super cool self defense party

Last night I had possibly the coolest birthday party ever! I had a self defense party for my girlfriends at the kajukembo school where I work out. At first I was a little nervous that they would not really get into it, but everyone had a blast! My instructor taught them things that are practical and easy to remember, and they got to hit stuff! After that we did an obstacle course, because what fun is a birthday party if you can't act like a kid? I think my instructor had fun too, because my girlfriends are pretty crazy! After that we had a sleepover at my house. Matt was a great sport and spent the night with one of his guy friends. I can't remember the last time I had people over for a sleepover, it's been at least five years. It showed, because we all fell asleep by about 11:30!
What made this party so special is the fact that it will be the last one I have in the states for quite a few years. As some of my friends reminded me, we will Lord willing be in Australia by this time next year. Kind of sad, but kind of cool!

Australian Dinner

On Friday night my teammate Gregory hosted a black tie dinner to tell his friends about what our team will be doing in Australia. Somehow Matt and I missed the memo that we were supposed to dress up, so two of Gregory's teammates were the worst dressed in the place! Thankfully Gregory is a forgiving guy! I yet again got to see a different side of Gregory Friday night, he wore a suit! Most of us thought that was a big deal in and of itself. The whole night was really great, some of our friends served us salad, pasta and bread. After some good conversation with people, we all moved from our tables to another room where Gregory had each of us on the team tell about how we got on this journey to do missions in Australia. I always love telling my story, because it's really God's story. It's cool to be able to step back while you're talking about your life and say "Yeah, God was working there, there, and there". After each of us spoke, our mentor Gary talked a little about the Halbert Institute of Missions that we're doing our training through. It was encouraging to be surrounded by so many people who are excited about what we'll be doing.
Perhaps the coolest part of the evening was the fact that Gregory's dad, mom, and sister came in from the San Antonio area to attend the dinner. We've only met them once before, and the conditions then did not present us with much opportunity to talk and get to know one another. This time though, I got to chat with each of them which was wonderful. It's important to get to know the family of the people we'll be moving to Australia with, because I think they'll feel a little more at ease letting their kids go when they know who they'll be surrounded by!

At the beach...in Granbury, Texas?!?

After that wedding I wrote about the other day, I have had quite a few wonderful days off. Not only did I get to see my dad and stepmom at that wedding in Louisiana, but I got to spend a few days with my mom in Dallas on Sunday and Monday. Sunday we spent a few hours together before she went to work, and then I watched movies ALL day long while she was gone. It rocked, I had a whole day to myself with no important things to do! That might sound like the worst day ever, but I love to be by myself. On Monday we ran around all day and then had dinner with family and friends that night as an early birthday celebration for me. After that my mom graciously drove me to Granbury, where Matt was staying for work training. On Tuesday morning he had a few more hours of training to do, so yet again I had the morning to myself. I went to the beach. You heard me right, in Granbury, Texas I walked across the parking lot of the hotel and laid out on the beach. Okay, so it was a man made beach on part of Lake Granbury, but it was pretty stinking cool anyway. I got the sand without the stink and humidity of the ocean, and saw ducks swimming in the water. That freaked my brain out!
One of the coolest things about hanging out at the beach was that I had the most amazing opportunity to worship God that morning. I did what I seem to do best when I'm laying out in the sun...I fell asleep. (Okay, so really if I sit or lay in any one position for more than five minutes I fall asleep, but that's beside the point) I awoke to the most wonderful sound of children laughing. When I first went down to the beach I was alone, but sometime between me falling asleep and waking back up, all these parents with their kids came out of the woodwork and came down to the beach. There were at least fifteen kids ranging from two to twelve running around. They were so beautiful with their giggling voices, jumping in puddles up on the sand and running along the shore. They laughed and smiled as they showed their moms (no dads that day) different things that they picked up or built in the sand. There were blond haired heads, red haired heads, and brown haired heads running around enjoying life. Sitting there watching them I spent time enjoying the presence of God, because I know He was right there with me. Jesus really loved kids, and I think it's because when you look at a child you can see more of the image of God than when you look at a worn out adult. That might sound strange, but I really think it's true. Granted some kids have had a harder life than I can imagine before they even turn five, but for the most part children can run, laugh, and play with a sense of innocence that adults slowly lose as the evil of the world knocks us down again and again. That morning I smiled a lot as I watched those little children enjoy the beauty of the day that God granted us with.

Louisiana Saturday Night

I have been so bad about writing the past couple of weeks! I was a bridesmaid in a wedding yesterday, and it had me busier and a little more stressed out than I thought I would be. Matt and I left Thursday morning for Ville Platte, Louisiana, where my friend Melissa was getting married. Melissa and I know each other from middle school where we met in choir. One of the things that kept us together as friends was playing softball in high school (she was pretty stinking amazing, and I was not so good!) She played softball in college, and eventually ended up at LSU where she met her sweetie Lucas.

The last three days were a total blast! They rented out cabins at Chico State Park, and we got to sleep over a swamp (and see an alligator). The view was pretty cool. On Thursday we had the rehearsal and ate a wonderful dinner at The Jungle. Friday we got our nails done and had a crawfish boil that evening. I've had crawfish before, but having a Louisianan boil it in front of me seemed to make it a lot better! The wedding on Saturday was beautiful, and the reception was pretty crazy! Going to Louisiana is like visiting another world, it was so much fun.
I don't know if you have any friends that you've held onto from middle or high school, but there's a special bond that remains when you've had a friend that long. Melissa and I are very different people than we were back in school, but we still love each other so much! I don't know how to describe it, but it's a very cool feeling. What is also very cool is the fact that Melissa kept me in mind when she was planning the date of her wedding. She knows that Matt and I are moving, and she was sure to have her wedding when she knew we were not either on our survey trip or already gone. I have to say, I felt quite honored by that! I will be better about writing now that we're back in town. Here's a pic of me and the beautiful bride.

lunch

Sunday Matt and I had our team over for lunch. Jenica came over early and helped cook, it was really fun working in the kitchen with her. Gregory made it over later, and we all ate until we were stuffed. We got to talk and catch up...but had a few long silences. Here's the funny thing about being on a mission team, we're not best friends. Don't get me wrong, I love Jenica and Gregory as my sister and brother in Christ, and have a strong friendship with both of them. I feel a very close connection to them and care deeply for them. However, what brought us together is this common goal to move to Australia, which is not usually the basis for a friendship! So while we have the destination and our love for Jesus in common, there are a lot of differences among us! When I step back and look at our motly crew though, that's when I really see what's so cool about this whole journey we're on. God's beauty is made complete when His created ones who look different, come from different backgrounds, and have different talents and interests come together in His name and decide to share their lives together for His cause of redemption. Our team has a long time to work through our silences, and I'm excited about that!