Leah's Wedding Weekend and Life Updates

As stated in my last post, Leah's wedding weekend was so much fun. I found a few pictures to post, still working on downloading all that I have. These I mainly stole from new facebook friends. :)

The night before the wedding, the bridesmaids threw Leah a lingerie shower - these are all the attendants! Now I know you are probably interested in all that she got, but I will refrain from posting the "laundry line" of gifts. A Little Russia Reunion - As I've said many times previous, God truly blessed my two years in Moscow. Leah, on the left, was my roommate my first year, and Ang became a dear friend through my entire stay. I kept in touch with the girls, but it had been a number of years since we had actually all been in the same place at the same time. Weddings are always great excuses for reunions! Thank you Leah for getting married! Now we just have to meet again in January for Ang's wedding!

Many of you have heard about the clover colored green dress, and well, unfortunately I don't have a picture of the entire dress just yet - just this candid one taken before the wedding. I thought the wedding party looked fantastic! Each of us had a different dress on, which made us all unique! This is Shawnda and BJ - two amazing girls I met that weekend! Actually though, I had met Shawnda on a weekend I went to visit Leah in Tulsa a few years back, BUT, that weekend I really had the opportunity to get to know her - we're alot alike and had a ton of fun!

Leah and I before the wedding with a little black and white action. Leah looked stunning! I'm so thankful I was able to take part in her big day! I love you Leah Gail!

So now it's back to reality for me. Leah's wedding was a great end to an amazing summer, but as this first week back to school has ended, I am still exhausted. (And to think the kids haven't even come yet!) I've spent the week in meeting after meeting, my classroom is all put together, but my drawers and cabinets are a wreck! I guess the fact that you can't see the mess makes it better, although if you know me well enough, you know it's driving me crazy. Due to that though, I'm heading back up to school this afternoon - Yippee! It's either do it today and take a nap tomorrow, or stress today, go to school tomorrow. The first choice definitely sounds better.

I am excited about my new school and new job - I had just forgotten how much time and energy it takes to start at a new school AND teach a new subject. Time management is going to be key for me! I've come home exhausted each night, but also know that this too shall pass - I just have to get through next week and all will be well - I'm hoping! I've been designated as the ESL Social Studies teacher for 6th grade, and I'm excited about putting some of my graduate classes to work! I went to an all day workshop yesterday which ended up being a review of my Language Acquisition class from this summer, so I actually felt on top of things - at least as far as teaching ESL students!

God is so good - his timing is perfect, and I am ready to get this school year started! We're celebrating Luke's 3rd birthday today, so I better get ready for the big event, but I hope this finds you all enjoying your day, praising God for the rain we got last night, and celebrating the end of summer!

The Last Days of Summer

What a whirlwind the past few days have been. This past Wednesday I flew out on yet another adventure, this time to Oklahoma! I know, probably not the destination you might be thinking, but my dear friend Leah asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding and this was the big weekend! I met my boyfriend for a few days prior to the event, to spend some much needed time together before the chaos began, and spent the past two days going from one wedding event to the next! What a blessing though. I knew no one other than Leah's family, and had met one of the other bridesmaids about four years ago, but I have to say, after spending so much time together, I have gained numerous new friends and had the time of my life! (Although I am now quite exhausted!) As I left last night, I took a moment to look back and remember how Leah and I met - she was my roommate my first year in Moscow, and how amazing it is to see her so happy, to be with someone who loves her dearly, and to know that I meant enough to her that she wanted me to play this role on her special day. I am so happy for Leah and Tyler, so I have to say, congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Anderson! In addition to spending time with Leah, I had the pleasure of seeing Angela, another Moscow friend! I had written a previous post with her exciting engagement news, and finally had the opportunity to meet her man, the other Naumann in her life! God has truly blessed me beyond belief with the friendships of these girls, and I am so thankful I was able to take part in such a wonderful celebration.

I got home about an hour ago, and I only have a few hours left of summer. Although my summer has been incredible, I am ready to begin this next school year, and to actually get in a routine for a change. It's been an exhausting past few days, and I know it won't get any easier with the school days starting! This is why we get paid the big bucks though, right?!

With that said though, I must get back to laundry and cleaning, but once again, I thought I would share this next post with you - something my friend Lizabeth posted last August, and something that I read to remind myself on those days where I feel like my life is in a rut, that I do have amazing friends - I am truly blessed.

Have a wonderful Sunday evening!

Happy Birthday(???)

Adalyne,
I love you because...
-You're our glue. You're the one that has kept us all together since college. I know that it's annoying sometimes, but it's comforting to know that someone is keeping tabs. You have a gift for it.
-You're your family's glue. Don't think that no one notices the effort you've put into your family in the last 10 years. It shows maturity beyond your years.
-You like to sing in the morning. Hard to believe, but there was a time that I didn't appreciate this. (That time mainly occurred when you would sing on our way to class at 8 o'clock in the morning when we had been stupid enough to stay up until 3 o'clock doing nothing. Good times.) Now, though, I realize that we needed someone to remind us that we should be grateful for each new day.
-You're brave. You've gone with the flow since college. You've lived in foreign countries and lived back in your hometown. You've walked through the doors that were opened to you and didn't fret when you weren't exactly sure what was on the other side.
-You're a world traveler. You've lived in Russia and Italy. You've studied in Spain and Greece. You've climbed Mt. Sinai, for goodness' sake. I want to have your passport when I grow up.
-You made me a world traveler. You were the first person to convince me to go overseas. You were the first person to have to endure me on an overseas flight. You were my roommate when our shower curtain mysteriously disappeared on our second day in Athens, and it never came back. (While that may not seem like a big moment, it was the first of many mysterious experiences in foreign countries, so I'll always treasure our water-covered bathroom in the Divani Palace Hotel). I caught the travel bug on that trip. Thank you!!!
-You're the reason that we'll remember these last 10 years of our lives. You take pictures of everything. You save every invitation, candy wrapper, receipt, postcard... I could go on. You know that it's important to treasure the large and small moments in life, and I am constantly running across pictures that you took on a day when I need it, and they make me smile.
-You love kids. You knew you were supposed to be a teacher long before I did. I love to hear you talk about your kids and see the way that you love and appreciate them. It is definitely your calling.
-You're a great hostess. The first big memory I have of our freshman year in college is our "Titanic and S'mores" Party in your and Erin's room. That was just the first of many parties, beach trips, and road trips that you have hosted. You haven't just captured the memories, you've made the memories.
-You're just a good friend. You love us. You take care of us. You reprimand us (when we desperately need it). You continue to call us even when we don't ever pick up the phone.
For all of these reasons and many more, I love you, Addie!!! Happy Birthday!!!

Summer Fun with Nieces and Nephews

Let me be upfront first, I was not present at any of the following events! Ron and I were not invited to the weekend Grandparent getaway due to our lack of children, but we can both still enjoy the pictures and the laughs as we hear the stories of their weekend together in Dallas. Last weekend Nana and PapaBear gathered the three grandkids together to attempt to take a Christmas Card Photo, and I think they came away with great pictures and good memories.

This first picture was taken at a pizza place, where the guy was teaching the three of the cousins how he does it! Taylor is 7, Carson and Matthew are both 3. They also took a trip to the bowling alley. I've never been invited to the bowling alley with Nana and PapaBear - I'm feeling a bit left out!

And this last photo is of the card Matthew sent me for my birthay, or rather sent it via my sister-in-law's blog! I can't believe I'm 30, but it has been a great year thus far! I'm looking forward to seeing what Year 30 Day 7 has instore! :)

It's time to get those weekly chores done - back to reality for the most part, but I leave again tomorrow! I hope your summer is ending well, and it's much cooler where you are! :) Happy End of Summer!

Such a busy time in life!

I had such good intentions of getting pictures posted while still in Switzerland, but it seems that the end of classes, family flying in and continuing to be in tourist mode and trying to see all that I could, did not allow for time to post, so for that I apologize! I do hope to get more pictures up soon, but I'm flying out for a wedding on Wednesday, and with school starting back next Monday, I'm doubting I'll have any time so this must do for now!

My time in Switzerland was wonderful. It was a true blessing, and I found myself tearing up as I left my close friends there. It's been amazing to see how close you can get to friends you only see for such a short amount of time, but I have made many lifetime friends, and I miss them dearly. Living in a foreign country together truly helps your form a bond faster than most, which I know some of you understand. I stand in awe looking back at how God truly blessed my experiences in Swtizerland, throughout the past year (although I know I was stressed), and last summer while in Madrid.

KK and Mom flew in that last Wednesday of my classes, were there for graduation, and we set off that next Saturday on a European Adventure. We spent two days in Boveno, Italy on Lake Maggiore, a day in France, and a few more days touring around Switzerland, which I have become quite partial to! We finally made it to Texas, just in time for me to be engulfed in the heat and humidity - which I'm still trying to adjust to.

Before I forget though, here are two pictures from graduation.
These are my closest girlfriends there - Kirsty, Carolyn (who I met first at the airport in Geneva and just started the program this summer), and Hanaa. They are the girls that made me laugh and cry and who made me do things I never would have before! Thank you girls - I miss you! So I've only been back in Texas for just over a week, and what a whirlwind. I had planned my annual birthday beach bash for quite sometime, but didn't really understand just how "busy" things could get and how bad jet lag would hit me! The day after I arrived back in Texas, I had a friend fly in, and wow - I can't tell you what a blessing that was! I can give you details about that later, but after he left, I immediately came back from the airport and met Erin and Greyson, who were waiting for me! The beach bash soon began, with friends coming in from all over, me finally getting to see Jordan after 6+ weeks, and repacking for a week down at the beach house.

To sum up this past week, I have to say that I have to use that word I so often use - I am "blessed." There isn't any other word that can describe how I feel about it. Being surrounded by friends and family, having them with me to celebrate my graduation and 30th Birthday - to be able to lounge by the pool, or inside watching a movie, eating way too much, but knowing that I have the people that love me the most there with me. Every night brought new friends down to the beach, friends from Russia, friends from college, cousins, aunts, friends from growing up in Bay City - and what is so wonderful, is that they all have become friends themselves! Someone was asking me how everyone knew each other, and I had to laugh because the only way they do know each other is through me and my crazy life experiences. They all seem to get along and laugh together, and it was wonderful to know that when jet lag hit, I could go to bed knowing that everyone was getting along! I think many of them even exchanged facebook names! LOL - you just have to love Facebook!

The annual beach trip to celebrate has been quite a tradition, that I hope to continue for many years to come. I know many of you reading this were not able to come, but hopefully you will have another chance. Marriages and Children do change things, but know that the beach house is always open for you and your families. I am truly blessed, and although my life seems to be changing with each new day, God has shown me over and over again, that I am right where he needs me to be - that I am surrounding myself with friends that love me and support me - and the start to 30 couldn't get any better!

Have a blessed week, enjoy the rest of summer, however long you have, and I will try my best to keep you updated with my life adventures! It's definitely going to be an interesting year!

All my love,

Addie

I know, still no new pictures!

So I apologize once again for the lack of effort in posting pictures. I'm so far behind! I just wanted to let you know that I am now on my fourth week of classes - with only three school days left. As I look back, I can't believe how fast the time has flown by, but how amazing my experiences here in Switzerland have been! I just got off of Skype with Aunt KK and mom, and they have officially left Houston, headed for Paris, and then here to Geneva. I can't wait to see them! I still have a paper to write, but it will get done - hopefully!

Thank you again for all of your thoughts and prayers. I am looking forward to finally being in my own bed and having a bathtub to soak in, but until then, I'm going to enjoy the rest of my time here, and have a fabulous time touring other parts of Europe with mom and KK.

Have a blessed day and I will post pictures soon! (I'm hoping I will at least!)

The first few days in Leysin

I know this is long overdue, but I thought I would start trying to post some pictures from my adventures here in Switzerland. I'll start off today, with pictures from my first few days here.

These are pictures from a church below where we are staying.

The Journey Down...

The weather can get a bit dreary and chilly - but can also offer a beautiful rainbow!

The next few pictures are of the inside of the "Grand Hotel" - where we eat, sleep, and attend classes.

This is the banquet hall.

The Mac Computer lab - I've only been in there once! Everyone brings their own laptops.

The cafeteria.

The banquet hall windows.

My floor - I am in room #356 - last room on your left!

This is the view from my balcony, which is connected to everyone else's on my floor. I try to study out there, but can't seem to get anything accomplished - it is so beautiful!

My Bedroom

First Sunday evening in Leysin - we were greeted by the Director of the Leysin American School, and enjoyed some history of the building, and BBQ!

Sunday afternoon Kirsty and I took a walk down to Leysin Village - it was quite a hike!

It's great going down the hills - but this is what you constantly see trying to go back up!

A special treat for us at the bottom of the hill - thankfully, Kirsty speaks French!

The train station.

Another beautiful view!

So there are a few pictures of my first few days here. Come back tomorrow for some pictures form the first week of class!

Life in Leysin

Let me first apologize for my lack of blogging. Since I first arrived here in Leysin it's been nonstop, and although I've taken a ton of pictures, I just haven't had a chance to sit down and post them. If you have a Facebook account, most of them are there, so check it out if you can. My class this week is a bit intense, so I'm doubting I'll have an opportunity to post some this week, but thankfully have the weekend free and will try my best to get them up here. I can't believe my time here is coming to an end and mom and Aunt KK will actually be here in one week! The end is in sight, but there is a lot to do to get there!

Thank you all for your prayers and support. I couldn't do this without you. God is definitely at work in my life right now, and I ask that you keep everyone here in your prayers. We're all feeling a bit overwhelmed!

It's off to breakfast for me - another long day of Language Diversity and a Research Paper to work on all evening. Oh the joys of being a student!

Until next time, take care and God bless.