The End.

Kindergarten AM

Pre-K AM

Prepa A

Kindergarten PM

They were pretty much angels.

Prepa B

Pre-K PM

So that's the end. I know it's late. I don't think anyone still reads this, but it's closure for me. I had to at least put in a few pictures from the end of the year to fill like this online blog, journal of sorts, wasn't left hanging. The day before I left, I went to see the end of the prepa graduation practice. Miss Melissa let them all get up and swarm me. So I had about 50 kids come at me from all sides. As you can imagine, I fell over. Thankfully I was able to catch myself and avoid smushing any of the children. Haha. When it came time to say goodbye, I couldn't keep myself from crying a little. A few of the girls just kept hanging on my neck and telling me they loved me and kept asking if I was leaving and crying a little too. That night was kindergarten and pre-kindergarten graduation. I was so proud of all my little students! After graduation, we went home where Miss Myla had a little party for us. We enjoyed her delicious cooking for almost the last time (she made us breakfast the morning we left), and then went to finish packing. It didn't feel real that we would be leaving in the morning.

It was tough to say goodbye as we left our house, but saying goodbye at the airport was even worse. Both of my bags were over-weight, and there was no time to do anything other than pay the fees. If Kadian hadn't been there, I would have completely dissolved into a helpless crying puddle. Then we had to stand in line for over an hour to pay the exit tax. Many people were grumpy, I think airports can really bring out the worst in people. After paying the exit tax, Kadian and I ran to hug the twins. We didn't even have time for a proper goodbye, because both of our planes were leaving. We dashed upstairs. As we were standing in line, Kadian prayed a short prayer, and the next thing we knew I was being asked to follow an attendant to my plane. I turned to Kadian to give her a quick and tearful hug, and then ran for my plane. Security had to use the metal detector on me (due to my hair clip) AND search my bag (as if I wasn't already late enough). When I got to the plane, I was literally the last person to board. I walked down the crowded row, with my carry-on, backpack, purse, and stuffed pillow trying to avoid collisions with arm rests and people. My window seat had been claimed by someone who probably figured I wasn't going to make it. So I plopped down in the middle and tried to breathe. I never expected leaving to feel so sad. I wasn't even excited about going home. The airport experience had been nothing short of traumatic, and my heart was in turmoil.

When I arrived in Houston, I couldn't get over how fast America is. And how big and clean and well, different. Thankfully I had a phone card. I was able to talk to Steven for quite a while, and also let my parents know what was going on. When my plane left, I still wasn't feeling the excitement. However, an hour outside of Omaha, it hit. The guys I was sitting next to were both former baseball players going to the World Series. They were really nice and helped keep me calm (well as calm as I could've been). When I walked into the Omaha airport, Becky, Mari, and Sharyn were there waiting for me. I dropped my stuff and gave them all big hugs. They picked up all my stuff, and I asked about my family. They didn't know. So we headed downstairs, where I saw Steven Shafer. My boyfriend. :). Then I saw my parents and started crying, because I didn't think they would come.

The summer has basically flown by in a blur, and part of me wishes I was heading back to Maranatha instead of college registration on Monday. Yet, I am happy to be reunited with all of my loved ones here, and I need to get going on those five years of school left. I think part of the difficulty in coming back has been all of the seemingly BIG obstacles--tuition costs, lack of job, lack of car, adjusting to life at home. My balance has been all thrown, and I'm still struggling to get it back.

Sticker Belief

Alexandra proudly parading the giant puppy sticker that barely fit on her dainty forehead.

Alejandro Josue

Walter--I'm still SO proud he aced his exam. This is the little boy that came towards the end of the year. He spent our first few Bible classes together crying--I thought I had lost my gift with children. Thankfully, he warmed up to me after a while :).

One of the things I love about kids is they know they're great. Generally (though not always), kids have a pretty high self-esteem. And my kids absolutely loved stickers. Not because the stickers were so cool, although that was a plus. Not because they were fun, although they could be. But the reason I think kids really love stickers is because getting a sticker from a teacher means you did something great. Not only did you do something great, but other people are recognizing that you did something great too. So it makes sense that you'd want to put that proof of greatness somewhere that everyone would instantly see it and know--like your forehead. Maybe we'd all be a little better off if we still believed in stickers.

Ruined

I used to love it when my mom bought mangoes. They were always a special treat. When I got home she had a couple dinky green ones, and I asked if the grocery store had started carrying a new kind. Nope. She informed me that that's the same kind they've always had. I was in disbelief for a while, but after seeing them at several grocery stores myself, I've had to concede. Yesterday I tried eating some frozen mango--it thawed too much and tasted awful. I don't know if I will ever be able to enjoy mangoes here or not. They've been ruined.

A Heart in Two Places

Chapel and Cowpoke Kids

Kadian leading out in chapel with some of the third graders.

The second graders all dressed up for their cowboy day :)

So cute!

Ready?

In a lot of ways, I'm glad I have been too busy to thoroughly contemplate that question. The hours keep slipping through my fingers. Even though I haven't been sleeping quite as much, my days feel to short.

I miss home. I have been looking forward to this time of year since I left. It's Wednesday night; I leave Friday morning. Suddenly, the time is not enough, and I can't do anything about it. So I just have to give my kids as many little hugs as I can when I see them tomorrow. I have to bake with Kady and try not to worry about what I'll do without her. I have to laugh with Miss Myla. I have say a lot of 'thank you's' and a lot of 'I'll miss you's'. I have to enjoy and appreicate all of the things that make life beautiful or unique here in Honduras. I want to soak every last detail in before it's time to say that one word I'm no good at.

Goodbye.

So I'm Vegan for Good?

It's kind of funny. Since coming to Honduras, I have eaten more meat than I have in my whole life. That being said, I've probably only had meat about once a month or so. I usually only eat meat when others are serving it to me, and I don't want to be rude. It's this philosophy I have, but anyway that's not what I am writing to explain. I'm explaining why I'm probably going to have to be vegan forever now. Thanks, Kadian. haha. Other than a very occasional exception, I am entirely vegan. But like I mentioned, those exceptions come around every now and then usually without any noticeable harm. Today I was not so fortunate.

I went to Pizza Hut with the first graders for an end of the year party. During our two and a half hour trip, I had to deal with bleeding children twice, tears once (and no, it wasn't one of the bleeding children), and I felt many of the protective screams in my mind that must plague many concerned mothers. Bare feet in an indoor jungle gym? Oh think of all the germs and bacteria...! That child has a sucker in their mouth, she should not be playing like that! Those boys are being too rough. NO climbing the slide! Don't they see that sign? It says PELIGRO (danger). Oh, and the kitchen caught on fire somehow. Just your average day out, I suppose. Anyway, after eating I felt absolutely miserable. I ate a few things that didn't help: Ranch on my salad, a hard boiled egg, two pieces of cheese pizza. Yuck. I think this vegan thing might be stuck. I felt nauseas, my head hurt, general weakness and exhaustion. 

I've always thought being vegan is probably best what with all the weird hormones animals are fed, and dairy products not really being so great for your digestive system. But I never thought I could do it. This year has shown me otherwise. However, I kind of wondered if it would stick or not when I got home. This experience has me thinking it will.