Ever transitioning...

A week ago today our AmeriCorps group finished our summer program with Journey's End. It was an incredibly full and challenging and exhausting and rewarding summer. I'll post more pictures of my kids. I love all 11 of them, and I'm going to miss them more than I can say. However, it's also nice to be home. My cat is on my bed vying for the attention of my hands as I'm typing this blog. :) This past week was a crazy one as well. Due to "complications" with the Thundersquirrel, I wasn't able to come home from Buffalo until Monday evening - the same night I was supposed to be picking up my Japanese friend who was coming to visit. I got as far as Dansville, where my mom picked me up to drive to Rochester, and I left my car at TOPS. Juri stayed with my family Monday night to EARLY Friday morning, and we had a full week. We were able to show him a bit of the inner-workings of our dairy farm, a bit of life around Naples and Canandaigua - complete with grape pie - and a morning and afternoon spent at Niagara Falls. We all had a great time, and it was a wonderful opportunity to share with him a little bit of the love Christ abundantly lavishes on us. Now... Now I'm cleaning my room. :) No, now my sister is moving back in for 6 weeks while her husband Phil goes out on a sub for training (he's in the Navy). Now I'm finishing my joint MA degree-peace corps application. And now I'm trying to wrap my head around all of the preparations I need to make as October 10 approaches (faster than I think it will - or maybe just as fast as I know it will). So, if you think of it, pray for me as I juggle all of these things (of course, by the grace of God. I'm so glad I'm not left to juggle them alone.)
And NOW, I'll end with some more pictures from this summer.

Our AmeriCorps group, plus mentors (high school refugee students, helping us in the classroom and the newcomers adjust).


Tresar (Burmese Karen) and Divine (Burundi), rocking away on the horse at the playground.


Khadija, one of our mentors (from Kenya), Liz Garogano, Matt Tice, and me at Matt's sister's wedding. The Tice's are an amazing family. Bob (the dad) is the pastor of River Rock, the church I started attending this summer. I've never felt more a part of the family of Christ as I have in that church, and it's an international church as well (with refugee families from over 12 countries!). Polly (the mom) helped Rachel M. and I a lot with ideas and supplies for our elementary classes (she just finished teaching Kindergarten for a time). Matt has become a good friend, and Jessie helped rescue the Thundersquirrel with her AAA card late one Wednesday night, a few days before she got married. Truly an amazing family.


Petting a newborn calf at Jenna's Grandparent's farm.


Rachel Martinke and I singing the "Hello, What's Your Name?" song during our morning meeting time. Rachel M. had 12 4-5 yr olds and I had 9 6-8 yr olds (and 2 of the 5 yr olds). After our morning meeting our groups would split, and I would take mine to our room across the hall.


AND I got to meet Kat, Paul, and Becca on a few occasions throughout the summer - Amy's wedding, twice in Buffalo (one of those times being a NICKELCREEK CONCERT!!! --finally!), and once in PA at the Shaffner's (where this picture was taken). :)


Juri going for a ride on the haybine (cutting hay) with my dad.


Hug of death (me and Dan) after Dan gave Juri and I a ride on the silage dump truck. It's a very big truck. :)


Me, Laura, and mom. Gifts from Juri from Japan. Jimbe (the shirt and shorts) and Sensu (the fans).


Mom, Juri, and I on the lookout in front of Niagara Falls before heading down to get on the Maid of the Mist. The wind nearly knocked us over.


Mom and I in our bright blue ponchos on the Maid of the Mist in front of the American Falls BEFORE we got drenched by the Canadian Falls. grins

Oh! And guess what! From January to July '08, I'm going to be working with AmeriCorps again on the West Side in Buffalo. I'll be doing lots of stuff with community development (more details later), and I am... more than excited! grins