the Lord, and I find it feels so much more personal.

Then we went upstairs to pray. It was a darkened room, and lit with candels, and there was some soft, acoustic Christian music playing.

There were a few Questions projected on the wall:

-God, what kind of fruit am I bearing for your kingdom?

-God, what have I been unwilling to sacrifice for your glory among the nations?

-God, what kind of kingdom steward are you wanting me to be right now?

-God, what roll are you calling me to play in making deciples?

So I have this friend that God's really been putting on my heart to bring to Christ, but the whole complication with Newman has kind of skewed my focus on him.

But in this dark room with so many people just...praying, God spoke to me.

Something I did not understand about what people mean when 'God speaks to you' is that it's not a voice. It's a thought. A really, really strong thought that just resinates in your mind. And you can tell that it's not your own thought. I heard him. He said, "Get on your knees."

I was a little bit hesitant, but I eventually slid to the floor and fell before God on my knees.

And I began to think about my friend again.

So I was asking God, "Well, what should I do? I don't know what to do, where to begin..."

Then I felt the comforting, warm arm of Abby wrap around my shoulder, and a voice just said simply, "Love."

And, no, it wasn't Abby's.

Day 5 , July 18th, 2009

Last night was our first night in Tidaa.

We are staying in a host lady's house. She is really cute, but can't really walk very fast becasue her feet hurt her. She has a little pig -- actualy, two -- and they're both so cute! I petted one, and he was really dirty.

Today we (Me, Amanda, Kristen, and Olivia [the intern]) walked down to the church and ate this huge breakfast of tamales. Doug (Diego) ate fifteen. It was intense.

There's this kid, Erick,

This is Erick, but he refuses to smile for the camera for some reason.

and he's totally my BFF. (Aside from Alex, that is, haha. Inside joke.)

Yesterday Erick asked me to draw him "Un lobo," a wolf on his peice of paper. Then he took it and drew some hills and the sky and a smiling sun with the lobo on it. Then he wrote "con amor" ("with love") under where I'd written his name, and then folded it and wrote "para ti" ("for you"), then gave it to me.

He's so cute.

I thought he was, like, eight, but I guess he's twelve. He follows me everywhere and wants to know what things are in English ("¿Como se dice 'preguntas' en Ingles?" "Questions." "¿Cooestions?" "Questions." "Cooestions." "Uh...si." *laughter*)

We're painting a school, and he was helping me the entire time. Oh, and another thing, I hardly understand a word he says. I always have to ask Tenisha what he said.

The school looks totally cute.

I kept dipping the wrong brush in the oil-pased paint. Which wasn't good...

The food is really good. The first meal, not so much. The Mexicans get offended if 1) you don't finish the food, and 2) if you don't ask for seconds. So chow down, chubby.

The church we're using is cute. Dirt floors and scrapped together with scap metal and soda bottle lids nailed down.

It's the coolest thing. The kitchen is equipped with a wood stove and a table, and a bucket to wash dishes in.

*dishesdishesdishesdishesdishesdishes* -Erick

Erick le gusta los tongue-twisters. He's hilarious. We think he has a little-kid-crush on me. I hope not, because I'll cry (and he probably will, too) when I leave.

Day 7 , July 20th, 2009

Yesterday we hiked up a really steep mountain to a clearing about two miles up. We were going to have church in a cave, so when we got up, we were like, "Where's the cave?"

Well, evidentally, it's another three mile hike uphill from there. So I thought I was totally gonna die, because I totally almost died on the first hike to the clearing.

But the second hike, evidentally, was a heck of a lot easier, even though it was really, really steep. Like, 120 degrees.

But I had my magic stick that helped me make it up.

But we all made it.

We took a breather at the top, and then proceeded to rock climb (with the help from the lime green rope and Benjemon's expertise) to the cave.

Caleb climbed first, and I climbed second. The cave just kept going. Miguel (Michael) said it ended into a tiny passageway that your hand could get stuck in.

Anyway, when we get back down, BFF (Alex) and I used machetes to wack off the outter part of our walking sticks. Then everyone went to the BAT CAVE and into the back cavern. There were bats everywhere! It was like:

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

(O = Bat)

A total myriad of bats, and they would offhandedly fly around your face.

It was cool.

Day 7 , July 20th, 2009

I almost cried. Every else did, too. We all stood in a circle to share a few words, but I couldn't do it. Erick was standing in front of me and we made faces at each other. (because we can't really communicate any other way, even during normal curcumstances.) He was framing me with his fingers like a camera, and then closing them; ca-click! Then I saw this look cross his face like he'd gotten an idea, then he makes a heart with his hands and puts it over his chest. Then he points at me.

I love you.

I smiled at him and started to tear up. He is so sweet. I loved him, too. My little hermano.

I know exactly what I would have said in the circle. "Thank you for opening up your homes for us and feding us your food. It was very good. Thanks for letting us hang with your kids -- I love them. I love all of you, and I will never forget you. I hope I see you again someday."

When we were done and prayed, everyone went around and hugged, saying goodbyes.

I hugged Sochil all thoughout prayer, but hugged her again. She was so sweet. I hugged little Estar, picking her up and holding her tight. I hugged Pedro, the pastor. I hugged Abuelita Ofelia, our host mother. I hugged Maria and kissed her cheek while she cried and said something nice that I didn't understand. I hugged Erick, ignoring how culturally weird that was, and held him close to me. I hugged Andrés after shaking his hand. He was crying. I hugged Sochil again. And then Erick, one last time.

We took a bunch of photos and piled into the van. Erick and Estar stood by the chain-link fence, tears in Estar's eyes, Erick's face stoic, but his eyes shined wetly. Estar blew me a kiss, and then one for Kristen. Erick motioned for me to come back, biting his lip, but I sadly shook my head.

The van pulled away and I saw him with all the things I'd drawn him, and the cranes I had folded.

I wish I had told him I loved him, too. My little hermano.

Day 8 , July 21th, 2009

Now that we're back from Tidaa and away from all that, and that we spent the day reflecting on the trip, I really think that God brought Erick into my life there to teach me through the eyes of a child. Erick doesn't even live in Tidaa, he was visiting cousins from Mexico City where he lives. So it's really a God thing that he was even there.

It's so humbling to think that a little twelve year old boy could teach me so much.

First, I think that God taught me patience through Erick. Even though he didn't understand a word I said, and knew that I didn't understand him, he just loved me.

Most of the time he'd say something, I'd be like, "¿Mande?" So he'd say it again, and I'd have to tell him, "Mas despasio." So he'd say it slower. And then I'd have to ask Amanda or Tenisha what he said, and by then it'd lost its charm or whatever, but he didn't leave my side. He kept trying and trying to communicate with me. Erick was just so patient.

Another thing about him is that he wanted something so bad that he didn't give up. He wanted to talk to me. It just shows me that if I really, really want something, that I shouldn't give up on it. Work for it, and not drop it when it gets too frustrating.

Something else was that he was always so happy. All of the people there were. It didn't even really dawn on me that they were poor until I got home and saw how much we had. It didn't even seem that they were poor, because they weren't. We are the ones who are poor. They were happy with whatever they had because they had each other and they had God. What do we have? We have big houses and cell phones and iPods and laptops, and we still want more. But what did I hear when they prayed?

"Thank you for the stars so we can look at them at night." That's what they said! They said "Gracias," over and over and over again when they prayed. It was the only word that I understood when they talked, but that's what I kept hearing! They aren't always asking God for things, they're thanking him for what they have!

I just need to remember, all of us do, that we have a lot. And I know I don't always realize that.

When I gave Erick something I had made, he would take it and make it even better, and then just give it right back to me because he wanted me to have it. It just struck me that that is the attitude I need to have more than anything. God has blessed me with so much, and I need to make it better, then give it right back to me.

Never in the Bible does it ever say that God says "Thank you" for anything. He will say "Well done" or "Good", but he never says "Thank you" because it's your duty to do good things. Anything that God entrusts me with, I need to make it beautiful and worthy of this King so that I can give it back to him and have him say not "Thank you", but "Well done, thy good and faithful servant."

God has shown me more of His heart through this little boy. Erick has done more for me than he will ever know.

Thank you, brother. I love you, and I will never forget you.

The next day we debriefed, and then the day following, we drove into Oaxaca City to do some shopping. (And one of the interns at the base, Jordan, blew up Doug's pillow with dinamite before we left.) The markets are full of anything you could ever want to buy. Literally. They have anything from dried grasshoppers (to eat, of course. I bought some for my brother), baby turtles, purses, Oaxacan sweatshirts (cooler than they sound), all the way to black mole (moh-lay).
I bought a lime green wool woven backpack, something for Sara, the bag of grasshoppers, a liter of vanilla, a Oaxacan hammock, and a luciador mask (like the one from Nacho Libre. Actually, that movie was filmed in Oaxaca City. Random fact).
We spent the night in a hotel (nice as far as Mexican hotels go) and I finally got a hot shower. Did I mention that the showers at the base are only two minutes long in freezing cold water, and that I didn't shower at all in the four days I stayed in Tidaa? Nope? Okay.
And the window for some reason lead out to the hallway. So we were like a gringa museum. Click on the link and you'll know what a gringo is. ("¿Donde esta Casa del Gringos?" -Blacklock.)
The next morning we were up at 4:30 am so we could get our junk packed up and downstairs by 5:00 and eat a light breakfast, then be able to catch our plane by 7:00. Hence sleeping in the hotel.
So we all pile in the van and I fall asleep, and then we all arrive and pile out, grab our junk, and get in line. Caleb and Michael had bought sombreros the day before and were wearing them, Caleb was wearing his Oaxaca sweatshirt, I had my gifts compiled into my woven lime-green backpack slung across me, and my other one on my back. Kristen had her pretty purse that would have been sixty dollars back in the States with who knows what in it.
My liter of vanilla was in my bag, and the guy searching looks at it and was like, "¿Vah-nill-ah??" in a thick Spanish accent. I nodded, and he warned me that I'd have to throw that out once we got to Mexico City, because they'd take it away.
So we get our seats for our plane. Doug and Amanda I know had seats together, Michael I think was with them. Alex was in the middle of nowhere, and Blacklock and Abby were behind Kristen, me, and Caleb, who were in a row. Kristen had 4F, I had 4E, and Caleb had 4D. F-E-D.
The plane ride was reletively short. I read my book, Kristen read hers, Caleb twitched for a while and fell asleep.
At the Mexico City Airport, I tried to figure out a way to smuggle my liter of vanilla through security. Kristen helped me stick it at the bottom of my non-woven backpack in a bag I bought that looks like a woven blanket, and then we put all my books and Curt over it. We hoped that would keep them from finding it during the searches.
Amanda, Kristen, and I went to Starbucks. Apparently they sell these really yummy sandwiches at the Starbucks in the Mexico City Airport that are all melted and panini-ish and so freaking GOOD. I got one for lunch and ate half, and stuck the other my woven backpack.
Us girls met up with the guys and Abby and sat at Gate 38 waiting for our plane to be called. I ate half of the half of my sandwich waiting. Doug bought a apple soda to smuggle.
Our plane got called and I stuck my bag on the table to be searched. The guy who was looking through my junk wasn't really paying half of his attention, and casually looked through my woven bag, then the first pocket of my non-woven bag where the vanilla was hiding under everything. Nothing. Then he opened the pocket where I had a few pads and a tampon in and he looks -- and then quickly, quickly zips it and gives it back to me.
I almost died laughing in the terminal.
And that's how I smuggled a whole liter of vanilla into America!
Kristen, Caleb, and I were in the same row again. Same seats, different asle. So I was still in the middle seat with Kristen on my left and Caleb on the right with the window seat.
I started reading my book (House by Ted Dekker and Frank Parelli) again as soon as we took off, and Caleb started reading over my shoulder, and then kept reading for, like, ten minutes. I got up to pee, and he was like, "Can I read that?"
I just look at him and was like, "Yee-aah...I've got another one. Go ahead."
So when I get back I dig through my green woven backpack and get The Truth About Forever out and start reading it while he's speeding through the pages.
The flight attendants handed out earphones and then after a few shows on the fold out TVs, a thing about how they make dentures comes on. So the three of us watch that. So. Weird.
Then we keep reading.
Three hours later, we're back in Denver, and I turn my head to see how far Caleb got, and he's like, almost done with the book. Dead serious. I'd read 90ish pages in three hours (note: easily distracted on planes) and he was, like, 300ish pages in.
Everyone piles off the plane and we go through immigration, read a sign about not smuggling parrots in, don't tell anyone about the vanilla, and we spit to drive back to the church (one and a half hours), Kristen and I with Amanda's mom and Amanda and Doug.
Then we go to Red Robin and I get a freckled lemonade, my parents come pick me up, I hug my mom, I hug my dad, and I'm home.

And that was my Mexico Adventure.

Sidenote: My brother has the swine flu (we think, because he had to come home from camp late last night sick, and the camp had one confermed case of H1N1), and I miss Erick.

~Steph

Philippians 4:8

Made this for Mexico homework. It's pretty cool.

Fanfic!

I don't know how many of you were following my Maximum Ride Fanfic called "Still" (the one where Max gets pregnant and has a son named Silence with Fang? Look up "cr0w52" on Fanfiction.net and you can find the whole thing if you want), but for those of you who were, I have an update chapter for you.
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“What? The zoo?” I asked aghast.
Angel and Gazzy had run in while I was feeding Silence and announced that we were going to the zoo today. The Denver Zoo. Fun.
So of course that went over like a ton of freaking bricks. I groaned.
Nobody’s gonna think it’s normal for a seventeen year old girl to be walking around with a eight month old baby in a Snugli slung around her chest. I already get horrible looks from people in the grocery store like, Oh that horrible, dirty child. The things kids do these days…
“Please, Max?” Angel begged. “Silence will be fine, and nobody’s gonna shoot you dirty looks because you and Fang look like responsible teenage parents.” She said “responsible” in a lower, Mr. Collins kind of voice. (Pride and Predjudice, people, stick with me.)
Way to think embarrassing thoughts around a mind reader. Dimwit.
“What’s going on?” Fang asked, suddenly just there and leaning on the doorframe. He walked in and took the bottle of formula that I was feeding our son, and taking Silence in his strong arms. “Hey, there,” he cooed, looking into our baby’s beautiful dark chocolate eyes and smiling in a special way that he never did for anyone else. Not even me.
Fang sat down next to me on the bed. I leaned my head on his shoulder. “The zoo,” I told him.
He kissed my forehead. “What about it?”
“The fact we’re going,” I said sarcastically.
The Gasman pouted, with his big blue eyes fixed on my face. “Please, Max?” he begged. “Your mom said we could go if you said it was okay.”
I love how my mother leaves ordering the flock around to me despite the fact I am now a mom.
Silence squirmed and grunted unhappily, and I took him from Fang’s loving arms and held him against my shoulder. “Who’s Momma’s boy, huh? Syyye…lenccce?” Silence!?” I held him so I could see his beautiful face light up at the sound of my voice.
Angel and Gazzy grinned when I looked at them, momentarily forgetting our conflict. “Where’s Gazzy?” the Gasman asked, standing next to me and stroking Silence’s thin black hair.
Sye’s head swiveled to look at Gazzy and he pointed at him. “Yeah!” Angel said, giggling.
Silence grinned his toothless grin.
Fang’s arms encircled us. “Where’s Daddy?” he asked in that voice only meant for dogs and small children. “Where’s Daddy?”
Silence grabbed a lock of Fang’s matching hair. “Gaaaw…” Silence gurgled for “Daw”. It was the farthest we’d gotten to “Daw-Daw”.
Fang grinned and took his mini-me out of my arms and held him in the air. “Up-bah!”
I was so engrossed watching my son and his father play that I didn’t notice the Gasman chanting my name over and over and over again. “Max Max Max Maxmaxmaxmax…?” he asked again, tugging at my arm.
“Yes?” I finally responded.
Angel jumped up and down hugging herself. “Yay! Thanks, Max!”
Then she and the Gasman ran out yelling for Nudge.
I groaned and leaned back on the bed, listening to Silence’s innocent laugh in comparison to Fang’s deep one. “The zoo it is,” Fang said.

“Max! Monkeys!” Angel grabbed my arm and yanked me one way towards a bunch of shrieking kids in front of a glass exhibit.
Fang followed me slowly, reading a map awkwardly with Silence slung across his chest in a Snugli grabbing at the paper. He looks so funny with the squirming baby and the Diaper Utility Belt (as we’ve so lovingly named the belt Iggy and the Gasman rigged for such an occasion. Much more convenient for both flying and walking around.) (Like the one from The Pacifier that the army dude has?) I love Fang. He has so much patience. “Cut it out!” he said, trying to read over the baby’s flailing limbs.
Silence gurgled.
“Max, can we get ice cream?” Nudge asked. “I’m getting hot.”
“Max, Iggy and I are going to go look at the gazelle exhibit, okay? I have my phone on,” Ella said hand in hand with Iggy and walking away.
“Max, I want to see the bears,” the Gasman complained.
“Ug! Max, Silence just burped up all over the map and I can’t read a thi-” Fang started in an irritated tone.
“EVERYBODY SHUT UP!” I yelled, clutching my head, my face violently flushed.
Everyone stopped talking – even the people around us who we didn’t know – and they all looked at me with a “Oh, crap, she’s gonna blow” kind of look. Silence’s eyes crinkled and he started to pout, tears clouding his beautiful eyes, and goop dripping down his front. I reached over and unstrapped him from the Snugli. “Fang, do you have a wipe?” I asked calmly, cradling Silence in the crook of my arm.
Fang took a wipe out of his utility belt and handed it to me. I wiped Silence’s face and blue onesie, then cleaned off the Snugli. “Yeah, Nudgie, let’s all go get some ice cream. We all need to cool off.”
We all switched directions and headed for concessions. I brushed my lips against Silence’s temple, and then kissed him. Fang put his arm around me and kissed my head. “Tense?” he asked, smirking.
I bounced our son on my hip. “Just a little,” I breathed. “Why, what does it look like to you?”
He laughed a little. “You look positively pissed.”
I rolled my eyes. “Good,” I muttered, finding a picnic table and sitting down. “I’m going to strangle someone.”
Fang sat down on the same bench as me like it was a saddle and scooted really close so his legs touched me. He gave me a smug look and tried to take Silence out of my arms. I slapped his hand.
“Max; chocolate, vanilla, or twist?” Nudge asked, holding Angel’s hand and looking earnest.
I covered my eyes with my hand. “Oh…twist,” I decided out of random, looking up.
“Fang?”
“Chocolate,” he said without missing a beat. Of course. It’s dark, he’s dark. “Get a spoon for Sye, will you?”
She nodded. “Sure thing,” she said, then walked off with Angel and the Gasman.
Two old folks walked past our table and glanced at me and Fang, and our son, with a disgusted gawk. “Kids these days,” the man said. “Can’t keep their hands to themselves.”
I groaned and put my hand under my chin when they passed. “I hate crowded places,” I said to Fang, who stroked our son’s flawless olive cheek as he sat on my lap and reached for a lock of my hair. “Muh!”
“Shh…” I murmured in a laugh, my hand trailing down his cheek to his neck.
“He sympathizes,” Fang said, a smile in his eyes.
I gave him a half of a grin. “I love you, you know that?”
Fang’s hand extended and traced my cheek tenderly. He smiled. “Yeah,” he said, and then leaned forward a little and kissed me gently on the lips. Our baby squirmed between us and we pulled apart just as Nudge walked up with her hands full of ice cream cones.
“Grab-it-grab-itgrabitgrabit!” she said urgently as the cones started to slip.
Fang reached over the table and took our two cones from her and the spoon she promised Sye. He dipped it into his chocolate cone and offered it to his son.
Silence held the cold cream in his mouth for a moment, then figured out that you’re supposed to swallow it, which he did. He reached for Fang’s hand. “Muh…” he prattled. Fang spooned some more and put it in his mouth.
“Max, can we go see the bears?” the Gasman asked.
I reached out and fluffed up his mohawk that had long since grown out. “Sure,” I said. “Fang, you wanna go with them?”
Fang licked his chocolate cone again. “Yeah, you want me to take Sye?” one of his fingers reached out and twirled his son’s hair around it.
Silence looked up at me and pointed. “Daw…” he said, frowning.
I smiled. “Yeah, go ahead,” I said, handing Silence over to Fang, who handed him to Gazzy and strapped the Diper Belt on.
I handed him the Snugli. “You look like…like…Batman!”
Nudge licked her chocolate/vanilla twist cone. “Yeah, he’s even dressed in black and has a utility belt! All he needs now is a cape.”
I reached into the diaper bag and pulled out a blue blanket with puppies on it, just as Gazzy handed Sye to Fang and put him in the Snugli. I walzed up to Fang and tucked the cape into the back of his shirt. “There!” I said grinning.
Angel, the Gasman, and Nudge cracked up just as Iggy and Ella came into view. “Hey, guys, you should really see –” Ella started, then stopped. “What the h is Fang wearing!?”
I grinned. “It’s Diaper Man and his trusty side-kick: Drool Boy!”
Silence slobbered on his hand and touched it to Fang’s face. Fang scowled.
Then we all cracked up all over again. I clutched my stomach and fell to my knees laughing, as did many of the flock.
So the zoo wasn’t so bad.

Huuungryyy...!!! (>_<)

Okay, so I would have said that the recession is just bull, but it totally isn't. When people come to our house, they look at it and go, "Oh...you have such a pretty house. You must be rich."
Or at least they think that, but the point is that we don't have money. We literally live paycheck to paycheck, and we can't go get groceries until my dad gets paid on friday, but we already have no food in the house! I haven't even eaten breakfast, and don't plan to, because there's no foood! Not even pancakes!
The popcorn's even running low.
We have no bread, we have no butter, we have no salad, we're almost out of milk, we have nothing in the freezer, we have no frozen meat, we have no deli ham, we have nothing but noodles! And no sauce.
Yesterday I finished off the last of the cereal for breakfast, and then had noodles with the last of the sauce for lunch. I had a cup of plain noodles for dinner, and my mom gave my sister and I five dollars for Brunswick Zone so we could get dinner. Dinner! For five bucks!
So we got fries. Not even enough.

Another thing I hate is when I accidently oversleep until 11:00 in the morning. It drives me insane!

~Steph

Summer: So Far.

How's your summer been? Mine's been boring! Yeah! No joke!

Just kidding. I've been having a pretty fun summer, actually. TNL started up (Tuesday Night Live), I've raised $574 of my $1,100 dollars for Mexico, and I have some new friends named Beetle and Fang -- or Becca and Ashley.

If anyone's ever wondered about what I look like, here's some incentive:

Story of that picture: Christina told me to find a random sixth grader and sit down next to them: so I found one. :D

The kid's reaction: Bahaha, good times! That was the second to last day of school, can you believe that? It's been so long.

I have to wear skirts in mexico, isn't that crazy? A kid could die from that! And Caleb, Alex, and Anderson will make fun of me because they think it's weird I'd ever wear a skirt! And I'm like, HEY! I have worn dresses before! And skirts! And Steve pulled out of the Mexico trip, sad day! Oh, well, at least I have other guy friends going.

Anyway, I have to go call some guy 'cause he bid on my Silent Auction for babysitting. Golly wolly.

For now,

Steph

Leaving -- Yet Again :(

Okay, so last week I was in Lincoln, NE for a wedding my cousin was having. It was really, really nice! Like, like, like the ones in wedding magazines! It was totally INCREDIBLE!!
Anyway, we got back the day before yesterday, and we're leaving again today to get to Santa Fe, NM. We went there a few years ago and it was really pretty there. There's, like, a million art gallaries (which you know I'd LOVE!!) and the senery is spectacular.
So today I got up really early (8:00 am, which is early for me) to get all my junk put together. We "left" our emo dog Maggie at my grandma and grandpa's house in Lincoln (she's gonna come back with them next month when they come see us), and we brought Sabine, our weenie dog, over to Caleb's house, where she'll be staying for the week.
Oh! And something funny that happened while we were over at his house talking to his mom and himself;
Me: I don't think I could ever do poms.
Caleb's Mom (CM): I used to in high school. I could stand with my back to the wall and kick over my head and hit the wall I was backed up against.
Me: Wow. I can kick my face level, but that's it.
Caleb: Yeah, I can kick my face level, too.
Kristen: I can bring my foot up backwards and touch my head!
[WHUMP!!]
All Of Us: [look at Caleb, who is not flat on his back on the floor.] [Que histarical laughter from the rest of us.]
My Mom: [laughing hard] What were you doing?!
[Caleb winces and his mom grabs his arms to try and help him up.]
Caleb: I was trying to kick my face level, but I'm wearing new socks and I slipped! (on the wood floor.)
CM: Aw...honey, you're such a goofball.
Me: [can't stop laughing.] It's like trying to run up the wood stairs in socks at my house and falling on your face!

* * *

So that was my mild drama this morning. And now I will tell you how to make a really yummy sandwich.

Things you will need:

- Two slices of bread

- Deli turkey

- An apple

- Salad dressing of your choice

- Butter

- PAM

- A skillet

- An apple peeler

Directions: Put skillet on the stove (set on medium) to warm up. Put your apple through the apple peeler and then cut the apple in half. Take one half of the apple and set it aside. Put turkey on one the bread slices and then cut into fourths and set half of them aside. Now cut the other slice of bread into fourths and set aside. Divide the half of the peeled apple slices onto the turkey covered fourths of bread. To the untouched fourths of bread, apply your favorite salad dressing, and place on top of the other peices of bread. Now butter both sides of each tiny little sandwich. Spray PAM on the skillet, and grill the small sandwiches like a grilled-cheese-sandwich.

Searve warm with the other half of the apple on the side.

That's it!

~Steph

Last Days

Eighth grade was a good year. I mean, there were bumps and dips here and there, but still. Fun.

I didn't accomplish my goal this year, to finish my novel, but that's okay. I did some pretty worth-while stuff.
I had some difficult things, too.

Youth group was the best this year, by far! I can't imagine a place I would rather be -- ever. I love it more than being at home. I have some great friends there. Chris and Cathy are now some of my closer adult friends, along with Blacklock and Abby. I feel blessed that they're part of my life.
But I lost some pretty close friends, too. I don't know what happened.

Wishes, I Wrote a Poem Without Meaning To.

I'm trying to figure out...where did the years of friendship go? I've known you since I could talk. What happened?
I wish we could stay young, raging hormone battles never fought. It would make things so much easier -- simplify things.
I wish we could all be seven and eight years old again.
Play in the woods behind my house for countless hours while our parents eat grilled chicken on the deck.
I wish I could stand on the huge rock again with you, shouting at people to beware, or we'd hit them with sticks.
I wish we could sit on the hammock at your house again eating Otter Pops and giggling..
I wish we could have those family get-togethers at your house and play Catch-Phrase, while your brother coughs something about coffee.
I wish we could play with your pet bird, and laugh when he bit you.
I wish we could watch movies in your basement.
I wish we could have Easter egg hunts.
I wish you were still part of my family.
I wish we never got older, and I could play with you forever and ever.
I wish we could get lost in our imaginary world again and shut the real one out.
I wish you were still my buddy.
I wish you still had my back.
I wish we never got older.
I wish we never grew apart.

But no matter how much I want it, I won't get my wish.

So I must say goodbye.