Orientation Day 1

After a good night's sleep, I knew that it was the day I had to leave my dad for the real world.  Laura's family took us out for breakfast and then shortly after, it was time for me to leave for orientation at 1.  I had repacked my bags and my dad and I reloaded some things and I was able to leave a few things at Laura's until Saturday.  Leaving my dad was so hard and so sad but I realized once again how supportive my family and friends are of me today.  I called someone as soon as I got out of Laura's driveway so I wouldn't keep crying and drove to San Pedro retreat center.  I only made one wrong turn. That's good right? In the 25 minutes I was on the road though, I did go through 3 toll booths.  Definitely not like Kansas. 


I got to the retreat center and was warmly greeted by one of the director's and off the day went.  There are only 13 of us in the program this year.  There is a girl placed in Jacksonville, 2 girls in Tampa, and the rest in the Orlando area.  I learned a lot about the others in the program today and I'm sure there is so much more about them that I will learn as the week goes on.  We played some ice breaker games, went over our schedule for the week, and went on a scavenger hunt throughout the grounds.  During one of our ice breaker games, we played something about where the wind blows but it was pretty much the same as "Do You Love Your Neighbor" that we play at Camp Hyde.  After we finished that game though, we played something called "I Bet I'm the Only One..." I was up first and I knew I had a good one up my sleeve.  I had said, "I bet I'm the only one who has ever been bitten in the butt by another human." Well, I wasn't the only one.  3 other people got up to move and I was so shocked! So Camp Hyde friends, guess it's not as rare as I may have thought. :) 


We have some down time every night so that is when I will be updating my blog this week.  It's very quiet and peaceful out here.  It would be even nicer if these bugs weren't eating me alive at this moment.  Once I start taking pictures, I will post them as well.  See you later for now!   

Driving Day 2

Dad and I woke up and hit the road around 7 this morning from Montgomery.  I was  really excited to be driving today.  About 3 hours into my driving, my brand new cruise control had stopped working.  I was devastated and started to get very stir crazy.  I kept trying to get it to work and it just wasn't going.  I decided this, amongst other little things that have happened today, was just God's way of making my patience grow stronger.  I've decided that God isn't here to test us, He only wants us to grow stronger and today was my day to grow in patience and trust.  Eventually the cruise control started working again. Thank goodness!  We passed through the rest of Alabama and hit the state that will be my new living place for the next year, Florida! I was so excited when I was crossing the border.  I almost stopped at the welcome center to get some orange juice like we did on the FOCUS trip but decided to just keep driving.  My dad and I stopped to have lunch and I got to update a few people on my location.  After lunch though, my driving got put to a stop.  My dad doesn't like to sit in the passenger seat for very long so he decided it was his time to start driving again.  Needless to say I was a little disappointed.  I tried to use that new sitting time to my advantage though and started my bucket list for the next year.  I did not think it would very hard to make but I was once again mistaken.  Maybe I was overthinking it all but I realized that maybe I don't have very many goals for the next year of my life.  The things I have written so far are pretty materialistic or silly.  I wanted to go do volunteer work to make a difference but then I realized that it is harder to put on paper than I anticipated.  


My dad and I have arrived in Orlando for the night.  We are staying at my Uncle John Kriegisch's sister's house.  (My uncle married into the family which is why she isn't my aunt for those of you wondering.)  Laura and her husband, Viktor, have been very welcoming and hospitable so far.  We had a huge dinner and have sat around talking for a good portion of the time since we've been here.  They have told me that I am welcome to come up and visit them anytime which is great to hear.  I will definitely need a family to hang out with while I'm down here and their two boys are pretty hilarious so far.  Viktor is from the Dominican Republic and also travels a lot so his knowledge of other cultures is huge.  He had some really useful information about the different cultures and ethnicities that I will be surrounded by down in Miami.  


I have to leave my dad in the morning and I am not thrilled for that one bit.  We have had some good conversations on this roadtrip and it also means my last physical connection to Kansas down here will be gone.  This year will definitely help me grow in my independence and ability to be strong in myself and God.  I will be relying on God more this year, I have a feeling, than I ever have before.  My orientation for CVIF starts tomorrow at 1.  I have no idea what is to come of this week but I am praying that lots of good things, including a place to live and a few friends, come out of it.  Only God knows though. 

Driving Day 1

I woke up around 4:30 this morning to continue my packing.  After finishing and getting myself ready for the long drive ahead of my dad and I, we walked out to the car a little before 6.  We had to leave a box at home that will be shipped to me later.  Apparently I have too many clothes or something like that.  ha ha.  My mom wanted to take pictures, of course.  I was starting to get a little emotional so I just wanted to get out of there.  I gave my mom a very long hug and then my little sister, Madelyn.  After many tears were shed, we hit the road and I didn't look back.

We made it through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and part of Alabama today.  We used the new Garmin my parents gave me and let me tell you, it was an interesting experience.  My dad doesn't quite trust it all the way so we brought the atlas just in case and good thing too because sometimes Garmin led us into some strange places.  While we were in Alabama, we followed the path it had given us and it took us into a very devastating part of Birmingham where the tornadoes had hit in the spring.  Trees were everywhere and houses demolished.  It made my heart so sad and then I became so grateful for everything I have and all the opportunities I have been given in my life.  That was one of the saddest things I had ever seen. 

After about 14 hours of driving, my dad and I have landed in Montgomery, Alabama for the night.  We will drive to Orlando tomorrow where my week of training/orientation begins on Sunday.  We are staying at my uncle's sister's house tomorrow night.  I'm excited to be able to know a family semi-close to me that I can hopefully go visit when I need some family time.  It's almost time for me to get some sleep.  I get to drive all day tomorrow because dad drove all day today. 

The journey has only just begun!

It's Only a Day Away

My big move starts tomorrow morning! I can't believe it.  This week has been jam packed with lots of friends and family time and I couldn't be more blessed with who God has put in my life.  Yesterday, Jenae left and I cried. No surprise there.  I love her very much and am so glad she was able to come down before I left.  After that I hurried to go meet my camp family for dinner at Emerson Biggin's one last time.  Once again, I am very blessed with who has been put in my life.  We did some reminiscing of camp for the summer and had a lot of good laughs.  We went out to Denim and Diamonds (one of our country bars in Wichita) for some two-stepping that I have a feeling won't exist down in Florida.


I had my last day at camp today and it was perfect.  From singing "Lean on Me" together at chapel to getting thrown in the pool one last time, I couldn't have asked for a better day.  I was able to paint a ceramic plate with my art kids, eat dinner with my favorite Explorer counselors, and hit the pool one last time.  The "see you laters" and "goodbyes" were the hardest though.  It sank in that I don't know what is to come after Florida and I hope that I am able to return to camp but if it is not God's will, I can't fight it.  Camp Hyde friends, I love you all very much and the kind words you said or wrote about me today mean so much to me and truly touch my heart.  After all the tears and camp, I rushed home to have dinner with my parents and my dad's best friend.  My family came over tonight and it didn't take long for the tears to start coming but once again, they are all still very supportive of my decision for the year.  I will miss them.  They are my rock and such a comfort and joy to have whenever I am home.  Thank you for your love and confidence in me.  I would not be able to go to Florida if I didn't know that I had so many loving people who believed in me.  


Well I have to finish some packing, of course.  Morning will come soon. 

Welcome and 2 Days Away

Welcome! 
Welcome to my blog friends and family!  I have been preparing myself for this for quite awhile and now it is finally close.  Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of me and this decision to move to Miami.  I truly could not do this without all of you.  My dad and I will be leaving Friday morning at 4 AM to start our journey to drop me off.  I will be in Orlando from the 31st through Aug. 5 for orientation with everyone from the program.  


2 Days Away
Friday is almost here and I still cannot believe it! Camp has been great this week and I am truly have a great last week in Kansas.  I got koala-ed (a new thing at camp where counselors jump on other people's backs and try to knock them over) into the pool several times today and was warned it will only get worse from here.  My 6 and 7 year olds have been telling me all week that they don't want me to leave.  It makes my heart so sad.  At the end of the day, I also had milk dumped on me. Gross.  Jenae comes home tonight which I am very grateful for. I can't lie and say I'm not nervous because I definitely am. I have 3 roommates but at this point, we have nowhere to live yet. When I get down there on Sunday, fingers crossed that we have a lead on a place at least.  Until then, I will finish my packing and spend as much time with my family and friends as possible.  Time to go for the night but soon I will have some very exciting posts I'm sure!