The 22nd Dear ______ Post

Dear Picture Someone Posted on Facebook, I think you are pretty awesome and wish the world could see how awesome people like this little girl are!

Dear Baby Shower, My mom and I are throwing you for my sister-in-law (and niece) today. It's been so much fun planning you, gathering all sorts of pink decorations, and plan that yummy shower food that we all love. I can't wait to see all of our family coming together later today to celebrate the soon-to-be arrival of my first niece. :)

And speaking of the baby shower... 

Dear Food Served at Showers, You are pretty great. Does anyone else agree? I love finger foods like that...mini sandwiches, fruit or veggie trays, little pastries... Yum! :)

Dear Bag Full of Clothes, You were given to me this week by a friend. You contained quite a variety of clothing options and almost all of them fit perfectly. How could this person have known the types of clothes I still wanted to purchase before heading back overseas? How could this person have known that I was worried about not having the money to buy those clothes? They couldn't have. But God did. YAY for God looking out for us!

Dear Weight Loss, I was worried when I left Dakar. I thought I'd gain all the weight back that I'd lost. But thankfully, I haven't. Has it been hard? Yes. ...even more so here in the land of fast food, drive thru restaurants, and unlimited refills. But it's so been worth it! :)

Dear Ice Cream, This past Sunday was the National Ice Cream Day. Go figure. I didn't realize there was a day set aside to celebrate your awesomeness. And don't worry ice cream. I put aside my weight loss goals for one night and indulged in some incredibly yummy Blue Bell Milk Chocolate Ice Creamy goodness :) And as a side note...that ice cream must have a LOT of caffeine because I was wide awake until about 4:00 in the morning. Needless to say, when my alarm went off at 6:00, it was incredibily hard to get up.

Dear Homesick, You're such a non-fun feeling. ...not to mention, at times being confusing. When I'm in Dakar, I often get homesick for America, my family, and those comfort items. But when I'm in America, I get homesick for Dakar. I miss my apartment, my friends, my work, the places and people that make that city so awesome. Right now, I'm having an amazing time with my family. I'm loving all this time spent with them and with friends I haven't seen in a while, but you know, I'm just really homesick for Dakar. I think it's time to go home...

And speaking of that...

Dear Senegal, I get to talk to 30 second graders about you on Monday. They're excited. Their teachers are excited. And I'm excited! The best part is that even though this is a public school, they have NOT limited me to what I can talk about. ...meaning, I can bring up God when I want. :)

Dear Cereal, I've never really been your biggest fan. Sure, I'd eat you. But I've never really enjoyed you. This summer, however, I've developed a big love for you and I have eaten you for breakfast (or a snack) probably 5 or 6 days out of the week. Look at me broadening my food repertoire :)

Dear Sadness, You're what I felt earlier this week, upon watching the news and hearing of two 16 year old girls that were killed in a car wreck. The girls were coming home from a weekend at their grandparents' house when a drunk driver ran a red light and T-boned their car with his 18-wheeler. The girls died before their parents could have a chance to say goodbye. The driver of the 18-wheeler got away with not even a scratch. He was of course arrested and will now have to live with the knowledge that his STUPID actions caused the death of those girls. But there was a silver lining... The girls' parents said both girls were believers of Jesus and they hoped that their death would now be an inspiration to others to accept Him as their personal Savior before its too late.

Dear Rain, You accompanied me the ENTIRE way back to my parents' house Thursday. That's approximately 250 miles. In fact, you were so bad at a couple times that I had to stop and wait it out until I could see more than 10 feet in front of me. You were soooo NOT a fun travel buddy, just so ya know.

Dear Brakes on my Car, You decided to go bad this week. I'm not happy that you went out. However, I am definitely grateful you didn't go bad in the middle of traffic and cause a wreck, or worse. And major shout out to the people that paid for that brake job, let me borrow a vehicle to get back and forth to school while it was in the shop, and then let me to continue to borrow their vehicle even though mine was fixed since my A/C still wasn't working. See world - good people do still exist. :)

Dear Day with my Dad, You're what I had yesterday. We went shopping. ...or rather, I went shopping and he sat in the truck outside. :) He treated me to lunch. We got to spend time talking, laughing, and catching up. Yesterday was a blessing and it's days like that that hold me over when I'm in Dakar and missing him terribly. :)

Dear Georgetown Assembly of God Church Family, I've really enjoyed spending this summer with you guys. It's been such a great stroll down memory lane every time I pull into the parking lot. I was really excited when Pastor asked me to share with you guys about my ministry in Senegal. Tomorrow morning's the day. And I can't wait! :)

The 21st Dear ________ Post

Dear Family and Friends, Who wants to come visit me in Dakar? I promise you'd have a lot of fun! I'll be back there in August, so come on folks. Any takers? :)

Dear Aunt Whose Birthday is Today, I hope you have a wonderful birthday today. I hope you're surrounded by people that love you the most. I hope you are treated like the special person you are. I love you and miss you and wish I could be with you today.

Dear Blog Readers, Do you actually exist? I sometimes wonder if anyone reads these. ...well past my dad and brother, that is. :)

Dear Totally Inappropriate, You are how I'd describe quite a few of the movies out right now. I miss the "good ol' days" with movies the whole family could go to and enjoy. (...and yes, I do realize that probably makes me sound so old.)

Dear Cooking, I haven't done much of you this summer so far. But this week, I've made up for it and have cooked quite a bit. It's funny... Four years ago, when I moved to Dakar, I didn't cook at all. I joke with people, saying I could barely boil water. But I taught myself, with the help of some awesome friends, and now I absolutely LOVE cooking. It's my de-stresser if I've had a hard day. And honestly, it's just fun. I love it! :)

Dear Morning Drive to School, I really like you. It's still fairly cool out, so my car's lack of A/C doesn't bother me as much. I can spend time talking with God and listening to the latest praise and worship music on the radio. It's been really nice and I think I'm really going to miss this time when I leave in a few weeks.

...speaking of which...

Dear 3 Weeks and 3 Days, You are exactly how much time is left until I leave for Dakar. You are always a little bittersweet. It's hard to leave family and the USA behind each time. But I'm starting to get a little antsy. That means it's time to head back home. :)

Dear Life Without Regrets, You're what I'd like to achieve. I don't want to get older and look back on my life and say, I wish I'd done that differently.

Dear Friend from High School, I am heading out in a few minutes to meet up with you and your little boy. I'm so glad this worked out while I was down in your "neck of the woods." Yay for friend reunions! :)

Dear Pedicure, I really need you. I do. My poor feet have taken a beating thanks to the African dirt and large volume of walking I've done. I really think you're going to be my birthday present to myself this year. Happy Birthday to Me! :)

The 20th Dear _______ Post

Dear God, I want this type of love story. Feel free to send it my way any time soon. :)

Dear Answered Prayer, We received you this week when my dad found out the spot on his kidney was only a cyst and most definitely NOT a tumor, as we feared. PRAISE THE LORD for answered prayers! :)

Dear Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, You have taken up permanent residence in my mind this week, thanks to a two-day English/Reading lesson on you. And as catchy as you are, it's starting to get old. So feel free to leave at any time...

Dear Dakar, I've been pretty homesick for you this past week. But guess what... I see you one month from tomorrow! :)

Dear America, Happy Birthday to you a few days late. Thanks for being such an awesome country. Thanks for all you've awarded me as a citizen of your greatness. Thanks for being a place of which I am proud to call "home."

Dear Praxis Test, I found out earlier this week that I passed you. And considering I took you two days after I landed, was experiencing MAJOR jet lag, and didn't feel prepared (even though I had studied a lot), I'd say that's pretty impressive. So take that Praxis! :)

Dear Wal-Mart, According to Yahoo news, you celebrated your 50th birthday this past Monday. Thanks for staying around so long. You've been there, providing what I've needed, many times. I wish you 50 more years of providing one-stop shopping to the masses. :)

Dear $2.92, You're how much gas was a gallon when I filled up this past Tuesday morning after school. And just so you know, you made me very happy, considering just a couple months ago I was fearing it hitting the $4/gal mark.

Dear Chik-fil-A, You are something I crave often while living in Senegal. I was sad when I started my summer and realized there wasn't one near me. But guess who found a Chik-fil-A this past Tuesday about 10 minutes from the school where she's working this summer! Can you say happy girl? :)

Dear 1 Month, You are exactly how long it is, from today, until my birthday. YAY for getting old! :)

Dear Friend from Dakar, We spent the day together yesterday. We ate lunch together. We ran errands together. We shopped together. We got to sit at chat. It was just like old times. I'm going to miss that so much over the next two years while y'all are gone from Dakar. 

Dear Paul (...from the Bible), I've been reading a lot of your work this week. It's all things I've read numerous times before. But at the same time, I feel like my eyes are being opened a little more each time, allowing me to notice something new each time I read. I was having a pity party for myself towards the end of last week, but this week things have changed. God's opened my eyes to how a situation that is hurtful and seems really bad at the time is actually good for me. God turns bad into good and sometimes I think he has to give us a little bit of a shock to snap us back into reality, you know. Anyways...Paul, you've been what God's been using to teach me this week. So thanks for listening to God a few thousand or so years ago. 

The Patriotic Dear ______ Post

Dear America, Today is the day we, your citizens, celebrate your independence. So in honor of your special day today, I thought I'd write a special Dear _________ Post, including a few American-made things I like. 

Dear Football, You are my most favorite sport to watch being played. You provide an almost adrenaline rush. I love it! 

Dear Baseball, I may not like playing you, but I love watching you being played. You are definitely an American past time. Thanks for being such a fun game to watch.

Dear Telephone, You have turned out to be a great invention. I wonder if Mr. Bell ever dreamed of what you'd become when he first invented you way back when. 

Dear Corndogs, You are a tasty snack that I enjoy when I'm in the States. Thanks for always being such a delicious snack. P.S.  Did you know you are turning 70 this year?

Dear Post-it Notes, I absolutely, positively, 100 percent-ly LOVE you. As a teacher, you are one of my top 10, most favorite supplies to have. I stock up on you every time I'm in the States for a visit. Any time someone asks what I'd like in a care package, I add you to the list. You are perfection in a squared shape. Keep up the good work Post-its!

Dear Cupcakes, You are such a fun little treat. You can't help but smile when eating a cupcake. My personal favorite are strawberry cupcakes with strawberry frosting. ...or maybe chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting. I guess it's a tie. :)

Dear Peanut Butter, You are one of my favorite foods. I love you on toast, in a sandwich, with apples, and even just by yourself. 

Dear Fortune Cookies, I had no idea that you were invented here in the good ol' USA. According to the Houston Press, a Japanese-American immigrant, living in California in the 19th century invented you. Go figure. 

Dear Cranberries, I have always loved your yummy goodness. I love you in your fresh, dried, and juice form. I love baking you into cakes, muffins, and cookies too. You're such a versatile fruit. And you're healthy too. So you get double the "brownie points."

The 19th Dear ______ Post

Dear Random Person's Internet, I'm using you right now. I had my computer plugged in, charging, when I noticed it connected to someone's internet. So as it turns out, I can connect to internet if my computer is in a certain place in the bedroom. Go figure. Anyways, I thought I'd post this week's "Dear _____" a day early due to this random internet connection. :)


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Dear Being Single, Usually I'm ok with you. I mean, I'd love to be married. Don't get me wrong. But usually the whole being single thing doesn't really get me down. Lately though, I've become majorly aware of my singleness. Maybe it's because my birthday's coming up. Maybe it's because this is the summer for weddings - with so many people I know getting married. Maybe it's because I've had a dozen or so different people ask when I'm going to "settle down and get married." Maybe it's because of another reason. I don't know. Like I said, usually I'm ok with being single, but now-a-days (as we say in the South), I don't know...


Dear Speaking at Churches, I love you. I love being able to share my heart for my work in Senegal, about working at Dakar Academy and about the people of Senegal. I'm so grateful and feel so blessed to have this perk to my job. :)


Dear 27, You are the age I'll be turning in a little over a month. It's crazy to think I'll be that old. Where did the time go?


Dear SIOP Model Lesson Plans, Wow! You're intense. But once I mastered your intensity, I decided I might like you after all. Although if I'm being honest, I don't think I'd like having to use you in lesson plans all year long. :)


Dear Temps over 100, You were the temperature at school dismissal time a couple days this week. I thought I was in America. It feels more like Africa… Where’s the cooler weather?


Dear Hurricanes, I’m not a big fan of you. …never have been. I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your storminess away from this area. In fact, I’d really appreciate it if you just wouldn’t happen anywhere. I really think Mother Nature should do away with every kind of storm or natural disaster, all together.


Dear Clarity and Guidance, You’re what I’m praying for right now. I am waiting on an answer for God and I’m trying really hard to be patient, but am not being incredibly successful at it. I wish it was easier.


Dear Arabic, You are spoken by one of my students. I shocked him when I could speak a few words. …just a basic greeting and the word for “thank you.” It’s amazing what those few words could do. The child that was so very shy and would barely speak to me, now smiles and waves when he sees me coming down the hall.


Dear Carpeted Floors, I hadn’t realized how much I missed walking on your soft niceness. My feet say thank you. …especially in the morning when I’m freezing in the early morning 80 degree temps. :)


Dear Questions about Senegal, I’m receiving a lot of you every day from the teachers I’m working with this summer. It never gets old, though. I could answer them all day long.


Dear Grad School Advisor, We finally met in person on yesterday. Thank you for meeting with me, answering questions I had, and putting my mind at ease quite a bit. 


Dear Downhill, You're how my day went yesterday. It started out great. School was pretty awesome. Kids were great. I knew I'd be able to sleep late the following day (...no school on Fridays). I had a good meeting with my grad school advisor. THEN I got a call from my mom telling me about a bad report my dad got from the doctor today. THEN something happened later that night that hurt too. I mean, what's the deal man? :)


Dear Diet Mountain Dew, I broke my no carbonated beverages rule to have you yesterday morning. You were so worth it too. 

The 18th Dear _______ Post

Dear iTunes, Thank you for the awesome musical accompaniments to my long car rides this past week (and the rest of the summer). You really make the trip not seem quite so long. :)

Dear Frozen Lemonade From Burger King, You are amazingly good! I bought you on the way to Mobile this past Sunday. You are so refreshing on my hot drive.

...and speaking of a hot drive... 

Dear A/C in My Car, Why did you feel the need to stop working right before I got back to the States? Do you realize how hot an Alabama summer is? It’s pretty close to an African summer actually. And oh my word, it’s pretty hot! Thank God for windows that roll down and breezes that last the majority of my trips. 

Dear Teachers I’ve Overheard Complaining This Week, I’m really having trouble being in an American public school, noticing all the supplies you teachers were given and then hear you complain so much every single day about the little things you do not have. While I understand it’s all a matter of perspective, it's still a little frustrating when I realize how little I have in my classroom in Dakar, as compared to what you have hear. You ladies don’t realize how blessed you truly are.

Dear Georgetown Assembly of God, I visited you Wednesday night. It was amazing the memories that came back just walking in the parking lot.

Dear Turkey Sandwiches made with Whole Wheat Bread and Yellow Mustard, I've taken you every day this past week for lunch and have loved each one. You are my favorite sandwich and I'm going to enjoy having my fill of you this summer! :)

Dear Short Skirts, After being in Dakar and being used to the “cover your knee rule” for so long, it’s hard to be back here in the US and see so many girls and women wearing such short skirts and dresses.

Dear Grad School Internship, Could you have some details start working out for a change, instead of changing daily? I really would appreciate it.

Dear Cokes (...as in all soft drinks. Remember I'm from the South where all soft drinks are known as coke.), I have not had one of you since last Sunday. I have been drinking water or tea only. Go me! 

Dear Swamp People and Gator Boys (...the t.v. shows), I'm really liking getting to watch a lot of you. I think I'm channeling my inner gator wrangler. What do you think? New career, perhaps?


Dear GPS, I had a lovely note typed out to you ready to be saved in this week's blog post. I was going to talk about how wonderful you are and how much I loved having you last Sunday on my first of many long drives I'll be making this summer. BUT you decided to stop working just as I got on the road yesterday morning heading back to my parents' house, forcing me to have to call around and get a different set of directions and try to hurry and memorize them before I headed out. So, GPS, I'm no longer going to say something good about you. After all, my mom said if I couldn't say anything nice, I shouldn't say anything at all.

Dear Roasted Garlic Rye Chips, Oh my goodness! What a great snack you are. I may or may not have bought 2 bags to take back to Dakar with me. :)

Dear Daisy Olivia (..my niece due in August), I'll be going to the first shower for you and your mommy tomorrow. I bought your gift yesterday and I must say, it's pretty cute and can't wait to see it being used by you. :)

The 17th Dear ______ Post

Dear Father's Day, You are tomorrow. I have been so blessed these past 26 - almost 27 years. I couldn't have hand-picked a better dad. My dad is such an amazing man, with an incredibly big, loving heart. He is helpful, considerate, caring, and will bend over backwards to help someone in need. He's been through so much in his life and has risen above it all. The devil has fought him hard, but thanks to an amazingly firm faith in Jesus Christ, he's risen above that. He's set the bar high and shown me an incredible example of how a godly Christian man and a husband/father should act and how I shouldn't settle for less than that. My dad is my hero and the first man that has stolen my heart. I am so blessed to call him my Daddy.

Dear 10 Year High School Reunion, Is it really possible that you will be next year? Where did the time go? I had to send in my contact info earlier this week so when the time comes, I'll be on the invite list. It's crazy to think that it's been long enough to start planning you. It seems like just yesterday we were walking across that stage.

Dear Driving, I've missed you so much. You've always been my de-stresser. It's nice to get in the car and just drive. It doesn't matter where. It's just nice to go. Of course after driving quite a bit over the course of the rest of the summer, due to my internship being rather far away, I may change my mind. :)

Dear Driving in Traffic, While I love driving in general, I do not like you. Traffic makes my blood pressure rise. Therefore, traffic = :(

Dear Clothes Shopping, I have definitely been enjoying you since being back in the States this summer. My ego's loving being able to buy all clothes 1 or 2 sizes smaller than the last time I was here. Yay for weight loss! :) ...official amount - 34 lbs lost since January 1st.

Dear Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad, You are my new favorite meal from Wendy's. I come to use their free wi-fi and wait with my mom 'til she gets off work, and need a healthier meal choice so, you were the first thing that caught my eye. And I'm glad it did. You are pretty awesome. :)

Dear Pajamas, You're meant to be worn at home, right? Why is it that so many people where you out in public? I don't think I'll ever understand this fashion "trend."

Dear Ice Water, I realize I wrote about (to?) you last week, but you deserve to be included in my Dear ___ Posts 2 weeks in a row. I am so enjoying having my fill of you at any restaurant, person's home, or gas station with fountain drinks I stop at. I love knowing I can have my fill of ice water without fear of drinking unfiltered water or ice. ...such a nice feeling! :)

Dear Price of Gas, You're going to kill me this summer since I'm having to make a few long car trips. Wow! I am thankful that you're not at $4 a gallon but man, you're high.

Dear Banana Flavored Shaved Ice, I have one word to describe your goodness - YUM! :)

Dear Childhood Memories, You've been flooding my brain this week. I made the first trip to Mobile County earlier this week for the orientation for my Master's internship. Wow - the memories that came with this trip. And I'll be heading back after church tomorrow morning. I have more memories from this area than anywhere else I lived while growing up. I love this place and the people I'll be staying with, as they're just like family! This is going to be a fun summer for sure!