Our first day in DC

Sunday morning we packed up the van and drove 10 hours to Arlington, VA where we spent our first night of vacation. This morning we packed up again and headed to DC. We are staying just a few blocks away from the capital and the mall. Our first stop was the Smithsoniam museum of natural history. Here are some moments from the day:
A bird pooped in corey's hair--notice the white spot--so i had to snap a picture; he was pretty mad.

The oldest living fossil by the oldest natural fossil. :) I love you mom!

Eaten by a shark!!! Oh no!!

Eating a snack and waiting to go into the museum.

Here is a cool picture from the metro right before my first ride. It is not bad if you are sitting but i got a little motion sickness when I had to stand...i guess it beats driving and trying to park downtown.

Real Life

I feel like a real adult and I am longing to be back in my Auburn bubble! I am working two jobs and love what I do but it is exhausting. Today I worked from 7:00 am to 9pm with a 2 hour break somewhere in the middle. Did I mention that I'm exhausted??

Yesterday I visited a Buddy, Ame, who was admitted to UAB and had a tricuspid valve replacement surgery. She is recovering well with the help of her friends and family and is encouraged by the cards, balloons, and flowers she has received.

Ame is probably the sweetest person I know. She has down's syndrome but that has never slowed her down when it comes to being a great friend. Before her surgery she had to go in to have her heart looked at. When Ame woke up, she knew the doctor had been looking in her heart. The first thing she asked the doctor was "When you were looking in my heart did you see Jesus in there?" The doctor replied, "Ame, every time I see you I see Jesus in your heart."

Moody has a website?!

Moody, Alabama... the fourth fastest growing city in the state! Moody now has a population close to 14,000 but I was truly shocked to find out that we now have a website. Check it out for yourself! It is like finding out that Andy Griffith created a website for Mayberry.

Here is some neat info I found on their site:

~The city is home to the state’s first Miracle League field and has state-of-the-art park and recreation facilities.

~Moody got its name from a man named Epps Moody who settled here with his family in 1820. There were two stagecoach routes that crossed here forming Moody Crossroads, now Moody Parkway and Park Ave.

~The first area school was formed in 1879 followed in 1882 by the organization of the first area church. (not sure what church they are talking about or where it was located)

Best Buddies Greek Sing 2009

I have been involved with this wonderful organization throughout college and was the President this past year. Every year we are the final performance for the sorority dance competition while the judges tally up scores. It was great to hear the crowd give a standing ovation to our Buddies who choreographed and learned the whole routine. Just ignore my dancing...the Buddies are much more fun to watch. :)

I'm Done!!!!

I made it! It is so surreal right now as I am moving out of my apartment into our pool house for the summer. I will move to New Orleans in early August to start classes at UNO (Pray that I will find safe and reasonably priced housing).

This summer I am working at Glenwood, an Autism and Behavioral Center in Birmingham. I will be an assistant teacher in a classroom with 7 students. I am so excited about the opportunity to work here!

I will also be working on attaining a Louisiana teaching certificate so I can officially be accepted into the University of New Orleans. This means taking a couple of standardized tests, waiting for scores, waiting on my Alabama teaching certificate to be sent in the mail, then mailing it all to Louisiana along with my transcripts.

This is my friend John who is also moving to New Orleans this summer to serve two years with a program called Teach for America. I am so thankful he will be nearby! God has been so faithful to provide what I have needed--friendships, a summer job, a way to pay for school, and so much more. I pray that I will continue to remember His faithfulness and trust that He will provide for my needs.

Graduate School

I just received my admissions letter to the University of New Orleans! I teared up when I got it and am so relieved that I have a post-graduation plan come August. Now I am working on figuring out what to do to earn money this summer and how to pay for graduate school for the next two years.
I am also giving myself pep talks on a regular basis. I think I can...I think I can...23 days until classes end! Freedom is in sight!!
*Deep breath*
Now back to work. Ugh.