NEW BLOG

Well, I was not sure if I should start my new blog before or after I officially become a Crosby, but I got the OK from my fiance' and decided to start now!

SO..... switch on over to the-crosby-show.blogspot.com for my new blog (just click the link)! I will be posting there from now on!!! So come on over to the new "station" and join me on my new adventure!!! I promise this will be the last change!! I'll be a Crosby forever!!!!

SARAH

One week down: 125 Days to go

It has been over a week since Abe popped the question and things are moving right along! We have a date, a venue for the ceremony and reception, my dress ordered, a photographer, florist, colors, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, and ring bearers all lined up!

It has been one hectic week! I did not sit still from Monday-Friday, and I feel as if this week and all the weeks to come are going to be the same exact way! I keep thinking that I have gotten SO much accomplished, but then quickly realize that was only a drop in the pool!

My mom and I also went this past Saturday to BRIDAL EXTRAVAGANZA in Houston. It was a bit overwhelming, but overall it was a lot of fun and we got tons of ideas. It was also fun just to spend some mother - daughter time looking at fun wedding stuff!

I have had a lot of fun planning. I feel as if my dream is coming true! I have found my prince charming and I cannot wait to be his bride!

The (soon-to-be-) Crosby Show

I AM ENGAGED! Yes, you read that right! I am getting married to Abel Crosby on May 15, 2010, and am the happiest, luckiest, most blessed girl out there! Hence "The Crosby Show" (my new blog title to come) ;) I will try to summarize the story:

It all started New Year's Eve. I was supposed to come to his house for the night and go on his boat to look at fire works and then to a friends party. Well...
We took his row boat out on Lake Belton. It was so windy and choppy that I kept being a baby and getting scared that the front of the boat would buck up and we would flip out. Again, I was being quite the scaredy cat. Abel was so good at comforting me! We were out there for a little while, when he said it was time to go in.

So he started rowing. I told him to hand me an ore so I could help. He handed me his instead and just started smiling at me! I kept saying "Babe, we are never going to make it if I am the only one rowing."

At about that time, he starts looking into the shore and says "Hey I think there is a deer over there." I was so in the zone that I just kept rowing. So he shouted "Hey, deer!" and all of the sudden the shore lit up with "Marry Me" in white Christmas lights. ( he knows white are my fav.)

I quickly stopped paddling! He asked me what it said but I didn't answer fearing my eyes were playing tricks on me. I knew if I said "Marry Me" he would laugh and it would have really said "Merry Christmas" or something.

But THANKFULLY it said "MARRY ME!!!" It was so sweet and I am SO in love!

This was right after we got back to his house!

Oh ya, he had a beautiful bouquet of flowers on the hike back to his car, and surprised me by having my parents come to spend the night! He even planned a brunch for the day after!! How blessed am I?!!? OOO.. and my ring!! I could not have pick out a better one myself!

My ring!

He picked out the flowers all on his own! So beautiful!

I have found the most amazing man out there! He is my best friend, he is an amazing man of God, and the LOVE of my life! I cannot believe that he has chosen me to be his wife! I am so excited to spend the rest of my life with him! I pray that I will be a wife to loves him and fears the Lord.

{Colorado}

After dreaded finals ended Abel and I were fortunate enough to take a trip to 3:00AM-- yes AM! to head for the airport. Just to sit on a plane for an hour and a half waiting for them to fix the anti-freeze on the plane. Comforting, I know!

Any who, we headed out finally at 8:00AM.

Sitting on the plane

We slept and chillaxed on Thursday to get ready for skiing Friday and Saturday!

--Friday--
So, as I mentioned before I have not been skiing since 5Th grade, so the first day I was literally shaking in my ski's. Sadly, Lauren had to work today and was not able to join us. Abel and Jake would not let me do ski lessons! They said they would not let me waste my money and they would teach me themselves! So Coco mo (bunny slopes) here we come! I made it off the first lift gracefully and without falling... Whew! Skied a few feet and WIPE! I was down! I thought, "Great, I can't even go a few feet. How am I going to do this for two days?" But with the amazing encouragement of Jake and Abel, I got back up and skied down the rest of the run without a fall! We stayed on Greens all day long and after lunch i let the pros do some blacks while I rested! **Boy, did I need a rest!** They got back and we finished on the greens!!

Day 2 of skiing: --Saturday--
Lauren was able to come today! I was so excited, because they could not take turns dragging with me and doing hard stuff as well. BUT, my totally encouraging, amazing, handsome, great, awesome boyfriend stayed with me the WHOLE day! I fell a lot on our first run on the green. I was SO super frustrated because my goal was to do blue's that day. Well, he encouraged me and we did one more green and then blue's the rest of the day! I could not have done it without Abel that day coaching me and encouraging me down the mountain! It was SO much fun and by the end of the day I was doing some harder blue's. Now, yes, I did fall a lot on them but I made it through and LOVED it! I cannot wait to go back and ski!!! It's SO fun! Again, I cannot brag Abel up enough... He was SUCH an encouragement and supporter of me all day long.

--Sunday--

*We went to Jake and Lauren's church.
*The Nutcracker was next on the agenda! If you have not been, I recommend going! I went in 2nd grade at First Baptist (my dad went with me as a date, precious right!), but for the most part did not remember it.
*Dinner time! If you are ever in Boulder I would 100% recommend The Med (Mediterranean). Talk about some good food! We then took a stroll down Pearl Street and ate some frozen yogurt. YUM!
*Lauren and I were dying to see some Christmas lights so the boys drove us around some fancy neighborhoods and we were able to "ooh and ah" over the sights.
*We wrapped our day up with Home Alone.

--Monday--
We stayed around their apartment and played some fierce games of Canasta and Abel and I went out to the mall and shopped.

On a bridge on our shopping adventure

Tuesday we headed home sweet home.

I know this is a long post but, I have to thank Jake and Lauren for letting us crash at their place for 5 nights! They are so sweet and we had such a wonderful time. We are truly blessed to have them in our lives.

This past year, I really have begun to think about the foods I am placing in my mouth. I have always tried to eat in a semi-healthy manner, but lately I have found that even things I have believed to be "healthy" might not really be that good for me after all.

In one of my classes, for extra credit, we were allowed to watch Food Inc., or the Great Debaters. My desire to be more wise about the food I eat (and the fact that Oprah is a producer for the Great Debater) led me to watch Food Inc. It was really good and started to peak an interest in organic foods.

I was checking my e-mail and on yahoo, news stories pop up before you log in. 7 Foods Experts Won't Eat, popped up. Here is the list:

1. Canned Tomatoes
2. Corn-Fed Beef: For Grass Fed Beef Click HERE: YONDER WAY FARM
3. Microwave Popcorn
4. Non organic Potatoes
5. Farmed Salmon
6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones
7. Conventional Apples

You can check out the reasons and explanations by clicking the link above.

Now, let me clue you in to one thing about college folk, we are dirt poor! So, how on earth am I going to buy organic? It is so expensive. While I was checking out this list of what I should not be placing in my mouth, or cooking for other people, I found this link to finding and buying organic foods at a smarter and cheaper rate. How to Pay Less for Organic. I was really encouraged and feel a lot better about the foods I am buying.

{RandoM}25

1. I talk to my mom almost every day and she is my best friend
2. I have never wanted to work in the “big real world”, but aspire to be the best wife and mom out there.
3. I LOVE everything to be neat and organized but do not always have the time to do so.
4. I LOVE the beats of rap music, but HATE the lyrics to 99.9% of them out there.
5. I don’t know how to hug people with big…. “chests”, I think it’s awkward and weird and I even get made fun of for it.
6. I have been known to play Christmas music all year round. We should celebrate Christ’s birth 365… and plain and simple I just love it!
7. There is nothing better than getting into a made bed with fresh and clean sheets.
8. I am going to be an aunt in about 6 months and I can hardly wait.
9. I love to cook and bake (and would go to culinary school, in a heartbeat, if there was one in College Station).
10. It would not be abnormal for me to camp and be outdoors all day and by night fall be dressed up in heals and a dress. I love to be outside but love to still be girly too.
11. The best job I have had has been a Child Life Assistant at Scott and White in Temple.
12. I love to play any type of game, board games, cards, dominos…etc.
13. I would love to eat all organic, but it is just too expensive… maybe someday.
14. I am very social and talkative. Some would even call me loud. ;)
15. I could listen to Michael Buble for days and days.
16. I once dressed up my Freshman year of college as a superhero and saved people with my roomate.
17. I must have my feet covered with a blanket to sleep.
18. I can quote pretty much any classic Disney movie, and know the lyrics to too many of the songs.
19. My best friends are friends from High School and before, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.
20. I would rather do a load of dishes than take out the trash (our dumpster is so far away, and I don’t do stinky smells)
21. I am a daddy’s girl 100%. He has set the standard of the man I want to marry; and I think I have found someone almost too close to my dad;)
22. I know my flaws and I hate them.
23. I want to use cloth diapers when I have kids.
24. I can’t wait to be married and start a family.
25. My God, is my daddy, creator, lover of my soul, my everything to me; without him I am nothing.

A Sign of Things To Come?

Thanksgiving is over and the end of school is looming over my head. You might be thinking I am super excited about this, and yes, I am... BUT our profs like to put as much on our plate as they can right before the end of the semester. The DAY BEFORE our break my profs told me I have a 7 page paper- WITH presentation due Wednesday and a Geology project due Thursday. So along with my two Geology exams, debate, quiz, and 2- one-page papers, what is a little extra work? In conclusion, I have decided that they don't like us and want to make our lives miserable. Mission accomplished.

On a much brighter note, I had an AMAZING Thanksgiving break. It was so much fun to spend some time with all of my family. Have I told you how amazing they are and how much the Lord has blessed me with the most awesome family EVER?!? I spent a lot of time driving back and forth to Belton to spend time with the Crosby's as well. I was able to attend the Crosby Thanksgiving Reunion. It was so much fun and I am so thankful that they allowed me to be a part of it.

I am ready for Christmas break! Abel and I are going to Colorado to visit Jake and Lauren (his brother and sister-in -law). I have not skied since 5th grade, so please pray I do not make a fool of myself or get hurt. I am praying my tincy wincy bit of athleticism kicks in and I am able to glide down the slopes with grace. Oh, boy. I am sure there will be stories to come.


Let's hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

For now, I am going to stop procrastinating and work on that paper of mine!!!

A Time For Thanks

As I get older and older, I have come to appreciate my surroundings, family, and life so much more. I am learning that everyday and every moment is a GIFT from God. I want to cherish my many blessings and have my life be a constant song of worship to my King. Now I know it is about a week premature, but these are all of my many thanks and blessings.

I am thankful/blessed for my amazing family, who loves me unconditionally and has always lived as examples of Christ-like people.
I am thankful for my friends who always listen to my silly stories and always encourage me in the Lord. Their zest for life and the joy that they bring to me is something to be cherished.
I am thankful for a boyfriend who loves the Lord with all his heart, tells me I am beautiful, and is my best friend. He truly is a Man among men!
I am thankful for my MANY short comings, so when I do fall short, God's hand is right there to show me He is enough.
I am thankful for my Bible study girls who teach and bless me more than they even know.
I am thankful for the Lord placing in my life, women who desire to be Godly wives and lead by example.
I am thankful for always having food on the table. I never go hungry.
I am thankful for the tiny baby growing inside my sister-in-law's belly, who I cannot wait to meet and love on.
I am thankful for freedom in America that I can love and worship my God freely.
I am thankful for the passion of adoption and my love for orphans. And to know that my Daddy in heaven is always here with me.
I am thankful for a Daddy on this earth who makes me feel beautiful and displays what a MAN should be. He has always been the standard of what I want my husband to be.
I am thankful for a mom who has been my best friend, mentor, and someone who I admire.
I am thankful for a roof over my head and a WONDERFUL roomate, who even when I leave a mess, is patient and loving toward me.
I am thankful for the men and women who are fighting right now for our safety and feedom.
I am thankful for the tears of sorrow that turn into tears of joy.
I am thankful for the healing that comes after pain.
I am thankful for the journey that He has planned out just for me- My past and my future.
I am SO thankful for my God who sent His son to die on a cross for ME!

{Daughter of the King}

They were the "brides maids"

I am in Aggie Sisters for Christ, and we had our semester "retreat" last weekend. Let me start off by saying how much I ADORE my girls in my WIL (Bible study) group!! Here are the list of events.

Friday PM
*EAT yummy Laynes chicken
*Scavenger/find the letters princess in nature and things around you game
*dress your WIL group leader (ME) up as a princess using toilet paper, foil, makeup, saran wrap etc.
*Worship
*Speaker
*Back to my apartment for fellowship, food, and fun.. and a little bit of sleep
Saturday AM
*breakfast
*worship
*speaker
*home (or in my case Galveston)

The theme was Princess or Daughter of the King, so my amazingly creative girls and I thought to dress me up as a "The bride of Christ--the ultimate princess." Yes, it was a little "churchy" per say, but hey, we wanted to win--and be creative!

The Lord was active and moving this weekend. We all decided as a WIL group that we would ask each other avidly if we were doing a DAILY quiet time. It is so much fun walking with our amazing heavenly Father together. I can see evidence in each of their lives that God is moving and working to further His kingdom. And isn't it so much fun to be in HIS will for our lives?!?

Showin of my "BLING"

My silly girls

"Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house. The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift men of wealth will seek your favor. All glorious is the princess within her chamber ; her gown is interwoven with gold. In embroidered garments she is led to the king..."

Psalm 45:9-14

Why I am going to shrivel up and die

So, you are not supposed to drink milk 2 hours before or after taking a medicine that I am on. So.. my Dr. says to take it right before bed time. GREAT!

Well.. let me tell you it is not so great. Apparently I took my meds and then went right to lay down and sleep and my medicine got caught in my stomach and just sat there all night long.

It burned my stomach and now I cannot eat. Thus why I am going to shrivel up and die. Every time I try to take a bite it goes down and burns my aching stomach. Even water hurts. My Dr. said it will take about 30 days to heal! 30 DAYS! I DON'T HAVE 30 DAYS! I can't go a whole month without eating! I love food!

Please pray I make it through the long and DREADFUL month. **If anyone has suffered from GERD or Acid Reflux what have you guys done to ease the pain?"

But...Apparently, I am not the only one though. I googled it and found out that quite a few people have gone through the same thing. So maybe I will live after all.

How did I make it through freshman year?

That is the question I am pondering tonight.

It is about 1:20AM and I am completely useless. Abel has a 10 page paper due this week and since I am the History/English person, my job is to read and fix, which I will gladly assist in! (He really is the better writer, but I do what I can.)

Back to my pondering thoughts.... When I was a freshman at UMHB I didn't go to sleep before 2AM pretty much every night. Now I am gone after 11:30PM! What is the deal!? I am 20 years old! Next thing you know I am going to be knitting and driving 10 miles below the speed limit.

Pray that I do not start wrinkling any time soon!

The hands that hold the world are holding your heart.

Not having my own computer is stinky! Life is going pretty good; a few ups and a few downs.


Our family found out some pretty bad news lately (though we are all doing fine) and I am trying to cling to the Word and see Christ's reasons for everything. I heard the song, "Safe" by Phil Whickham, and it has been such an encouragement and a blessing to me. I encourage you to listen to it, just click safe and it will take you to the YouTube video.


On a MUCH happier note we had my best friend Paige's bachelorette party this past weekend! It was so fun! Don't worry we didn't get TOO crazy! We did get asked at P.F Chang's if we were the model convention, and if we could sing to a boy's birthday who was turning 17. We informed the people that we were not a road show of any kind. It was so fun and I am so glad that I got to hang out with all of my girls for the weekend. I have never congratulated Paige on my blog so here it is!

Paige I am SOOO stinkin excited for you and Nathan to be married! You are an amazingly beautiful woman on the inside as well as the outside. He is such a lucky guy to get you as his wife. I have had the honor of being friends with you for pretty much our whole life, and even through the rough times you have always been here for me. Know that I will be here for you always. I have been so blessed to have you in my life, and am so excited to see what the Lord does with you and Nathan. I love you two SO much!!! And you may kill me for this but hey... I just have to...

10 days until your wedding and you can.... "well, you know." **





**Paige Glasco's quote

RIP computer

My "WONDERFUL" computer has officially kicked the bucket! There was a storm that passed through yesterday and knocked all electricy out, and decided to take my computer with it. Now, I know most of you are thinking, "Sarah, you are so dumb, power strip." Well folks I had one, and my computer is now dunzo. Boo... I will be checking my e-mails through Blinn. Needless to say I am not a happy camper right now. If you know of any computer deals please let me know.

My Apartment

There are pics and a new blog post three down. It didn't show up first, because I wrote it a few days ago, but just published it today.

I am wondering what to do about the silver bins in my book shelf (below). what to put in them. Any ideas? I can move them around as well. Always open to creative ideas!!!!!

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

SEPTEMBER is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and September 12th is Childhood Cancer Awareness Day

As many of you know, I was a Child Life Assistant my Freshman year of college at Scott and White in Temple, TX. It was the most rewarding/challenging job I have ever had. I was allowed the privilege to get to know some amazing young hearts who had this terrible disease called cancer. The Lord gave strength to some who now are healthy and doing wonderful, while others He took to be with Him in heaven. This month, I ask that you take a second and pray for the children and families who are dealing with this awful disease. Also, pray for the families who have lost children to cancer. We serve a BIG God, who can do BIG things!

This is a post one of the mother's of a child who went to heaven wrote on her blog.

These are some things you can do this month (and ALL YEAR ROUND, for the most part!) to support Childhood Cancer Awareness. None of these things involve any financial burden of any kind (except for maybe eating at Chili's ... but hey you gotta eat right??)

♥Tell everyone you know (and even those you don't know) how you, or someone you love, has been touched by childhood cancer.
♥Donate blood at a hospital where they are taking care of children with cancer.
♥Dine at a Chili’s Restaurant on September 28, 2009, when they will donate 100% of their profits from restaurant sales to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: createapepper.com
♥Wear the color GOLD to show your support.

♥Register to become a bone marrow donor: http://www.marrow.org/ - it's one of the easiest things you can do to help give someone a second chance at life.

♥Offer to volunteer at a local childhood cancer center.

♥Let a family that's been touched by childhood cancer know you STILL CARE and that haven't forgotten about their struggles.
♥Sign the CURE CHILDHOOD CANCER petition (and ask your friends and family to sign, as well!): thepetitionsite.com/1/CureChildhoodCancer

Banana Cake

I am always looking for new reciepes to try out. I got this banana cake and let me tell you, it is simply sinful!!! My boyfriends mom said, "She has yet to find a man who doesn't like it." I made it for our Breakaway dinner last night.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter
2 1/8 cups white sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas
Icing:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. In a small bowl, mix mashed bananas with lemon juice, set aside. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Stir in banana mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place directly into freezer for 45 minutes. This will make the cake very moist.

For the frosting: In a large bowl, cream 1/2 cup butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add confectioners sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high until frosting is smooth. Spread on cooled cake.

** instead of buying buttermilk you can make your own.

1/2c of milk + 1 teaspoon of vinegar.

Anyone got any good/cheap reciepes to bake and/or cook?

105 Days until Christmas Break

It's official, I still hate school! Today is day 3 and I have already begun my Christmas Break Countdown. 105 days until my last final, and I am out of school for a month. + One more semester and I will officially have my Associates and be finished with school.

OK, so I may be exaggerating just a little bit. I do hate school, but college is so fun! I love cooking things I love and just living on my own is so fun. (I do miss home too, mom and dad) =) I Love Love Love my apartment. I have finally gotten my room all together. It looked like I just moved in, and had been living there for a year! I do still need my bed frame, but the majority is done! I decided not to paint my room, simply because I was sick and tired of painting. Everything that is a color has to be turned back to boring white when we leave!

--My bathroom--

--My room--

--Bed frame to come--

Living and Dining Room

my computer is right behind the wall with the couch. We do have a tradition herein Aggie land... go figure... A bunch of my friends all get together Tuesday evenings and do dinner and go to Breakaway. It is so fun to have fellowship and then go praise and learn about our magnificent God.

I guess I should add something about classes. I do think God has me here for a reason. Out of all of my semesters of college, I feel God calling me to be a Light in the classroom. My first class is argumentation and debate and I was assigned Church/State Relations as my topic for the year. Ironic? Two of the categories I came up with were: Evolution v. Creation and Prayer in public schools. My group of 4 will split up and take opposing sides and argue similar topics. Abortion, homosexuality and government are all topics we can discuss as well. I know, God put me in that class for a reason. I also have a prof. who cusses every 2 seconds. I have never heard more curse words in my life, than in that one hour of class. I have a mass communications Prof who talked about how his views on journalism and our world were anything but Conservative, and another Prof who tried to tell the class that the earth came to be like a dust bunny! I had to giggle a little.

It seems that God is taken out and skewed up in our schools and world today! I have a hard time holding my tongue sometimes because I know the truth and can't even imagine how people do not believe. It makes me mad and mostly sad for them that they do not have this amazing relationship with the God I know and love.

It's a little longer than I expected, but I am procrastinating on reading.

Headed back to the Grand ole U.S

Day 7

It was such a fun week in El Salvador. I met some amazing kiddos while I was there. I will deeply miss each and every one of them. It was a growing time between the Lord and I as well. Our team members touched my life as well, in ways they cannot even imagine. Again I will say, God knew what He was doing, when He chose our group. Our translators did such an AMAZING job. I know they must have been doubly tired when they got home. God did some mighty things through all of them. I love each and every team member who went, and we will have memories that will last a lifetime. ...Oh, Alyson and her bday throwing in the air.... hahaha

Our driver Joel was also amazing. He was just as much as a part of the team as any of us. He would play with the kids and love on them just as much, if not more as us. We gave him a Bible and he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior the day we left. He prayed the prayer of salvation in front of all of us at breakfast that morning. God is going to use and bless him immensely!

I had an awesome trip, and it just intensified my passion for adoption and orphans. It also made me appreciate what I have, and my amazing parents who are so encouraging and wonderful examples of Godly parents.

Sorry if these posts have errors, I wrote them all on nights when I was extremely tired, and worn out. God is so good!!!!

Don't wake a sleeping baby!

Day 6

Our last day in El Salvador. We were at an orphanage in Ahuachapan today. It was the furthest drive, with the littlest kids. The kids here were very well taken care of and the older girls seemed to take care of the younger ones. The girls were ranging from 2-14 I believe. It was such a joy to be there. We did the same things as the days before, like bracelets, singing and a Bible lesson. They were truly a joy to be with.

There was a baby duck at the orphanage and Shirley said to my mom "The duck has no mommy too." It was an orphan duck so they kept it and took care of it! So sweet!!!!

We did a pinata and I taught "my" two year old to act like she was giving it to the adults and say.." no!" haha She was so precious. She feel asleep in my arms and was still sleeping when we had to leave. I told everyone I had to take her cause you shouldn't wake a sleeping baby! But they made me pass her off. She didn't wake up, but when she did I bet she thought it all was a dream. I hope one of the best dreams she has ever dreamt.

I miss all of the kids that we encountered. Even though we were only there one day, they all have such a special place in my heart!

We visited a place where one of the volcano's erupted and got to take bits of lava rock with us.

Then we were off to dinner! A Dinner we will never forget! We arrived at what we thought was going to be a restaurant, but it was turned into some store, so we decided to just eat next door. It said karaoke on it, so we were all excited. We all got Congas (a specialty fruit drink in El Salvador) and did karaoke. We danced and had such a fun time. A band came about an hour after we got there and we danced to their music and they sang to Alyson "Pretty woman and Happy Birthday." Words cannot even begin to describe what a fun night we had. I will miss seeing our team members every day. They were such a great group and the Lord really knew what He was doing when He placed us together.

I have not laughed so hard in a long time...

Day 5

Back off to the orphanages. We were in Sonsonate today! It was an older girls ranging in age from 8-18. It was a fun day. The girls thought that I was famous. They asked me to sign their notebook and take a picture with them. It was so cute! We had to tell them over and over, that I was no different from them, and I was not a movie star! haha Oh, they are all so sweet! We painted pillow cases and made bracelets with them. We also cooked them hot dogs. Over here they put Siveeche (sp?) on their hot dogs. It is like a cole slaw. The girls downed some hot dogs, chips and cookies. We also got to do a lot of girlie things like makeup, hair and nails. They were older, so it was fun to do things like that with them. I think they really appreciated it!

These girls were so special, and we enjoyed , loving on them. It touched me dearly, because they are not too much younger than me. I will miss them all.


Oh ya, I almost forgot!!! It is Alyson Tofel's birthday Monday, and we told the girls. Well, the girls sang "Happy Birthday" and about ten minutes later, they all gather around her and throw her up and down saying "Uno, dos, tres... all the way to veinty y uno" haha The facial expression she had was SOOO funny! She didn't know they were going to do it and so her face was priceless!!!!!! hahaha Oh wow a top moment of the trip so far! haha Besides the girls that is...