just so you know...

I have NOT abandoned my blog! I'm only having a time manegement problem as of late and I promise to sort it out soon, I'll make a plan! And I will definatly post pics so stay tuned...

Until then, enjoy this pic. Just one more reason to come to South Africa and visit me! The Jacaranda's are the most beautiful tree I have seen and are ALL OVER THE PLACE in October, love em! I can also smell Jasmine, yes JASMINE while running in the morning... It's good to be alive! Cheers til soon!

quirks

I was tagged by a friend and the goal is to write six quirky things about myself so here it goes (it was great cause I needed a new post and didn't have one yet for the week)...

1. I love the taste of vinegar. I will have it on chips, cucumbers, salads, beets etc etc...if you gave me the choice between a candy bar and a pickle, the pickle would win out easily.

2. This goes along with number one, but my friends all know that I am the pickiest person in the world when it comes to salad dressing. I will choose a restaurant by if they have homemade salad dressing or not and it's not uncommon for me to ask the waiter, "do you make your salad dressings here?" and if they say no I will not order salad at all. I can taste preservatives in bottled salad dressing and I think it's yuck.

2. I have a thing with clean lines and things being straight. This could be chairs, pillows, box's, clothes in a closet, candles on a windowseal etc.

3. I can't stop doing a puzzle or suduko or a game without finishing it and solving it, if it's too difficult it's better for me just to never start it at all.

4. I like to sleep in a freezing cold room with three blankets. The softest of the blankets must be on the bottom.

5. I am extremely sensitive to smell and smells more than anything for me bring back memories. If I am in a store and I smell a certain lotion it might bring back memories of highschool, or the smell of fresh laundry reminds me of my cousin Jess, and the smell of pancakes reminds me of my dad etc.

6. I love doing my laundry and hanging it in the sun. Even when I am in the states and there are huge dryers a the house I would prefer to hang my laundry in the sun.

Ok, that's it...I guess I am not all that quirky but I am sure there are things that I don't recognise.

As fot the tag...Susie Q, Nicky, Camille, E, Matt, and Mindy...your it!

we danced anyway

Alright, so I am new in South Africa and I was looking for things to do this weekend. I met a gentelmen two weeks ago and he messaged me about a Stake dance they were having. Now for all of you who are single or who have ever been single you know what I am talking about when I say the words "Stake Dance" and you automatically feel that awkward, panicky feeling. Atleast if you are like me. I am not usually shy by nature, but there is something about these things that brings back memories of highschool and college of standing along the side of the wall, drinking punch and looking around like you are totally fine with not being asked to dance when you really wish that you would be so that you didn't have to look and feel so awkward. But then, there is also that uh oh feeling that if the wrong guy asks you how will you get out of it and in order not to be rude you will have to give him one dance atleast and then if he keeps asking you then you will have to make lame excuses like going to the bathroom or that you are tired. Does this strike any memories for anyone?

Back to my story, I said yes to go to the dance because well...I needed something to do on Saturday night rather than sit home. We went to the dance which was first a talent show so I sat with another girl that I knew and just chatted. Then, the music started. I didn't know what to expect, the guy I was with was just a friend (I think) so I didn't expect him to even dance at all. When he asked me for a dance I stood up, took his hand and then...off we went with the Afrikaans Sokkie. As our feet moved quickly and in a series of turns, I couldn't help but notice I was smiling. I didn't care about anything right then. I would even go as far to say that I really enjoyed it. It's nice to dance with someone that knows what they are doing and sometimes it's such a freeing feeling. As he spun me around til I was dizzy, I felt a sense of livelihood and it was really quite nice.

So my point to all of this is that sometimes we expect the worst and then someone comes along and changes your perspective. This has happened to me a few times in the past couple of weeks. I am grateful for these lessons and it's taught me to look for the good in everything because we just might end up with something great! And I am grateful to have learned something new about the Afrikaans culture and about South Africa. It's all going to be uphill from here!

To all my readers, if life is getting a bit awkward and difficult to deal with...Dance!

warm fuzzies...

Yesterday I was having one of those "I really need a hug" days. I said my prayers before I slept last night, asking just to feel a little significance in this great big world and this morning a card arrived from the little girl that I nannied in Connecticut. Today my day went fine and much was accomplished. Heavenly Father really does have a funny way of answering our prayers and He really does work through other people, even little people like Madeline. I am so grateful for her sweet spirit and her intuition.

howzit...

The first couple of weeks here in South Africa have been a whirlwind. I must say that moving across the world comes with it's own set of challenges and I am working my way through those. I think I finally have a handle on the cell phone/car situation. I have met some great new friends and have been spending the weekends with them. Honorable mentions are my friends Nadine (who dragged me everywhere my first weekend here-so fun!) and Angeline and Carel who were nice enough to pick me up and take me in to watch conference and for a good round of Phase Ten, love them! It's so nice to have met new friends who have literally been answers to my prayers.

Not much to report from the orphanage yet because I haven't actually been there (and that makes me sad), but soon now I will get a car and go there and be posting my adorable kids and all that we are doing. I can't wait to get there!

I have taken to driving on the other side of the road, was weird the first couple of times, but it's going to be fine. Whew!

The family I am living with is lovely. Mostly, we have been celebrating Jewish Holidays in the home where I live. Last week was Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. I have loved learning about a new way of life and experiencing their customs as celebration. I did almost mess up the Kosher kitchen by taking an avocado from the fridge that was in the meat bowl and placing it on the milk counter and taking it out with a milk fork. We had to call the Rabbi and boil the fork and everything. SAD...but I am learning and will soon get it straight. Tomarrow evening we will start a 26 hour fast (I must say that's the longest I have probably fasted ever), but maybe it will be good for my waistline? This week we celebrate Yom Kippur.

South Africa as always is sunny and the accents are delightful. I have picked up the words howzit, shame, pleasure (for your welcome), Lekker (Afrikaans for nice, sweet, delicious), lovely, and Cheers and have entered them into my vocabulary for now. Can't wait to encorperate more. Some other fun comparisons to American English...

Sneakers = Tackies
Trunk = Boot
Gas = Pe-trol
Soda or Juice = Cold Drink
I'll do it soon = I will do it just now
I'll do it later = I will do it now now

I am loving being in this place where it is sunny...the Jacaranda's are starting to bloom and as soon as they do I will post pics.

Enjoy what's left of your week and please continue to update me on your lives!


This is at the stake Talent show in Pretoria...now you ladies know why I moved to South Africa...the legs my friends, the legs!