overwhelmed!!!

I am so overwhelmed by the generosity of the people in my life.  Never have I felt so fortunate!  I have so much stuff donated that I'm not sure how I'm going to get it there....to large suit cases and most likely I will have to ship several boxes...however I just got some very bad news!  The head management of all of the SOS orphanages has ordered them to be shut down.  The kids have been shipped to different programs around the country.  I don't have all the details yet, and I'm told I should not change my plans, but I might be going somewhere else to work...will still be with kids, just in a different location. :(  I was so excited to meet them, lay on the hammocks and eat the mango's out of my back yard!  There is a major meeting happening this week that will determine whether the kids are able to come back and all can proceed as it was.  I'm praying for the kids and all the other volunteers that are currently there for a good outcome! 
   Meanwhile I'm still trying to pack and figure out everything I need to have before I leave :)  This is pretty overwhelming as well!  Oh and learn some Spanish...also very overwhelming :)  I will keep everyone posted as I learn more...

getting antsy...AND DONATIONS!!!

So I haven't heard from any of the people I will be living with...ugggh, I'm not a patient one.  I did get my shots the other day...dang those HURT!  Hep A and Tetnis...with some other things...ouch.  I think that's why I felt so tired and worn out all weekend.  Well, I will keep checking my email, anxiously awaiting a reply...in the mean time here is a compiled list of things that can be donated for the children's home.  If you would rather send money or a gift card and then I could buy it that works too!  They said they would ship some of it if I got A LOT...so help me out :)

THANKS ALL!

Items to be DONATED

(Children in Tela, Honduras)

-Blank White Paper

- Writing paper

- Construction Colored Paper

- Cut Up Poster Board

- Water Color paper

- Water Colors

- Water based Paints

- Any kind of specialty markers

- Coloring Books / Printed Out Pictures to Color

- Colored Pipe Cleaners

- Plain or colored popsicle sticks

- Colored Foam

- Colored Yarn

- Colored Plastic Pony Beads

- Colored Silk Cord (best used for making pony bead animals – need to burn ends)

- Larger holed jewelry beads of any kind/color (glass / wood / specialty)

- Stretchy clear jewelry string is great (use glue to set knot)

- Jewelry clasps and jewelry threading for more advanced jewelry making

- Jewelry wire

- Jewelry pliers

- Scissors

- Tape

- Glue

- Glitter

- pencils / pens / crayons (programs may supply these)

- Pencil Sharpeners

- Erasers

- Pre-made/copied math problem sheets

- Pre-made/copied Word Search/Word Finds in Spanish

- Pre-made/copied Cross Word Puzzles

- Puzzles (to save space I cut out picture from front of box and put it in with pieces

in plastic bags for packing)

- Frisbee

- Hacky sak

- Whiffle balls and bats

- Balloons

-Sewing supplies (BIG holed needles)

- Games (including checkers / dominos / backgammon)

- Material (although you can get it for cheap in La Ceiba)

- Clay / Play Dough

- Instruments / Song Sheets in Spanish

- Legos

- Colored Tissues paper (for flowers )

- Paper plates for Fish (can get cheap in La Ceiba)

- Thick Plastic covered wire (hardware stores)

- Old wooden clothes pins (make dolls / funny people)

- Origami paper

- Poker Chips for math games

- Slack Line if you have it.

- Balls of all sizes

- Maze games copied

- Secret Code Messages copied for the kids to figure out

- Bean bags for juggling or target throwing

- Tooth Brushes

- Any supplies for other Health activities

- Food

• Toys: (please, no toys that require batteries)

• BOOKS, BOOKS and more CHILDREN’s BOOKS in Spanish

• craft Items & paper

• DVDs in Spanish

• Duplos (large Legos), Lincoln Logs, (building toys) etc.

• toy cars, trucks & boats

• dolls & doll clothing

• puzzles

• games (w/ directions in Spanish)

• computer games in Spanish

• glow-stix • balloons

• Frisbees • soccer balls

• plastic baseball bats and balls

• School & Activities Supplies:

• ESL & TEYL books for teaching English

(multiple copies)

• DRY ERASE MARKERS!!!

• art & craft materials (paint & paintbrushes,

yarn, knitting needles, glue guns, felt,

pipe cleaners, markers, scissors, etc.)

• black, school shoes and white socks

(boys/girls all sizes)

• white, short-sleeve, button down shirts for

school (boy/girl all sizes

• navy blue, school skirts and pants

• CD’s, DVD’s & Videos in Spanish

• Portable DVD, CD and MP3 players.

• pens and pencils

• math manipulatives & calculators

• voltage regulators & spike protectors

for computers (note that we would love some

laptops but do NOT need other computers)

• computer speakers

• Household Supplies:

• children’s vitamins

• toothpaste & toothbrushes

• hairbrushes

• lice shampoo

• kitchenware (good quality - all kinds)

- dishes, flatware, pots, etc.

• hand towels and bath towels

• pillow cases

• twin bed sheet sets

• light weight blankets

• small tool sets

• flashlights (good quality - - rechargeable is great!)

• OTC meds (unopened and not expired)

Dog training

I did forget something... I had the dog trainer over last weekend and my dog is trainable!!!!  She is doing so much better!  I have taught her that I am dominant in my home and backyard.  She is doing well with my parents dogs too, however I caught her standing on my kitchen table on Friday....all four paws....I was not impressed with this new issue.  We will keep working on it though.  I think the next step is a vibrating collar...I don't think she will like that at all. I'm getting very sad about leaving her...but who knows, it maybe good for both of us :)

smiling from ear to ear!!!

Well I got my passport on Friday!  I was so excited I couldn't stop smiling! Things are really coming together.  I had my 2nd garage sale on Friday...I made about 60 $...not too bad.  I opened at 7 and closed at 12:30.  So all together I have made about 90$ over 2 weekends.....60$ will get me a taxi from the airport to my volunteer house.  I will try again in the middle of May.  I'm starting swim lesson next week and I'm putting ALL that $$$ towards my trip as well. I was also introduced to my house mates via email.  There are 4 from the US and one from Sweden.  I have emailed them a little about myself and hope to hear back soon.  I'm reading all I can and doing lots of research.  I'm still studying my Spanish and my roommates and kids at school are helping.  I just can't wait.  I told my sister I want to start packing already, lol! I'm sure there is more to say, but I will keep everyone posted. :)

I'm on my way!

Grasias, I purchased my ticket this week!!! I'm learning to speak Spanish in my car, and I'm practicing at school with my kids that speak.  It is so fun!  I'm having a garage sale on Saturday to make some $$$. I need to pay for my rent, I think its $180 for rent for 4 weeks and 2 days :)  not too bad! Audios!  P.S. I don't claim to know how to spell Spanish, esp. b/c I can't spell in English :)

I have almost done it....

    I have been looking for plane tickets for weeks now...trying to get the best deal and trying to get all the details arranged....that's almost impossible!!! So I think I found the ticket flying out of Dallas.  I will leave Friday, June 10th to head down to Dallas and stay with my sister's boyfriend and his family (can't wait to meet them).  Then I will leave at 5:45am on Sat. morning, get to Miami at around 9:30, then head to San Pedro Sula and get there around 10:55...from there I don't have a plan, bus, taxi, private driver...something like that, but it will take about 90 minutes to get to the house in Tela where I will be staying for A MONTH!.  I will have Sat. afternoon to unwind, unpack, and hopefully meet some people.  Then I will start volunteering on that Monday :)  Oh, boy!
    I'm having a garage sale this Sat. April 16th to help me raise $$$ for my trip.  I'm hoping to have another one maybe in the AM of Good Friday, since I don't have school :) and maybe another one in May.
    So on my way home, I will travel back to Dallas and arrive back in the states around 9pm.  My sister should be in Dallas then to pick me up.  I think I will stay a day there and then head back to Springtown and then to STL to see U2.  I have quite the summer adventure planned and I CANNOT WAIT to get it underway!!!

realize where you are

Today was one hell of a day!  I'm not sure anyone would believe some of the things I deal with daily.  As I'm driving home I think to myself, how is it that I will be going to another country to help them when my own country so desperately needs help with so many issues as well.  I know we are more advanced and all of that but really....physical and sexual abuse is so prevalent in our society it makes me SICK! Sometimes I just want to smack parents and say....really, do you know what it could be like in another country for you!  I am so excited for this experience, I feel it will be a nice break and give me even more perspective on the ENTIRE WORLD around me.  Who knows maybe these issues are worse everywhere I just see it through my eyes at my job, but I swear....I mean really, this week has to get better after today...