My Upcoming Years =)

So after yet another 9 months of neglecting my blog and all of you again, my lovely Aunt Beth sent me a funny email reminding me of my long lost blog! The subject was "blog -- a thing of the past" with a snapshot of my last blog post.  In that post, from FEBRUARY 2012, I stated that I was only getting started with my blog again, blah blah blah & I needed reminders to update.  Well obviously that didn't happen and I told a complete lie.

Well that little email got me thinking, and since today is my 25th birthday, I've decided how I want to spend my upcoming years...first have a look at my lovely rendition of Tim McGraw's "My Next Thirty Years" and then read about how I've been occupying my time for the past 9 months.

So with that said, I've changed a few of the lyrics (after the first verse).....enjoy my upcoming years :)

I think I'll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it's time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my upcoming years

Hey my upcoming years I'm gonna still have fun
I'll never forget about all the crazy things I've done
Maybe now I've conquered all my adolescent fears
And I'll do it better in my upcoming years

My upcoming years I'm gonna open a new door
Cry a little less, laugh a little more
Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear
Figure out just what I'm doing here
In my upcoming years

Oh my upcoming years, are gonna be so great
A little more in Ghana, then back to the good 'ole States
Get a job, even get paid and that sure will be weird
Maybe I'll remember why I volunteered

My upcoming years will be the best years of my life
Spend time with my family and maybe become a wife
Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear
Make up for lost time here, in my upcoming years!


That simple email got me thinking about things of the past. It's crazy to think this is my 3rd birthday I'm now celebrating in Ghana -- it's more birthdays than I've ever spent away from home. I'm sure even more than when I was in college!

Speaking of the past, I'll update you a little on what the heck I've been doing for the past 9 months.

As you probably already know, I decided to stay another year in Ghana.  The main reason I stayed was for the children.  I have a found a previously undiscovered passion for education and children.  Ghana has made me realize how fortunate I am to have had the educational opportunities I did, and I wish all children had opportunity like that.  After interacting with these kids for two years, I realized they had so much potential like any child, but there were not as many opportunities for them to shine and thrive.  I hope that staying an additional year I can impact a few more students to reach for their dreams and keep trying to get where they want to be!

That however did not come without major changes.  Before I was a little village health educator, now I work as the schools coordinator at an NGO (Young Educators Foundation).  Before I didn't have electricity, now I have a fridge, a fan AND an oven!  Before I was 13+ hours away from the capital, now I live in it!!

Living in the capital has many more perks than I thought possible! It's much closer to the Western world I'm used to; in comparison to the village at least.  I'm so glad I experienced village life for two years, lived (kind of) like a large majority of the world, and overcome obstacles I never thought imaginable.  Life in the city has already posed challenges, perks and everything else.  I still remind myself that I'm so fortunate and blessed to experience something as unique as this Peace Corps journey.  Days like today, I'm especially reminded of how supportive my family and friends from back home are and how awesome my new friends and family here in Ghana are.  So thank you all for making my first 25 years pretty perfect, and I'm looking forward to what my upcoming years bring! This life is such an amazing adventure, and it's a ride I don't plan on leaving soon.  Much love. xoxo.

i'm only gettin' started...

Serious slacking. That's what I have been doing on this blog. I have neglected her for close to 5 months now. Heaps has happened! (wah, that brings me back to the wonderful land of Oz...which was 4 years ago!) I'm going to make a quick list of things that have happened...to capture your attention so you want to read all about Ghana!

October...(with a little help from my iCal)...mosquito nets...grant writing...more grant writing...Halloween...

Hanif, the boy twin.

November...my birthday...malaria education...Marine Corps Ball...Accra...Thanksgiving...good food...camp planning...

Zakia, Latif, Abdulai, Kanyiri & some student, I'm coming with his name...posing with their new LLINs!

December...XPRESS camp!...glorious youth...flights...AMERICA!!!...pizza...family...friends...best vacation ever...holidays...cheese...love!...Chicago...

XPRESS campers & PCVs =)

January...New Years...best friends...shopping...Karinna...parties...snow...GHANA...more mosquito nets...ACE...dry-season gardening training...

Mini Uni of Wollongong Reunion!! love in Chicago. 

beautiful, wonderful, refreshing SNOW!

February...Accra...National Spelling Bee...brilliant children...Super Bowl...babies...meetings...

Reunited with my girl, Sonsuma!

Now can't you see why I always delay on writing my blog....all of those preceding events! They're exciting, yes...but so many happen I just let this blog slip my mind. However, I know if I don't crack down and begin serious work (as my JHS students say) I'll regret it years down the road when I can't remember memories from my service. So as of now, and as you read this, I vow to write AT LEAST once a month. If I'm not seeing my goal through, I know Gena will let me know! So please, help me, bug me to write, tell me you won't send chocolate anymore! Ok, I retract that last point, never, ever do that. Regardless the circumstances!

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