Life in the South...

A Happy Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Sat, 12 May 2007 21:03:00 +0000

Why do we celebrate Mother's day? What is a mother anyway? Well, answers to these questions come from the life of my own mother. My mom waited years to have children...then my sister and I came along just in time...all the way from across the ocean. She began then to be a mother. I imagine thoughts of motherhood wrestled in her mind since she was a little girl, but now she was able to play it out in real life. Over the years she was the definition of a wonderful and loving mother. She was wonderful because she would let us bake with her, licking the last of the cake batters (for me it was the last of the icing!). She took us on walks in to Granville to get ice cream...we recycled so we could take all the bags of stuff to the recycling place to get about $4.00 and then go spend it on ice cream for a treat. She was wonderful because she took us on trips to the library to listen to story hour. Once she even let us take our baby buggies! My mom was a wonderful mother and today she still is that wonderful mother. Today, as she helps bring my dream of getting married to a reality, I am again reminded of what a blessing mothers are. Why do we celebrate Mother's Day? We celebrate this day to honor those times of selfless sacrfice and giving that each mother gives in order to make her children feel cherished. Thank you to all the moms out there that have made their children feel the way I do. And thank you to my very own special mom...I Love You!!!!

Where? Mississippi??!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Wed, 09 May 2007 23:13:00 +0000

Life has changed quite a bit since I have last posted! I got a comment from a fellow faithful blogger and decided that I wanted to be motivated like her and keep my blog updated! (Thanks Jessie!) So what am I doing now? Well, I am living in Mississippi! Philip is down here going to Wesley Biblical Seminary for his Masters of Divinity and I am here teaching 2nd grade at a local private Christian school. But the best news of all is that Philip and I are getting married in a few short weeks! I finally don't have to live by myself! I am currently living in a studio apartment. Though it says studio it really has different divided rooms. It has been good for me living on my own, but I am ready to live with Philip for the rest of our lives!

Here are some updated pictures of my classroom and students, my bridal shower in Terre Haute, and other pictures! Enjoy!

Here is my wonderful classroom!!! And some of my precious students!

Pictures of my shower in Terre Haute...Hannah, my future sister-in-law and me!

Some of the students from Wesley Biblical Seminary spent the evening cheering on the Mississippi Braves Baseball Team!!! (They lost!)

A Soccer Weekend of Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 23:33:00 +0000

This weekend I went home to spend time with my family for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ! While at home I also took in a few soccer games... Here is the run down:
Kyle -12:00pm Lost 1-3
Kathryn -2:00pm Lost 4-7
Stephanie -4:00pm Won!!!
Here are some pictures!
Below is Kyle waiting to begin the game...

A Weekend of Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:36:00 +0000

I spent time with Philip's family this past weekend! Hannah and Scott are preparing for their upcoming wedding. It was a fun time attending Hannah's bridal shower! Here is Hannah (Philip's sister) and I at her shower on Saturday.
Check out their website!
http://www.theknot.com/kr_search.html

Where Life Has Brought Me So Far...

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 18:10:00 +0000

Philip and I at my graduation in December

Here I am writing and updating my blog 2 months later! Life has changed in so many ways for me since returning to the United States from my overseas experience in Budapest, Hungary. In the last 2 months I have graduated from college, moved to Indianapolis, been employed at 2 elementary schools, bought a car, and learned how to budget my income and expenses! Wheww...a lot for me, but very exciting! I have been learning what independence is along with true dependence on the Lord. I am currently living in Indianapolis, working at an elementary school teaching first grade till the end of May, and living each day as it comes. Above are some pictures of graduation and my place in Indy!

More of Rome

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 18:44:00 +0000

It's true...Richele was ready for Rome! Here we come!! Richele and I flew out of Budapest with two other teachers for Rome on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day!

Corny bars are Richele and I's favorite! These are just like granola bars from the States...though I think I had a Corny bar overload while in Rome
Trail Mix...not looking so good anymore after eating it for 3 days...
Food is expensive in Rome, so for lunch I would eat trail mix or a Corny bar...you can tell I am a Streicher! Dinners were usually pasta or pizza...by the time I arrived home I wanted a big steak...like the ones Mr. Lacey makes!

Here is the Fountain of Trevia
(You need to watch the Lizzie McGuire Movie and you'll see this fountain...it is also in some old black and white movies) All the fountains in Rome are powered by aqueducts

It's true...I saw the REAL Sistine Chapel!
The School of Athens by Raffaello

This is St. Peter's which is a church in Rome. The Pope holds mass here in the square. Every Sunday a crowd gathers for the Pope to bless them...no I didn't see the Pope...but some of my friends did...I was one of the only 3 who didn't! Oh well!

This monument was made by Bernini and is the center piece inside of St. Peter's

The ceiling...

A Few Pictures of Rome! More to Come!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:12:00 +0000

At the beginning of the 17th century, Pietro Bernini built this unusal boat shaped fountain which is located at the bottom of the Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps

The Panthon was built a few years before Christ by Marcus Agrippa in honor of Augustus. Many famous artist are buried here like Raphael. It was so neat!

Pictures of the Forum or the Old City of Rome, here all the political, religious, and commercial activities were held.

This picture below is a big area where the Emperor would sit and watch races.

Here are pictures of the Colossum

Here are pictures of a view from the airplane on our way home...this is us flying over the Adriatic Sea!

Stay Tuned...Thanksgiving in Rome is Coming!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 22:50:00 +0000

Let it snow?!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 16:34:00 +0000

The snow has arrived!

So I woke up this morning walked past my window...then had to turn around and walk back to the window because it looked a little too white outside! It SNOWED last night! I had no idea it was predicted to! So, for a few minutes I was really excited and then remembered...oh that's right I have to WALK to school!!! Good thing I have my handy boots!

The city of BUDAPEST!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Sat, 19 Nov 2005 20:54:00 +0000

Here are some pictures of the city from the top of Castle Hill

This weekend was another weekend to explore the beautiful city of Budapest! The Lord gave us a beautiful day to view the city! The sky couldn't have been any more blue! It was perfect...oh wait, it was FREEZING COLD! The wind was blowing...and it was COLD...some people wanted to wear long johns...not me...I was going to brave the cold weather! Richele and I left our house at 8:15am this morning, picked up our friend Allison, and then headed to the city to meet our other friend Jessie! It was a day filled with a little shopping at the Covered Market, seeing Castle Hill, viewing Parliament from afar, and a little Mexican food! It was a successful day!

A cool building beside the US Embassy!

This is a view from Castle Hill...it is also part of the castle

This is the Chain Bridge...it is the oldest bridge in Budapest

Here are pictures of Parliament...which is the best?

Around Town...

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 18:40:00 +0000

This weekend we traveled to a town called Szentendre. This little town outstide of Budapest was cute and full of tourist shops! I got a few gifts and some hungarian lunch! Richele and I went with some teachers from the school!

Here is Parliament...we just rode past it and got a few shots...more to come next week...hopefully with a better view!

More Prague Pictures...

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 18:19:00 +0000

This is a view from the top of St. Vitus Cathedral...yeah we climbed up 269 stairs...winding stairs...with lots of people come down while we were coming up...

This is the astronomical clock in Old Time Square...on the hour the 12 apostles come out and go around the clock

Did I mention we found a coffee shop in Prague??

Prague, Czech Republic

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 16:52:00 +0000

So, yet another adventure! We went to Prague, which is located in the Czech Republic, this past weekend and had quite the adventure! Richele and I went with two other new teachers from ICSB. We saw a lot of things and did a lot of WALKING! The main things we saw were Prague Castle, a Jewish Synagogue (which is the oldest one in all of Europe), the ATM machine, the Charles Bridge (the one in Mission Impossible), and St. Vinsit's Chapel. It was a beautiful trip and we have a ton a fun memories! There was a Hungarian Holiday, so we did not have school this past Monday or Tuesday, so we spent longer then a weekend there! We took the train there...it took about 8 hours to get there...so we took the night train...what an adventure...yeah sleeping in a sleeping car on the train was not that much fun:) Here are some pictures! I hope you enjoy them!

St. Vitus Cathedral up close

At Prague Castle they had the changing of the guards...this is a big deal...of course the guards can't talk and they are always up for a picture...don't you think?

This is Prague Castle from above...you can see St. Vitus Cathedral from the picture...that is inside the castle walls

This is Charles Bridge as the sun is coming up!

Here we are stuffed in the little train on our way to Prague!

How do we get to school?

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 17:59:00 +0000

So the rumor is true...Richele and I WALK to school and back EVERYDAY! It will be no lie to tell our own children one day that we really did walk UP hill in the blinding snow to school...actually we walk UP hill both ways to and from school! Sometimes we ride our bikes, but we actually are enjoying walking. The cold air hits us in the face at 7:30am and wakes us right up! It is always a reminder that Richele and I need to stay fit...no being lazy here! (This is me in my walking shoes...I am NOT wearing heals to and from school...so I wear these awesome boots that Philip's mom, Nancy let me borrow!! Thanks! Yes, and sorry about the black pants with brown shoes...yeah it flies over here...people already think Americans are weird...why not humor them?)

This is Richele riding a bike...well we tried to...it's always an adventure trying not to hit pot holes in the road, carrying a backpack (sometimes more:)), and trying to not ride UP the big hills!

Eating Healthy

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 17:46:00 +0000

Mom, I'm drinking my milk...even if the milk comes in a bottle that looks like this! It's weird here because no one drinks ice in their water...it's always warm...yuck!

So, this is a Hungarian pumpkin...Happy Thanksgiving to me! I am eating well here...don't worry not TOO well:) The food is good...the family we are living with cooks mostly American food, so we really haven't had anything too nonfamiliar. I did eat lamb the other day...it was good!

International Christian School of Budapest

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 14:30:00 +0000

About my school...I am about to take over full-time for the 4th grade class here at ICSB! This class is great and I am looking foward to teaching and learning new things here in the fourth grade! This week we are learning about plants in science...we are going to grow pea plants! Don't you wish you were in 4th grade??? This school's staff is fully supported by missions. The teachers do not get paid and raise their own support in the States over the summer or whenever they can. This is a great ministry and I know that most of the staff here are dedicated to the call to missions that God has placed on their hearts. The school is mostly made up of missionary children. Though some students are also embassy children or children of parents who are working over here in Budapest on business. The joy of being in a Christian environment is encouraging and peaceful. Keep praying for the school as they continue to raise the rest of the support for their building fund! The Lord will be faithful:) Pictures of the school are coming soon, so stay tuned...
(ABOVE is a picture of my classroom...it's true this is the actual size of the room...you can see both sides of the walls in one small picture! Does that tell you much??? Not a lot of moving around! Good thing I only have 11 students!)

A Field Trip with 4th Graders!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 20:12:00 +0000

My students and I went on a field trip this past Friday to the Tropicarum which is an aquarium! It was such a neat experience and the students were able to learn a lot about the ocean unit they were studying. I was amazed at all the beautiful fish and even the sharks! We also had the opportunity to touch stingrays! It was interesting!

Cool Fish

This is a croc!

More Vienna Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 13:59:00 +0000

In the garden area of the Schoenbrunn Palace

The city

The home of Mozart

This is the Opera House in Vienna

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 13:32:00 +0000

Richele and I went to Vienna with two our of friends who we just recently met! This is us at the fountian in the gardens of the Schoenbrunn! (Richele, Jessie, Me, and Simonie)
More Pictures

Stamps in my passport

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 13:20:00 +0000

Vienna, Austria...it was amazing! Here are some pictures of all we saw! The main thing we saw was the Schenbrunn Palace were Napoleon's wife lived during the summer and a bunch of other famous european emperors. It was very cool. We went on a self tour with hand held Enlgish headphones so we got all the history:) I should have paid more attention during World History!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 19:43:00 +0000

Here is what the town we live in looks like...cute houses!

The Beginning...

noreply@blogger.com (Kara) — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 19:39:00 +0000

Here I am in Budapest, Hungary for 8 weeks! I am so excited to be able to share my adventures with those at home in Ohio, Indiana, and Mississippi! I am here with a friend, Richele, and we are student teaching! We are trying to travel Europe before we are shipped back to the States. I wanted to be able to keep people updated on what life is like here and what is going on for me! The Lord has blessed us with a great school and wonderful people! I am thankful for the prayers from home and know that I will continue to see God's faithfulness around every corner. Now the adventure begins...