Praise Him in the mornin'...

For some reason I have a kids' church song in my head. For those of you raised in Sunday School is goes like this: Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him in the morning... Praise Him in the noontime... praise Him when the sun goes down." Anyway... I thought, there's no better way to start off a Friday (and really, I need something good... I am looking & feeling rough this morning!) than to Praise Him! So, though rough moments have been trying to get me down lately, I'm going to Praise! And here are a few reaons:

1)My Mom's been sick for a few months now and the docs haven't been able to figure out why. Well, this week they finally diagnosed her with breast cancer (she's had it before) but this time is way different than before. She just has to take a hormone pill and she'll be fine! Considering all the other things it could have been, I'm thankful that this was the diagnosis. No chemo or radiation this time. And she'll come home soon from the hospital. Hooray!

2)Through random circumstances, I googled an old college friend of mine and found his sight with some pictures. I decided to email him and see what he was up to. Well, one of the things he said was, "I'm growing like a weed spiritually. I'm not the same guy you used to know." Praise the Lord! Now this fellow was a nice guy before, but well... let's just say we lived different lifestyles. Lately I've become aware of friends who have turned away from God after college, and I've been discouraged, but I rejoiced last night in hearing that another friend who seemed far away is so in love with the Father now! My prayers 6 years ago were answered (and I wasn't even aware!). (and if you're the guy I'm writing this about, I hope you don't mind me writing it, but I'm excited! hehe)

3)I've found a gym in Sanford that I really like, and I'm really enjoying it! I seem to be getting back on track with health matters, and that's always a good thing. :)

4)Next week are teacher workdays on Monday and Tuesday, and I have taken them off so that I can be in Durham helping with a Spring break program for Hispanic kids. I am so excited to be able to be a part of reaching out to the Durham community!

Wow... I'm going to be late for work, so I'll have to write more later!

in Him-
Bonnie B.

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Take my hand, Lord!

I am one who loves a good image… a metaphor. When pastors use images in their sermons, I really get (and remember!) the point. I remembered one last night and wanted to share it, because it really captures the place in my life that I am at right now. Now, I don’t tend to be one who stresses uncontrollably over my future and what’s happening in my life. But I do get a bit anxious at times, which usually just results in researching jobs and places to live on the internet for a few hours at a time. (nothing too big!) Last night I ended up discovering a website about Head Start and More at Four programs in Durham, and I got really excited about the prospect of moving to Durham next year. When I finally pulled myself away from my computer and went to bed, I kept thinking about it. I thought to myself, “there are so many different ways I could go right now, so many different options. I feel like it is God’s will for me to relocate to Durham, but how do I know whether it is really God’s will or just me imprinting my desires onto ‘God’s Will’?” Then the image came to mind. A few weeks ago JD (my pastor) was talking about his little girl learning to walk. At the learning-to-walk stage, he would hold onto her hand to make sure she didn’t fall. It was her feet taking the steps, but ultimately he was deciding where she would go by guiding her movement. He was actually using that as an image of how the authors of the Bible wrote the Bible, but it spoke a lot to me about living life with Christ in control. Yes, my feet may be hitting the ground, but it is His mighty hands that are guiding my tiny feet. He knows exactly where’s He’s taking me, and it’s my job just to keep moving and sensing where He’d have me go. It’s so reassuring to know that He is in control!

(from “Just Enough Light for the Step I’m on : Book of Prayers” by Stormie Omartian

“Lord, I don’t want to take one step without You. I reach up for your hand and ask that You lead me in Your way. Thank You that no matter where I am right now, even if I have gotten way off course, in this moment, as I put my hand in Yours, You will make a path from where I am to where I need to be. And You will lead me on it. I love that Your grace abounds to me in that way. Keep me on the path You have for me and take me where You want me to go. I commit this day to walking with You.”

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forever more.
-Psalm 16:11-

Shel Silverstein and Stickers

I’ve decided to start memorizing some poetry. Now for those English buffs out there, don’t think me much… I’m starting with Shel Silverstein. What do you expect, I teach 4 and 5 year olds!? :) It’s fun though… I discovered my Shel Silverstein book tonight while looking for some other kids’ books, and so the fun began! I actually read somewhere recently that it’s great for kids to see and hear their teacher reciting poetry from memory… makes it sound fun and exciting. And since my goal is to be the best preschool teacher I can be, I must try it! On another exciting note, I got a sticker today!! Now, when my students clean up their centers by the time a bell goes off, they get stickers too. And boy do they want those stickers. Kids like stickers. Stickers are fun. But today Ms. Jenny and I got stickers too! One of the district managers for Childcare Network came by today for a quick surprise visit and after a few minutes in our class, she decided that she saw many things that she liked. She said it looked like “lots of great things are happening here.” And she gave us gold stickers to put on our certificates of excellence. Yippee!! I’ve been really stressed at times the past few months, thinking that I’m not a good teacher anymore… It had been a while since I was a “real” teacher in my own classroom. But today I got a little confirmation that maybe I’m not such a bad teacher after all. :) I like stickers. Stickers are fun. ;)

the search begins...

Well, I've started looking for a ticket to South Africa for this summer, and let me tell you... it's NOT cheap! Right now the internet is pricing tickets at a little over $2000. That's more money than the preschool teaching Miss Bonnie has right now! Thankfully, I've been saving since I started my job, and I've got about half of the amount saved already. I'm hoping that I can organize something with my friend Casey so that I'll be doing some missions stuff while I'm there as well as hanging out with friends. I'm hoping that will be the case for two reasons... 1) I so want to go back to Soweto and do similar things to what I did before! I couldn't stand going to SA and not being around the kids! and 2) if it is, indeed, a mission trip, then I can raise support. God has already graciously shown me that I have some pretty committed supporters here in the US of A. I've no doubt that I can get some help in financing this really expensive ticket. God is good. :) I'll feel much better once I've talked with Casey and get get some final details worked out. Then I can work on actually purchasing the ticket!! Can't wait.

Oh, this is random, but kinda interesting... The teacher's assistant in my classroom (Jenny) has a sister, Susan, who is the assistant director to the daycare where my niece goes to. (small world, hey?) Anywho... Susan "met" a guy from Morocco on the internet, and recently flew there to meet him. Well, I went into work today and the first thing Jenny says to me is, "she married that guy." Oh my word. This girl is crazy... She's "married" to a guy in Morocco, but he can't even come here for a long time. What a crazy mixed up story! I have to say though... I'm a bit jealous. I was in Africa for 2 years, and no one married me! What's wrong with me!? hehe I look forward to hearing how this story pans out.

Well, I must get going. I believe that I officially have a second (unpaid) job of being a taxi driver for my nieces and nephew. haha I pick up baby Lauryn from daycare 3 days a week and watch her till Brad and Cheryl get here, and tonight I'm ferrying my nephews back and forth to children's choir and RA's (a boys church program). I love it though. :) These little people in my life are one of the HUGE reasons I'm glad to be here right now. I'm honoured to be such a part of their lives. Now if only Eliza would like me... hehe... I'm still working on her. That cute little 2 year old will love me one day! :)

Thanks for checking in on me! Leave me a comment and let me know who's still reading! :)
Cheers,
Bonnie

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

no coffee

Lately I've realized that I drink too much coffee. I don't really even need it in the mornings, it has just become such a habit, that I always have my coffee in the morning... one before I leave, and the second at school. Since I don't need this coffee, I'm going to start going without. Yikes! Let's hope I'm right... and that I'm not going to be regretting this decision at about 10am when the kids are wide open!

Off to work now...
Bonnie

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

re-entry

At debriefing a couple of weeks ago, one of the questions that it was said that most missionaries ask (at least to themselves) quite a lot, is, "will I ever fit in anywhere again?" I agree totally. I really just don't fit completely anywhere. About the only place I really feel like myself lately is at home... and that's not very sociable. I still want to be in Jo'burg, but I just committed myself to being in America for 5 years to pay off my car. Plus, things are probably changing in Jo'burg right now just as much as things changed here while I was away. So... will I ever really fit in anywhere again? The jury's still out on that verdict. Please check back in later.

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

American TV

Bah hum bug! I watched part of the opening ceremonies for the Olympics tonight... I was waiting eagerly for South Africa to be announced, and was surprised to see that it was right after the USA. I guess they were going with how the country's name is spelled in Italian. Of course, the TV shows the USA team for like 10 minutes, and I fear I have missed the South Africans. Well, lucky me, they did go back and briefly show the South Africans. *sigh* Made me wanna go back... I remember watching the opening ceremonies for the Summer Olympics in 2004 in Jo'burg... I don't remember missing all the shots of the American athletes. I mean, I understand that we're in America, and we want to see our people. But come on people, don't we care even the slightest about other countries?! Geesh... gotta love America. (or else!)

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

My new car!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen... I am getting a new car! Well, it's not "new" but it is to me. It's a 2005 Toyota Camry, and it just so happens to be Carolina Blue (or close enough:)). I'm so excited! I have to wait till next week for my loan papers to go through, but I already put a downpayment on the car, so no one can take it! By the end of next week, I'll be driving MY car! It's the first car I've ever bought myself... taking a big step into adulthood here!


Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Debriefing

Wow… what a week. Wednesday morning I left for debriefing at the MLC (missionary learning center). I know I’ve been home almost 3 months already, but it’s still amazingly refreshing to be around so many like-minded people. We have all been in the same place… maybe not literally, but emotionally and spiritually we have. It was so nice to be around people who didn’t just ask, “so how was Africa?” or “so are ya’ glad to be home!?” You have no idea how old those questions get… and how FAST they get old. I also realized that all the things I’m feeling are totally normal. Almost all of us have a hard time readjusting to life in America. We’ve all changed, and we all understand each other! (You have no idea how nice it is to really be understood!) I spent 5 days with over 60 people… all who have a heart for the nations… all who know what it means to have a calling on your life… many of whom don’t yet know what that means for them (like me!!). It was nice to not be pressured to have an answer for “so, what do you want to do with your life now?”… (Few of us really knew the answer to that.) I’m not all that excited to get back into “real life” again tomorrow morning, but it must come. Being a missionary means being with other people, not just missionaries! I wish I could really type out how awesome the past 5 days were, but unless you’ve been in my shoes, I can’t expect you to understand. Just know that God is awesome to have placed me into the care of such an amazing mission board who cares enough about us to gather us all back together to let us “debrief.” Sweet sweet times all around. :)

belated update

Wow, I really should have updated before now! I am so busy this month though. I will be so happy when February gets here!! It’s a good busy though I suppose. This coming weekend I will be gone from Friday though Monday serving as an adult table leader for “Chrysalis,” a teen girl Christian retreat type weekend. It’s really hard to explain. Anyway, be praying for that! Youth aren’t as much my thing as little kids are, but I know that God has big plans for the girls who are coming and I pray that He will use me to be a part of His plan. Later in the month (the 25th through the 28th) I’ll be heading up to Richmond, Virginia for my missionary debriefing. I’m really looking forward to spending some quality time with old friends who know and understand all that I’m going through and trying to process right now. They’ll be the ones who know that I’m not crazy because they’ll hopefully be feeling the same things! Can’t wait. :)

Other than being busy, life is going well. I’m still really enjoying being a teacher and I’m learning more everyday about how to be a better teacher. These poor kids are my guinea pigs – I try something out on them to see if it works or not! Guess you never know unless you try. :) I’m still really missing South Africa. Got to talk to Casey again this past weekend and every time I talk to her I want more and more to get back there this summer. The plane ticket alone is almost $2000 now! I don’t know how I’m going to pay for that on a preschool teacher’s salary, but if it’s God’s desire for me to go, then He will make a way. Oh how I hope it’s His desire!!! :)

Well, I seriously need some beauty sleep now. G’night!

Bonnie B.

Picture time!

I haven't posted many pictures here lately so I thought I'd put a few up. The Christmas pictures were taken with my parents' camera, so I don't have those yet...

Brian, Jr. and I before the Carolina game! Go Heels!!


Miss Jenny and I at the "pajama party" on the last day of school for the kids before "Winter break." Heaven forbid we have a Christmas party or call it Christmas break!


Helping the kids make Reindeer food!!


It was SOOO cold outside. Amy didn't bring gloves, so her hands found warm residence in my fleece lined coat pockets.


The between Christmas and New Years tradition! Shannon, Sarah and I have been best friends since high school. We even all went to the same college and had an apartment together. We figured out tonight that we have been getting together to exchange presents since 1997. There used to be more of us, but well... you know how that goes. We now have little Savannah too though! (Shannon's baby) Shannon and Sarah got together without me last year to keep the tradition going. :) Hooray for great friends!!


Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Hooray for long-distance friends!

Today was a wonderful day for many reasons... I am off of work today for school holidays. I got to cook dinner for my Mom and Dad and I did a farely good job. My brother and his wife and baby came over and I got to play with the beautiful Lauryn. But most of all... I got to talk to my friend Casey on the phone this morning!!! She's probably the best South African friend I had when I was there. I guess it's hard to narrow it to one person because I had various "groups" of friends at different times during my term, but all in all, Casey knew/knows me the best and understands me the most. You see, Casey was a missionary for over 2 years before I met her. She served on the Doulos, a missions ship that goes all over the world. I met her only a couple months after she'd come home, so I was there to see some of what she went through in coming back "home" to a place she'd been away from for 2 years. She knows what I'm feeling now, and can somewhat prepare me for what is probably still to come. She has been and is a God-send to my life. I only wish I could be the same for her!! It was awesome to talk to her today and hear her sweet voice. She and I decided to plan a 1 person mission trip for me over my school holidays in the summer. I'm definitely keen! I'd give anything to be back there now. Being home has been and is great, but my heart longs to be back in South Africa. If only my whole family would move with me so I wouldn't have to miss them! :) Oh well, I can't have the best of all worlds I guess. Right now I will enjoy where God has placed me for this time. He has a reason for me to be here now. I am loving being there for my family again and being able to be Aunt Bonnie (and not just the far away Aunt Bonnie). And speaking of being Aunt Bonnie, my sister in law is bringing baby Lauryn here bright and early at 6:15 tomorrow morning! I'd better get my beauty sleep!

Goodnight!
Bonnie B.

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Merry belated Christmas!

Wow, I really should have updated before now! I'm as bad now as I was when I first got to South Africa. I guess it takes me a while to get adjusted and into a routine... eventually blogging becomes part of that routine, but it takes me a while to get back into it!

I hope everyone out there had a great Christmas. I know it was nice to be home this year with my family. We actually celebrated together on Christmas Eve so that my brothers could go to their inlaws houses. It's sad that family events always center around the married kids and their plans. Us single ones have the joy of going along with what everyone else decides is best. That's ok. One of these days I'll be married too and they'll finally ask me(us) what I(we) want to do!! mwahaha :) Of course, I'll probably be the one to throw a monkey wrench into everything and be in another country or something... but oh well, they managed without me last year. ;) I actually missed the Saner family this year on Christmas. They kinda took me in last Christmas and let me celebrate with them. Their Gran even bought me a present and I hadn't even met her before. That was fun. :) But really, being with my family this year was absolutely wonderful, and though I joke, we had a great time. The nephews and nieces all had fun opening and playing with lots of presents and they all looked adorable. I'll try to post a few pictures a little later but right now I'm not using my computer... so that'll come later!

My job continues to go very well. Last week I got a new student, so now I have 17 students and 9 of them are Spanish speakers!! A couple of the Spanish speaking parents have agreed to help me learn more conversational Spanish, so when they come in in the mornings they only speak Spanish to me even though they can speak English! They're so sweet. I've even written a couple class notes and sent them home in both English AND Spanish. I'm so surprised at how quickly it's coming back to me.

I'm finding myself really missing South Africa (and South Africans) a lot lately. I think about 2 months into being in SA I really missed people from here, so I guess the timing is about right, but that doesn't make it much easier. When I left SA, my friend Casey gave me a bracelet... she left SA to be a missionary and returned to Joburg about halfway through my term, which is about when I met her. Anyway... she said that her Mom had given her this bracelet to wear and remember South Africa. And then she gave it to me to remember South Africa by!! I've been wearing it a lot lately!!! At my farewell party in SA, a video of lots of my friends recording messages to me was made, and I've watched it a late lately too. It's hard to miss people! But like I said when I was missing my American friends, "at least I know I have friends who are worth missing."

Well, I am quite sleepy now and am looking forward to dreamland! I have off of work all this week - and I'm being paid for it! That's a first for me, and I'm loving it. :) goodnight!!

Cheers,
Bonnie B.
Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Here are a few picures from the kids Christmas program at church tonight. Brian (the guy on the left in the first picture) had a solo and he was great! Now, I know I'm biased, but for real... he was the only one who was on pitch the entire time he sang his solo. He's such a Boisvert. ;) Santa always comes to see the kids after the program. It was funny because I remembed singing and then going and seeing Santa when I was little... same fellowship hall and all. Ah - the memories. :) Brian and Zachary were cool with Santa, but their little sister Eliza Jane was not so thrilled!! Poor thing. The next pictures are ones where we were playing with the camera. Fun times. The first one is Mom and I, the second, Dad and I, the third, JR (my nephews cousin, but like a nephew too) and the last one is Jennifer in the front (JR's sister), Kelly (their Mom), and Jacob (the other brother). Fun times all around.

On a different note, I started a new "job" at church today! I am at the welcome table before and after the 2nd service. Hooray - I have a place! I also get to work the table with Susan Baker (aka my "Summit Mom"). She's the coolest. :) It's good to be getting plugged back in. I still really miss Northcliff Union Church though. Oh well... the Summit's awesome, so I canNOT complain.

Well, it's time for me to go to bed so I can face the kiddo's tomorrow! G'night!

Bonnie B.









Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

a note before work

I don't have a lot of time right now since I need to be leaving for school soon, but I just wanted to update real quick and let you know how my new job is going. I absoluely love it! I have 16 kids on roll (there hasn't been a day yet when they're all there though) and 8 of them are Spanish speakers! A couple of them are fluently bilingual, some are ok, and a couple of them don't speak or understand much English at all! It's a challenge, but a challenge that I was looking for when I applied for jobs. It's surprising me how much of my Spanish is coming back to me. The kids love it when I start speaking Spanish. Yesterday during center time, I read some of my Spanish books with a couple kids in the reading center. One of the little guys who knows very little English cuddled up right beside me and was captivated by the book. It's sad that that may have been the first time he actually understood a story, but it also reminds me that I am right where I am supposed to be. I also have some great co-workers, which really helps me get back into teacher-mode. I knew I was back into being a preschool teacher when I got really excited about the fact that a madnet wand will attract jingle bells even through plastic and splenda (I put splenda "snow" in clear bottle with some jingle bells to see if the magnet could still get them and it did!) I ... I mean ... the KIDS loved it! haha :) Ok, time to go to school. Oh, on another no so nice note, my car died on Tuesday on my way to work. I was late on my 2nd day on the job! I was thinking of buying a new car... guess I'd better start doing more than thinking! Thank goodness I have a brother who's willing to let me drive his extra car. :)
Cheers,
Bonnie
Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Finally!

Here are some pictures of reasons I'm glad to be home! :)


Lots of time to hang out with the coolest almost-10-yr-old in the world!!!


"3-generations" get togethers. Here I'm with my Grandmother and my Mom for dinner at Springmoor, the extremely nice "retirement village" where my Grandparents live. Wish I could live there too! haha :)


A WHOLE day of shopping with Shannon, my best friend since the 6th grade. Wow...the 6th grade. I can hardly believe we've known each other that long. She knows everything about me, and she STILL wants to be my friend. ;) What a blessing she is to me! I've also loved seeing her precious baby girl, Savannah, who is about 1 1/2 years old now.




Babysitting Lauryn and having a ball. I'm so thankful I am able to be here to see this stage of her life!! She's so much fun, and such a sweet baby.



















Here she is all ready for game day! Go panthers!! Daddy's training her right from the beginning. Poor girl doesn't stand a chance. ;)















Thanksgiving day: Mom and Dad working together to get the cooked Turkey to the carving platter. My first Thanksgiving at home in three years!!










Cheryl and I putting the lights on the Christmas tree. Notice I am wearing a sweat
shirt. That's because it's COLD outside... as it SHOULD be at Christmas. No more hot Christmas like last year. Hooray!




Hope you all enjoyed this as much as me. :) Goodnight.
Bonnie B.

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

adjusting...

Well... since last time I updated a few things have happened. This past Thursday was Thanksgiving. I hadn't been able to be with my family the last 2 years at Thanksgiving, so it was nice to be with everyone this year. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to enjoy all the amazing food that everyone prepared! As of Wednesday of last week I was still feeling fluish and I was really praying to feel better on Thursday... I would've been so upset if after 2 years of missing Thanksgiving I still wasn't able to enjoy it! But, all was well, and though I couldn't handle very much food, I was able to at least taste everyone's culinary creations! :) Maybe it was good that I wasn't feeling 100%... that way I didn't overeat like everyone always does on Thanksgiving! It was so awesome to be with my family though. It's times like that that I am glad to be home.

Tonight we put our Christmas tree up in the house. That was also something I'd missed out on the last 2 years. Though I was home for Christmas 2 years ago, I was away at training until right before Christmas, so I missed all of the preparations. Again I say, it these things that makes me happy to be here.

Overall though... it's really weird to be here, and to be staying here. This would all be absolutely wonderful if this were a vacation... even if it were a long vacation! I could settle my nerves more if I knew I could enjoy this time, and then go back to Jo'burg. But I'm set to teach here for 2 years. 2 years... I wasn't even in Jo'burg a whole 2 years and my life was changed by the time I left. Anything could happen here in 2 years. Who knows what that will be? In all honesty, it freaks me out to be applying and interviewing for a full-time job. It's exciting - it really is! And I look forward to having my own classroom again and being in one place. But at the same time I feel like I don't know where I'm going half the time. I mean, I don't have a goal in mind. In school you always have a destination - graduation. College is the same... After I graduated college I knew I had to work for about 5 months and then I'd be off to training and then to South Africa. When I was in SA, I knew I had 2 years there. But now I don't know what's next. I was chatting with a friend of mine here who is a couple years older than me and she said she went through the same thing when she finished seminary last year. She gave me some good advice. She said she'd always trusted God with the segments of her life, but that she now had to learn to trust Him with the whole picture. So that's what I'm trying to learn and do now... trust Him with my life... my whole life. It's so hard to explain what I'm feeling right now, and if you're reading this and somehow understand what I'm trying to say, I'd love to hear your comments. Anyone out there felt like this before? I guess I'm just in the midst of a big transition point right now. It has its good points and its bad points. I'll try to post some photos soon to show you some of the good points! :) I'd better be going to bed soon...

Cheers,
Bonnie

PS - today at my parent's church a lady whom I adore came up to me and said that she had just met a guy from Johannesburg who in in Harnett county (a neighbouring county). He's here teaching through an international faculty program. Her husband is going to call me with his phone number. I may have found a South African friend. Hooray! :)

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

in recovery...

Sorry it's been a few days since I last updated... I'm getting slack! Actually though, I have a bit of an excuse. Sunday after church I finally got to go out to lunch at a Mexican restaurant with some friends. It's the first time since I've been back. I was so excited. Well, about an hour after lunch I started feeling bad. So, no problemo... I laid down, thinking I'd be fine after a nap. Well, after about an hour of no sleeping, I got up... walked around my room a bit in a daze, and proceded to... umm... get sick. Now, I haven't really been sick is YEARS! I literally can't remember the last time I was sick. Well, Mom rushed to the rescue to take care of me and I downed some Pepto Bismol right away. It didn't help any though... I was up till 12:30 going through a process of stomach cramp, stomach purge, stomach feeling great, stomach cramp... you get the picture. Pepto became my drink of choice, that's for sure... don't know how much good it did though. I couldn't sleep Sunday night because I was so sick... well, I think I slept 2 hours... On Monday I was extremely exhausted from lack of sleep and no food being in my system. I was supposed to have an interview on Monday, but that obviously did NOT happen! I could hardly even manage to drink some dilluted gatorade and eat a few saltine crackers. Ugh - it is NOT fun being sick!!! I've been pretty much ok today, though my stomach's felt a little "iffy" at times. We had stir-fry for dinner tonight and that was definately a mistake. Needless to say, the Pepto came back out. Blah... I'm going to bed!!

On a positive note, I did manage to go to my interview today and I think it went fairly well. I'll let you know soon!

Cheers!!
Bonnie

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

The search begins (well... kinda)

I'm about to seriously start looking for a job, and I'd really appreciate people's prayers. I'm really nervous about the whole process. I'm trying to remain calm and trust God though! Knowing and trusting that He already has my job picked out for me does help. The whole finding it part isn't so fun though! I haven't done a real interview in a long time. I also haven't taught in a real classroom in a long time. It'll be nice though... to have my own classroom again, and to spend time really getting to know my students. That's something I missed in SA... I LOVED my students, and got to know a few, but getting to know over 400 kids is quite difficult when you only see them once a week at best. :) I found my official State teaching license tonight... *big sigh of relief* Now I just have to tweak my resume and start sending it out... fun fun. Hopefully soon I'll be posting that I have a new job! (if I don't, the evil scholarship people may start harping on me again, and that's no fun). Well, it's almost 1am here and time for me to go to bed. It's crazy for me to think that if I were in SA I'd probably be waking up now! So... goodnight America and good morning South Africa. :)

Bonnie B.

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Going to get my luggage!

Tuesday morning, early, my Mom and I are driving up to Washington, DC to get my final 2 pieces of luggage. It will be so nice to finally have everything in one place... my cats, me, and all 4 pieces of luggage.

I've finally got a cell phone that can send and receive messages to and from South Africa! So... South Africans, send me a note and let me know how much you miss me!! :) To sms me, you'd dial 09-1-919-721-1591

This past weekend was my friend, Candace's, wedding. It's crazy... the people I grew up with are all getting married! My Mom and I babysat Lauryn all day on Saturday. I'm sure some people there probably thought Lauryn was mine, but that's ok. She's adorable, so I'd claim her any day! I did earn a new appreciation for mothers though... I'm great with toddlers and preschoolers... but infants are another story! I'm sure it will be different when I have one of my own, but it's hard work taking care of a baby... and Lauryn's a GOOD baby - I'd hate to have a bad one! :)

Well, I'd better go to bed since I have to wake up early and I don't want to be too sleepy for the driving. I'll put some pictures online soon...

<><>