Spain Day I

So here are the pictures you've been waiting for! Spain! I've been thinking I'll "tell the story" of my trip day-by-day. So...this is the first day. We rode the midnight train to the city where we were to catch the ferry. It was a long six hours trying to sleep sitting up. The good news? First class on the train was only a $17 ticket. This first picture is looking back at the coast of North Africa as we take the ferry to Spain.


We arrived in the early morning and went to the port by taxi. We took a thirty-minute ferry that put us in a quaint Andalusian Spanish town called Tarifa. Fortunately, the ferry ride across was smooth and un-bumpy.

Below is a picture of one of the main streets of Tarifa. Oh the difference at Strait makes. It is a sleepy town during the fall, but it is easy to see from all the surf shops that it is quite the happening place in the summer! We didn't mind "sleepy". We needed a break! In fact, after finding a hotel, changing, and eating a yummy Tex/Mex lunch (can't get that everyday across the Strait), we took a nap!
That night Bethany, Lisa and I found a wonderful Italian restaurant where I ate some kickin' strigoli al pesto. It was one of my best meals the whole trip. (Shock, I know.)
On the walk back to the hotel we kept smelling this amazing fragrance. We followed the scent to these flowers. I have no idea what they are called, but I call them trumpet flowers.
And where do you find trumpet flowers? No where other than a trumpet tree! ;)
To be continued...

He Will Carry Me

Sometimes music just says it all...

I call; You hear me
I’ve lost it all, and it’s more than I can bear
I feel so empty

You’re strong; I’m weary
I’m holding on, but I feel like giving in
Still You’re with me

And even though I’m walking through the valley of the shadow
I will hold tight to the hand of Him whose love will comfort me
And when all hope is gone, and I’ve been wounded in the battle
He is all the strength that I will ever need
He will carry me

I know I’m broken
But you alone can bend this heart of mine
You’re always with me

And even though I’m walking through the valley of the shadow
I will hold tight to the hand of Him whose love will comfort me
And when all hope is gone, and I’ve been wounded in the battle
He is all the strength that I will ever need
He will carry me

And even though I feel so lonely
Like I have never been before
You never said it would be easy
But You said You’d see me through the storm

And even though I’m walking through the valley of the shadow
I will hold tight to the hand of Him whose love will comfort me
And when all hope is gone, and I’ve been wounded in the battle
He is all the strength that I will ever need
He will carry me
He will carry me
He will carry me

Check it out on Mark Schultz's Songs and Stories album.

As I am...

So I was tagged. Here's my picture. (I had to change it to show you that my hair looks really red! Of course, it's not. Must be the lighting.) Like Mandy, I used the webcam to take my pic.

How do I know Mandy? Well, we used to sit next to each other during church way back at the beginning of its start. Besides Meredith, we were the only ones in the singles group. Ha! We spontaneously decided to rent a house together, moved in, and were roommates for two years. We were in an accountability group for two years together, and her dog Emma and my cat Jay were best buds. Sometimes. Mandy introduced me to Alias and 24, both of which I love. She tried with The Office and My Name is Earl, but that didn't work as well. We had hilarious times and sad times. We had really cold times (when we refused to turn on the heat unless the thermostat got to 50 last winter because we were boycotting the gas company) and really hot times (when we had to mow the stupid grass with the stupid lawnmower). I miss living with her!! Love you, Mandy!

Let's see...I'll tag...
Allie
Chris (don't hold your breath)
Lucinda
Lisa

Happy (late) Halloween!

Looks like our internet is up and running again, so I'll try to post some long-overdue pictures. Don't worry, Spain pictures are coming!

The only time it felt like Halloween here was when we had a costume party on Oct. 31. I'd never really been to one, and having sold all my clothes before I came, didn't exactly bring a costume or have much to create one. So, I went as a spy. Lame, I know. If I'd had a red or blonde wig I would have been Sidney Bristow. Oh well.

Just-Woke-Up woman, Pirate, Geeky Scientist, and Spy
Desert Princess
Punky Brewster, The Cat in the Hat, and Tetuan Water Man
Tinkerbell and Pirate
Butterfly
A Chance of Rain

Playing Dress Up

Two weeks ago we had dress up day where students wore cultural dress from our country rather than school uniform. As you can see, it was a great success! Most students wore a jellaba, the typical dress for this country. Some are fancy and some are plain.

Two of my seventh grade girls

One of my sixth grade guys

Two of my seventh grade guys

One of my sixth grade guys

Three of my sixth grade girls

Then I got a huge surprise! One of the students' mothers made me a jellaba by hand! This woman had met me one time, yet made a jellaba that fit me perfect! Wow! I don't have a great picture of it, but you can see some of the detail in the picture below. (Some people might find it funny that I now own two jellabas, both of which are purple!)