Impressed.

As most of you know I am from, and still live in a small town in southeast Iowa. I am often guilty of thinking that the grass is greener on the other side, or rather, anywhere else! But in the last few years the people of Columbus Junction have definitely made the lawns here look pretty good! I don't think you will run across many hearts as big as those around here. This became very evident to me during the flood of 2008, and again this year. I have currently visited a total of three area churches, had two small fundraisers, and accepted numerous checks from family and friends who chose to donate. The other night a six-year-old even showed up at my door wanting to give me her allowance to help someone in Africa. I am proud to say that after about a month of fundraising I currently have 3,011 dollars donated to my cause. That means that all but $489 of my trip is paid for. I will be interested to see how much money many of the "city folk" have raised when I meet them next month!
Kudos to this small community, I am proud to be a part of it, and honored to have the opportunity to take members' dollars and put them toward a worthy cause.

Recent Happenings:

1) I just purchased a new camera for my trip! I am pretty impressed. Its a Canon SX 20IS. I'm going to post some pictures of Sydney Jo, let me know what you think!


2) So far I have raised nearly $2000 of the $3,500 goal I have for my trip. I am speaking at the Presbyterian church in Columbus Junction in a few weeks. Really looking forward to that as I have been very impressed with the generosity of people here in town. If I don't raise another penny I'm more than satisfied with what I have so far, you really can't find better people than those here in southeast Iowa!

3) I leave 1 month from tomorrow. Now if I could just find the time to prepare! I do have a few vital things done such as vaccinations, payments, plane ticket, etc. But now its on to the complicated tasks like trying to pack light, filling my ipod with enough stuff to keep me entertained for 15 hours, and deciding which of the 20 friends who have requested to tag along to throw in my suitcase! Ha!

4) I have decided to squeeze all of the following in this summer : mission trip and travel in Africa, trip to Missouri with friends, trip to Minnesota with family, one graduate class, and swimming lessons for about 50 kids. I'll let you know how it goes!

Blog numero uno!

I have decided (and am required by a professor) to create a blog so I can keep people updated on what is going on in my oh-so-interesting life!

Exciting happenings lately:

1) I have officially booked and almost paid for my mission trip to Africa this summer.
2) As of July will be approx. a third of the way through my masters degree.
3) My best friend, Mackenzie, had a baby in February which makes me an aunt! Sydney Jo may possibly be my new obsession. (Ok...she is)
4) My sister continues to run around South America. Now that the temps in Iowa are rising we are on speaking terms again. :)