"Captain Ice Berg Ahead"

No we did not run into an ice berg!!! But we are now back on the mainland! Actually today (side note...I just put a movie in thinking this looks good to watch while I type up my blog...but...it is not in English!!!! I don't even know what language it is in...but there are sub-titles...Now how am I suppose to type and read sub-titles at the same time. If you know me you know I already have a hard enough time multi-tasking...I'll let you know how the movie turns out)...Back to what I was saying we are in Cache Creek, BC today, we arrived yesterday.



We got back to the mainland about three weeks ago I guess. We had a few concerts and then it was off to camp! I really enjoyed this camp...we were in Washington State...It was nice to be in the states again... We were there for about 5 days...We had a funky dress night, stuff yourself contest (which is putting as many clothes on one person as possible), the famous egg/spoon relay along with a few other games. The last night we made a bond fire; we roasted marshmallows and made smores...Let me brag...I made the bonfire...it was my first real camp fire to ever make. I know I drive a big truck, shoot guns, go fishing and camping and had never made a camp fire...but that's not the case any more!!! It was a lot of fun.



We are still in British Columbia but not for to much longer...we are heading to Alberta in just a week!!! Now I have a bit of exciting news...Our choir is going to be on the Ellen show. They leave April 7th to go to LA to record the show but...only 18 of them are going. So I am staying behind with the other 8 and we are going to party!!! I'm thinking zoo definitely!!! I don't know what else.


Well I'm afraid it's short but it's all I have to write for now. I hope everyone is doing well and not burning up in Texas. You can send some heat my way...We are heading back into the Mountains...I hope we don't get a lot of snow!!! I like snow but only when I am on skis!!

The Island

well we are on the Island...Vancouver Island that is...It is very pretty! A week ago today we took a ferry over here. I'd never been on a ferry before...but I mainly graded papers during the journey. That's okay though there is always the ride back.


Before coming over to the Island we were on the mainland for a bit around the Vancouver area. We went to teh Capilano bridge. It's a giant suspension bridge. The Lord granted us a beautiful day...warm, suny...very pretty.


Also I got to go skiing! This was great. I was staying with a family who was from England, the husband worked in Hawaii, but he was in town for a bit and they had friends visiting from Australia. So I got to go skiing with the friends...it was neat to be skiing in Vancouver, Canada with Australians...how cool is that. The view was amazing the skiing wasn't all that great but it was worth the view. At the top of the mountain...which is not high compared to skiing in Colorado. Anyways once I was coming down the mountain...I could see the city of Vancouver...I'm not use to being able to see a major city...while I'm skiing. But there it was off to my left in between us was the bay of the ocean...to the right a light fog rolling in. To top it off a birds swooped down and the sun caught its wing just right and glistened.

Now we are on Vancouver Island another beautiful aspect of Canada. We have traveled from the North tip, at Port McNeil, to the very bottom here in Victoria...the capital. Surrounded my water and mountains...on a sunny day few things are more gorgeous.


It seems a bit short of an update but I'm in a productive mood so I decided to go ahed.

New York, New York and bit more!!!!

Well let's see...I have grown older since the last time I wrote. Well for my birthday we were in Pincher Creek, BC. It was a Saturday so we got to sleep in a bit and then we all met at the church for breakfast. After breakfast we just hung out a bit and the next thing I know all the kids are carrying a cake that looks like it's on fire towards me. It really did look like it was on fire; all 24 candles had melted almost down to the bottom so all one could see was the flame. They laid it on the table and then all 26 children tackled me!!! I fell to the floor! It was fun...I'm just now starting to get my b-day packages so it's like having my b-day all over again. :)


The past few days have been very busy for us and very exciting. Gucci invited us to New York to sing in the Madonna, UNICEF and Gucci fund raiser. Madonna produced it...she is not very congenial. But we'll get to that later...So Monday we headed to New York, we arrived at midnight New York time and did not get to sleep until 2:30 am. My sister and a friend of hers flew out and met us in New York...I got to spend a lot of time with them...this was the highlight of the trip for me. Tuesday we got to sleep in, I woke up around 9:30 and then Kinnie and Adrianna came over around 10:30. Kyndell's hotel was right across the street from mine...it was great!!! Her and Adrianna hung out in the room with us while we ate breakfast (an apple and yogurt since it was so late in the morn). We all got ready and then the two of them ate lunch with the entire Choir...besides just getting to hang out with my sis this was the highlight of my time in New York; Kyndell getting to meet all the kids I work with on a daily basis. After lunch the kids headed to their dress rehearsal and I headed out with Kyndell and Adrianna.



While I was running around New York with Kyndell the kids and the rest of the chaperones were hob knobbing with the celebs...they met and rehearsed with, Rihanna, Timberland (let me be honest I had no idea who this was), Chris Rock and Madonna who was producing the entire thing. The next day the preformed before tons and tons of stars...I saw Madonna who I don't have much to say about...and then Alicia Keys walked by me but I did not know that until someone said "that was Alicia Keys"...but I would not have traded spending the day and half of the next day with my sis...for all of that.



Kyndell, Adrianna and I roamed the streets of New York. First on our list of things to do was go to the Statue of Liberty...this meant getting on the subway. I was okay with that until I actually got on...I do not like the subway...I like to be above ground! But we made it and began to walk to the Ferry. On our way we saw a man dressed up at the statue of Liberty so we went and took a pic...then after taking pics he says "that's $5 per person". WE TOOK THEM WITH OUR OWN CAMERA. I did not pay but Adrianna gave him 5 and Kyndell said "well since you don't have a sign can I give you a 5 for both (me and her) us" We should have just taken off...but now we can say we had a true New York experience. After taking our pics with the fake we headed over to the real Lady Liberty that just stands in one position and doesn't charge to take pics with...just to cross the water to get to her. After visiting the statue Kyndell and Adrianna wanted to go to China town.



I just wanted to get off the subway...but they talked me into going to China town...and I'm glad they did...I got a hat and scarf along with a couple of other things. Those I can't mention I think it was illegal...;) When we were out of money we headed back to our side of New York, we grabbed dinner (everything is expensive in New York) then we went to Toys "R" Us, M&M and then the Hershey's store. Then it was back to meet the kids and put them to bed for the night. (I had to get glasses so I decided to throw a pic of my new glasses in as well)



The next morning the kids had to be at a practice at 9 so breakfast was at 7:30...I had the morning off to spend with Kyndell. I took the kids downstairs and headed back to my room where I waited on Kyndell to call. Her and Adrianna went to the Good Morning America show and they were on TV. When that was over she called and I met them at their hotel. Adam met us there and then we walked to 5th Ave and looked at the stores. There was a diamond ring at Harry Winston’s that was 7K's it was $1 million...then where did we go...oh that's right to the subway. We went to Central Park, FAO Schwartz...which was across from the Hotel in Home Alone. Then it was off to the Manhattan Mall. Then I needed to head to the UN for rehearsal. They walked me half way then I walked from 45th St. and 5th Av to 45th st and 1 Av...IN HEALS!!!



Just for the record New York is not the place to forget your shoes and only bring house shoes and heals...all I wore the day and a half I walked around New York were heals...I don't even wear heals to begin with. My feet are still swollen.




Well we sang that night before a star studded audience (literally) then it was back to the hotel. Kyndell came and hung out for about an hour then had to say good bye that was hard...I'm ready to come home and see everyone! Then we got ready because we had to be up at 4:00 am that morn...I got a phone call at 3:30 am as a wake up call...Then we took off for a long and bumpy day of travel.




We are now back in BC and Praise the Lord there is no snow only rain and warm weather. By warm I mean in the 40's and 50's...maybe even 60's...but that's probably pushing it.

Canada eh?!?!?!

Hello from the freezing country of Canada. Tuesday found us crossing the border into Canada...where the weather turned bitterly cold!!!
We arrived at the church and the weather was going from cold to colder. My host family lived on a farm so after dinner we were all invited to go watch the Uncle bring the horses in for the night. I was excited about that. They are Belgium horses, they look like clydes dales. I believe the Belgium horses are the kind the Amish use for plowing. Then we picked the eggs from the chicken hatch...walking back was absolutely freezing. I could not feel my hands. But this was not the coldest weather we were to encounter....that happened in Moose Jaw, SK. Thursday where the thermometer hit NEGATIVE 40 degrees. Negative 40 degrees is the only temperature where Farenheit and Celcius are equal to each other. That is the coldest it has been so far.

There are only a few notable differences between Canada and the US. The fact everything is on the metric system here. Last Wednesday I had a day off the host family lent me their truck. I was following behind them and I looked down at my speedometer and it said I was going 100...I flipped out. Then after a moment I remembered it was 100 kilometer per hour so in reality I was only going between 60 or 70. Also they use the Celsius scale here...so now all the conversions I learned and thought were pointless, that I'd never use them......I'm using. Thank you Mr. Thomas for teaching me the things I thought I'd never need and in fact they are now quite useful.


I believe the cold weather is getting to me...I had the biggest blonde moment of my life. As I mentioned previously my host family allowed me the use of their truck. It was a GMC 4x4...I was happy. Well I went to the store, I was looking for nice snow boots to protect my little feet from the crazy cold. I did not find any so I came back out. I walked to the truck and stuck my key in the door hole but it would not go in. I fiddled with it and then pulled up the handle...it was unlocked. So I climbed in and sat down. I looked at the floor and thought, "I don't remember this truck being that dirty." I didn't pay much attention to it however because after all it was a work truck. Then I looked behind and thought "I thought the truck was bigger than this, hm..." Then I looked in the rear-view mirror and there behind me...one row back...was the truck I had come in. I jumped out and walked over to it. I laughed and laughed...I still chuckle when I tell the story. After climbing in to the right truck I stick my key in the ignition and the battery is dead; I had left the lights on. Luckily the church was right next door. So I called Jenny and she came over but then I could not get the hood open, so then we went back to the church and Uncle Vic came back with me. He got the hood opened and the jumped it and off I went. It was a crazy hour or two that day.

Today also was my day off and so after waking up I went to Beth's house. Well at least the address that was next to her name where her host family was suppose to live. I was so proud of myself I found the house using a map and the address not getting directions from anybody or anywhere. I walk up to the door...probably with a little extra kick in my step and ring the door bell. I asked if Beth was there and the lady looked at me and said "um...no" I said "oh okay I must have the wrong house." I called and found out that was their old address they had moved. I found the correct house though.

Those are my Canadaian stories eh?!...Oh I've also learned there is a difference between the Canadian eh and the African eh? The African eh is used at the end of a question and normally expects an answer. The Canadian eh...is more retorical...said in question form to an obvious questions. Ex: you walk by a room with a bunch of kids in it and you say "there are a lot of kids in that room, eh?!"


Well I guess I have not updated my blog since before Christmas. We had a great Christmas; we were in Nebraska at a church camp. Christmas Eve all the kids recieved brand new church clothes...this is their first set of Church clothes for us. They yelled and screamed and yelled and screamed and then that night we went to sing two songs for a church and they wore their new clothes. The next day, Christmas day we opened presents. The kids had little notes and small little stockings on the tree with a candy cane and a toy.


Then my family sent fanny packs and they kids loved those... Socks, chapstick, rulers, new gold one dollar coins...they loved it. We hid them all and they had to search for the one with their name on it....they had a blast. The rest of the day was filled with sledding (being pulled by four wheelers), a wonderful Christmas dinner; served by the owners and their family...there were a lot of them. Then to end the night we took turns hitting the pinata. Either that night or the next we watch the Lion King. Then on one of our days we went to the movie and saw the Chipmunks Christmas and went bowling and then to McDonalds to celebrate all Birthdays from Ocotober to December. Oh and while at camp I learned how to cook African food. I learned how to cook Chipati...this was not easy. I was on my feet for six hours cooking. It started by making the dough...not buying dough and making it from there. No no, starting from flour and water. After kneeding and makeing the dough I had to roll the dough up into little balls about 60 or so of them. Then the next step was to use a rolling pen and flatten all the dough balls and put oil on them. After applying oil I rolled them back up into something that could be compared to a cinnamon roll. from their Beth took them, then once I had been upgraded I also got to...take the cinnamon roll looking clump of dough and make it into a perfect flat circle where you had more oil. I was not allowed to stay here for long...I scared Beth and Rosette with my interpretation of a circle. So then it was on to the final stage the frying pan. Beth showed me...she took it laid it in the frying pan and then used her hand to turn it...I said "Beth I'm going to burn my hand." She said, "ah try it" I did and I never burnt myself Praise the Lord.


So that is my Christmas and cooking experience. I hope everyone had a great Christmas!