A Happy Mother's Day

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??!!

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

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

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...

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

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!!!

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!