I'm outta here!!!

I'm leaving tomorrow to the "other side", or should I say my second home, ZAMBIA!!! I have such mixed emotions about the whole thing. I'm so excited to see my little ones in Zambia...

but so sad to leave my little ones here...

I'm going to be in Africa for two months, okay... just seven weeks but when I say "two months" it sounds so much cooler. I'll be working for an organization called http://www.motherswithoutborders.org/. My main purpose/goal this summer will be to assess the kids at the Children's Resource Center to see what level they're at for reading/writing/math, and then I'll tutor them the rest of the time. I can't think of a better way to spend my summer than in the dirt, doing math, with my beautiful dark skinned morsels. I'm already excited for Heidi and my roommate to join me out there in July.

We've had quite the "farewell" weekend. Mostly, my sisters are excited to get rid of me so they don't have to keep having farewell parties for me. My last day of teaching and school was on Thursday. What a relief to be done. On Friday we started the weekend off with a trip to Dairy Queen to celebrate the last day of school for Connor and Abbie (pictures above). Steph and I did some shopping a little later to get all my supplies for the trip. Thanks for enduring that with me Steph.

The following morning, Heidi and I ran the Helvetia Half-Marathon. Boy did it feel good. I can only say that now because it's over. If you'd have talked to me at mile 10 it would have been a whole different story. Both Heid and I set some new PR's. It was a great race and I'm glad it's over. :)

After the race we headed over to Claim Jumper's for some delicious dessert. Unfortunately, Heidi missed out on the yummy dessert. She fell asleep and woke up a little later than planned. When she did finally get up she was in a state of delerium and in no position to drive. Drinking her contact solution may have added to her delerious state. Steph, Jake, the kids, and I enjoyed some good food.

After Claim Jumpers I ran a few errands and then the lot of us went to the Dollar Store to pick out a few toys for the kids in Zambia. The shopping trip ended with a whole lot of tears...hence the reason there are no pictures.

The rest of the night was spent playing leggos, opening a present for Emily's b-day, putting together puzzles, singing songs, Cities and Knights, eating treats, and loving life with the fam. Sure am going to miss you all.

I'm hoping to be able to update my blog about once a week while I'm gone. I probably won't be able to post any pictures until I get home but I'll have lots of stories to tell.