Luggage Tags for my Trip

I had fun designing these luggage tags - so excited to use them on my trip to Ecuador!

Custom Luggage Tag

View the entire collection of cards.

25 Days Out

     The clock just keeps ticking, the days keep slipping by.  Life is very full, but I never lose sight of departure day. I find myself constantly thinking of what I need to take, things I need to purchase. What all needs wrapped up before I go. It's fun and exciting.

     On June 5th we had our first team meeting through Zoom. It was good to meet everyone and ask questions - lots of questions!

On June 7th my first payment was due. Sending off the check just makes it real - I'm actually going to Ecuador!

     We also had Team Training online to complete on our own.  2 of those down, 2 to go.

And then there are so many things I need for my trip:

Like this (for drinking LOTS of water)

And this will be extremely helpful.

And I've needed another one of these for a while

Also thinking about this - not sure if I would use it, but I'm told it comes in handy.

Trying to find a few of these that I like - and TSA approved.

And I'm told these are pretty essential too.

     I now have my plane tickets booked as well. Flying to Florida and then on to Ecuador with the Team. We'll be ministering in Ecuador for over 3 weeks.  I can't wait. :)

Happenings

     May was a very busy month, and June looks to be even more so. We celebrated a birthday and Mother's Day; attended graduations and Tri-State, and we held our first-ever Piano Recital.  We also prepared for wheat harvest at the RV park and saw our first cusom cutter arrive on May 29th. (Harvest is always a big deal here!)  Here are some random shots from the month.

 

Juanita (one of our girls from church) graduated 8th grade.

     I have 5 piano students - which is just about right. I don't think I would have time for more than that. But I enjoy teaching, so having a handful works out great. Between myself and my two sisters, we have enough students to have a short recital - which is just the right length for a recital. :)  And so yes, everthing was perfect. All the students did so well -  Congrats on a job well done guys!

We'll be sorry to see these girls go, but it looks as though they might be moving. ;(

 

 

     And we have had a teeny amount of time to relax - and eat chocolate-covered frozen bananas. :)

 

Just 50 Days

     About two weeks ago I was digging through a box of stuff trying to find something when lo and behold - I see this bracelet. This was given to me by my piano students (sisters) who'd traveled to Ecuador for mission work with their dad.  It's been probably two, maybe three years since then and I'd forgotten about it. Seeing it there in that box gave me a little thrill of joy. It was as if God had sent me a little message - years ago - that I'd be on my way to Ecuador soon. I just didn't realize it at the time. :)
     When I first heard of Global Encounters 3 years ago, I knew it was something I wanted to do. It wasn't possible then, but I kept up with the ministry through email, newsletters and blogs. All during that time I thought I would go on their Colombia trip (which is happening right now, by the way) but when the time came to finalize my application, I settled on Ecuador. To see this bracelet now weeks after the decision was made, gave me confirmation of His will. It is so exciting to follow our Lord!
    Just 50 days now to Ecuador - I can't believe it's so close. (The time between now and then will fly by as my schedule is very full.) Please keep me in your prayers. Preparations have begun already and there's still so much to do. I'm not looking forward to packing - taking what I need and not too much of it! :)

Flowers

      I spent a little time yesterday afternoon taking pictures. As I was out walking from place to place, I realized how long it'd been since I'd made time to go and do that. Kind of ridiculous how long. :)Always a pleasure to walk around and see the beauty of creation. It also gave me a chance to again use my awesome new camera that I bought at the first of the year. (More on that in an upcoming post) I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed taking them.....

 

 

 

 

Spring & Redbuds

 

 

     One of the hallmarks of spring (in my mind, at least) is the Redbud tree. It is one of the first to bloom in spring - showing us with it's brilliant hues that winter is finally coming to an end.  In past years, I have taken pictures of a fully-bloomed redbud with inches of snow covering it's limbs. Such is the fate of a tree that blooms so early in the year. :) 

     We have a large Redbud in our front yard. We planted it 15 or 16 years ago to match one on the other side of the yard.  However, that one was so old that it fell onto our porch in a storm not long after we planted the new one. We were so sorry to lose our old tree!

      Every year I watch as buds begin to appear. It excites me every time. Again this year, our tree was gogeous. I took my little sister out and used it as a backdrop. Redbuds just make everything better. :) 

 

Tri-State Music Festival

 

     Two of my students played in the Tri-State Music Festival today. Thankfully, my sister covered for me for about 20 minutes (I was working my shift) so I could run around the corner and hear them play. What memories returned of my own years playing. Ahh, the excitement and terror of playing for a judge! They both did really well - I am so proud of them. :)