Lot's to catch up on...mainly about my brother's wedding (boda = wedding) and my birthday...
The wedding/trip home:
The whole thing was a highlight. Seriously such a blessing. I forgot how long/hard the trip home was, so it took a toll on me, but I was too excited to really care. Wednesday night I got to see friends and try on rehearsal dinner dresses while Kristen, Katie and mom got the Ravens Wagon ready for the flower girl and ring bearer. Thursday I got to give a presentation in spanish for a class at my high school then family started to arrive. Later on we got to just hang out and have a nice yummyyy pizza and salad dinner (if you can't tell, the food was a highlight as well lol) :) Friday it was craziness trying to get ready to leave for the wedding. Mom and I both forgot things and weren't super prepared, but you can't sweat the small stuff diga (right)?
The rehearsal went smoothly (funny to see Kristen driving all us girls in an 18-passenger van and her nice dress ha) and the dinner was awesome. SO fun to be there with family and family friends and I got to say a few words as well to congratulate my brother and new sister :) The wedding day was chilly but beautiful, and although we suffered a bit I can't WAIT to see the pictures. A couple funny anecdotes: I was to do a scripture reading and there was some miscommunication on getting the paper with the passage on it, so I got up front and when it came to be my turn realized I didn't have the reading with me...uhoh. I had a mili-second of shock and immediately started thinking of how I would improvise and kept moving forward. I told the pastor as I was casually walking by that I didn't have my reading and he cordially gave me his entire black wedding book and said "Don't forget to bring it back." Haha. So all went well after that slight hickup. Party was amazing and afterparty was fun, too. The other anecdote is that all the girls were a little uncomfortable with their fake eyelashes and when one of my mom's came off at the reception, she decided not to let it get her down and went to the afterparty with one fake eyelash. Ha! Love it.
Sunday was wonderful in Annapolis with family walking around and shopping and we had a great day. The rest of the time was running around getting errands done and time with my parents mostly.
Leaving was harder this time...I think because I just had SUCH an amazing time and got to see the whole family. Also being so close to finishing in the spectrum of 27 months, but at 8+ months still far away is tough. Mom and I, after sharing one last coffee together in the airport, said a tearful goodbye and off I went.
My Birthday:
Although it was hard readjusting and I'm still sick, I had one of the best birthday's I've ever had.
I woke up to a cake that my host mom had made (Cake #1. breakfast). Then I went to church and got one of the best suprises I've ever had. They ended church early and shoo'ed me out for a bit (they are terrible at suprises but I love it lol) then I came in and they had moved the chairs along all the sides of the room and had a cake in the middle (Cake #2). The pastor and another guy from church started to sing happy birthday- a really neat Christian version- and had me stand in the middle to honor me. The sang worship songs, and what the people said was just seriously so amazing. I couldn't stop crying I was so moved. They were so grateful that I was there with them and encouraged me in my faith journey, it was amazing.
Then I went to eat lunch with my host family, visit the artisan president who wanted to give me my birthday hug (tradition here), then my friend Heidi (a PC volunteer who thankfully live close :) came over and we went to Miriam's house (my sitemate's host family when he was here) where I was met with 2 more cakes- 1 from Miriam and 1 from my french friend and japanese friend (Cakes #3 & 4). Then the next day my artisan ladies threw a party for me and that was really nice. They were hiding in a back room and when I came out they each gave me my birthday hug and a little flower or present...so sweet (Cake #5). Then just yesterday the professor at the community college had me over for cake, jello and tea (Cake #6). Funny combination I know. Anyway I felt super special and loved...last birthday was hard, but I appreciated this one even more for it!
Write back soon :)
Me
Of course they shoved cake in my face, ha...its tradition here!
With my artisans :)
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