CLAY & ERIN MANKIN WEDDING

Hey...I'm finally home!!! I got back Wednesday, but have been going non-stop until now. God couldn't have blessed me with a better homecoming. I got to spend the first 3 days with my best girlfriends, and also being able to be a bridesmaid in one of their weddings. My best friend and sister Misty, Kadi, and Shelly picked me up from the airport.



That night I met my family in Grand Island where we ate burgers and fries at the Platte Duetsche. Thursday we did some shopping for the wedding, I got my haircut, and we ate at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. Then we had to head to Lexington for the wedding rehearsal where I finally got to see the bride, one of my best friends. She was a little stressed but so excited.



Finally, Friday came, the day of the wedding. I woke up early because of jetlag so I spent some time with the Lord and then went for a nice run. Once the other girls finally got up we had a few hours of pampering and wedding preperation to do. We did nails, hair, and make-up for what seemed like hours!! Ok, it was hours, but tons of fun with your best friends.



We headed to the church where we got to spend more time getting us and the bride ready. Oh man I can't believe how excited I was for Erin and how blessed I felt to be a part of this godly relationship and wedding!! It was such a beautiful celebration of Gods love for His children and how He lavishes His love on them.



After the wedding was, of course, the reception. The food was great (Val you would have loved it...although my stomach is still getting used to American food) It was also great because all my other guy and girl friends that we used to hang out with were at the reception so it's like the ol' gang was together again. It was especially nice being able to see my girl Liz.



It's really encouraging to see a relationship that puts God above all else. You could truly see the hand of God in their wedding. As much as they love each other, their love for God will always come first.



We danced all night long. As long as I was dancing I could keep my eyes open :-) Although once it was over I crashed....hard. It really was some of the greatest days and the biggest blessings to be with them again. Now (and my dad is saying it's about time...He sure is glad to have me back) I'm home at my parents and am able to just sit and relax. Tonight we'll go to the Wolbach bull riding and street dance. Just some more good times in the life of a country girl :-)

FIRSTS OF MANY SEE YA LATERS....

This has been a week of last night out, last movies, last hugs, and last days. It's been a very busy week with one or two things every evening after a long day of school. Tuesday after school we had a little gathering to honor the first year of the High School special education department at Faith Academy. There were words of encouragement and affirmation, prayer for me and the program, and of course snacks :-)



Wednesday night I went out with three of my favorite seniors: Charis, Crystal, and Anna. These three girls became some of my greatest friends here. As tough as it was to say goodbye to them (because they're on senior trip now and wont get back until I leave) we did it the best way we knew how....by getting pedicures and drinking chai lattes!!! Charis and Anna will be going to college in the states next year for nursing, while Crystal will be staying here in Manila to play basketball at Ataneo College.



Once I got back that night I made a late night Starbucks run with Felicity. We took her laptop and a movie we planned on watching but we couldn't stop talking long enough to even turn the thing on!

Thursday during the day our class spent most of the day off campus. First period we played Win, Lose, or Draw. Then we hopped in the school van, which I drove, to my favorite mall Eastwood. On the way we got stuck in the worst traffic jam I've been in here in the PI. It took us about 30 minutes to go a quarter of a mile. ugh. But once we finally arrive, we ate brunch at McDo, sat and played cards at a coffee shop, walked around the mall, bowled a game, and then went to the candy store. Susan and I played a game during the day that we named "White Person". We were trying to see who could see the most white people during the day. I think by the end she won with 8 and I had 7. It was so great spending time with them outside of the classroom. They're really great kids.



Johanna, the only girl in the class, is having her last day today. So it's another "see ya later" I'll have to do and quite possibly one of the toughest yet.



Thursday night my girl mary and I went out. She's a junior here at Faith Academy that God has allowed me to disciple and just build a friendship with. We have been having our "date night" every Thursday night this semester. It's a time we took to chat (a lot about boys and lessons learned in life), encourage each other spiritually, have fellowship, pray, eat, watch movies, and spend time in Gods word. This was our last date night so we had to end with a bang. We rode the train to Gateway mall where we ate Taco Bell and watched Shrek 3 in the lazy boy theater. So nice. Although it wasn't our final goodbye, it was a bitter-sweet night knowing it was our last.



Oh, and once I got back from that I made another late night (even later than night before) run with Chris to...ya you guessed it...Starbucks :-)

The schedule for the last of my days here is also pretty packed. But hey, atleast I have 4, 12, and 2 hour flights home to catch up on sleep! I'm sure you'll be seein some pictures from the nights to come!

DA BEACH

My camera is having technical difficulties right now. I have some amazing pictures from the beach...but yes unfortunately I can't put them on the computer to use. When I plug my camera in it's like the computer doesn't register it's there. It's kind of like how my brain has been the last couple days, I've got so much going through it it can't register what I'm really thinking about....ugh. Anyways, last weekend we had a long weekend so some friends and I spent a few days on the beach at Puerto Gallera. My third time there but probably the most fun. It is sooo beautiful. And hey, you can't beat it cause it's pretty cheap too. How often am I going to have the chance to go to an exotic island for little money? I borrowed a couple pics from my friend to use. (No I'm not standing horizontal...I'm diving from the water fall)



I also jumped from about a 45 ft cliff, snorkeled, hiked to falls, got sun, swam, and everything else amazing that goes along with being on the beach....and yes pictures of everything...on my camera :-/ I see God so much in His creation. I don't think anyone can look at a sunset and not believe in God.



This is a picture of my good friend Felicity Taylor (Doesn't that sound like a name that should be in the movies?) She's an Aussie.....but I won't hold that against her because she teaches new words like trekkies, sunnies, boardies, etc. and encourages me to say "no worries"



Hopefully the camera will be workin soon and I can put more up

MEN ARE LIKE......

I got this in an email and it made me smile today...thought I would share it with you :-)

1. Men are like ...Laxatives ..... They irritate the crap out of you.
2. Men are like ...Weather ... Nothing can be done to change them.
3. Men are like ...Blenders ... You need One, but you're not quite sure why.
4. Men are like .....Chocolate Bars ... Sweet, smooth, & they usually head right for your hips.
5. Men are like .....Commercials ....... You can't believe a word they say.
6. Men are like ..Department Stores .... Their clothes are always 1/2 off.
7. Men are like ...Government Bonds .... They take soooooooo long to mature.
8. Men are like ...Mascara...They usually run at the first sign of emotion.
9. Men are like ...Popcorn...They satisfy you, but only for a little while.
10. Men are like ...Lava Lamps... Fun to look at, but not very bright.
11. Men are like ...Parking Spots ... All the good ones are taken, the rest are handicapped
12. Men are like ...Magic Eye Pictures ... you know there's something under the suface but you can't quite see it and it drives you nuts trying to figure it out.