It's only 2 and i am so tired already..

I went to sleep early and everything and I am still exhausted. Waiting on luggage and in lines and more lines will wear someone slam out. So my day has been a tad bit hectic:
To start with my taxi went 100, I saw the speedometer....then we get to this car stopped in the middle of the road and huge circle of people, at 5 AM Costa Rican a fight has broken out in the middle of the road RIDICULOUS.
Then I finally get to the airport, have to pay to leave the country, wait in lines for an hour...my suitcase is 6 lbs to heavy. so i remove 6 lbs and carry it :( then...i wait another hour in the security line...search for my gate, and get there in time for boarding.
Get on the plane, see a VOLCANO yes!! and then my earphones broke :( NO BUENO

Then I get to America yes.....noooooo I wait in line for 30 minutes go through customs 1 then i wait for my luggage: it NEVER COMES...i get worried....i ask someone and they lead me to a service desk...here i find out because my luggage handle was broke i must pay a $25 dollar fee to get my luggage (UGH!) then I wait in line another 30 minutes for customs two (I AM STARVING TOOO because I haven't ate yet...) then I finally get through....wait on the train to take to me to my terminal and get here and the only food choice is pizza hut, a sports bar, or little NEWSLINK pick up stands...ugh
I got pizza hut & now I am going to enjoy my pizza and hope the rest of my flight is not problems....
see you guys soon I will be in Raleigh at 6:35pm

MY COMPUTER IS DYING...for really :(

So my computer has traveled the country with me, and I have 3 days left, and my computer is deciding that it does not want to make it through alive. I am so sad. It won't charge. I held the little piece in for an hour and it got 30 minutes of juice. So this maybe my last post before I get home. Tomorrow I have a quiz and Friday I have a test and graduation. The quiz is on past tense and irregular verbs. There are like 50 things I have to remember and it is oral. I just may die like my computer haha. I have learned a lot this week but it is almost overload, it is so stressful taking so much in so little time. Samara was may more relaxed and didn't move on until you understood. The professors took more time to practice with and would make worksheets if we still understand after completing the things in the book. Here they teach you, you do one exercise, and then you move on to the next new thing. It is so much to take in at once, my little brain is fried.
When I get home I think I am going to apply for a credit card at Best Buy, hopefully I will get approved but I don't know, to get a better computer that doesn't give me all the problems my Meredith Laptop does. I just got this one in August, and my first week the "R" key fell off, and my last computer from Meredith wouldn't hold a charge...plus when I graduate Meredith takes EVERYTHING off of my computer, so it isn't going to be anything but a empty box soon. So I am going to get me something good...but I got save because I don't want my parents to have to pay for that too.

Any hoo....hopefully I will get some more charging done and I will be able to write tomorrow, my arm hurts from holding this little plug in my computer.
miss you all
guess what 3 days :)

Today was really great

This week I am really learning the most I have learned yet. It is really hard right now because I am learning a lot of grammar at once. As you know grammar always had lots and lots of rules so it takes a while to really learn. I am learning prepositions, present tense (ing), and past tense. It is a lot to learn at once. I am going to have to study a lot tonight. Good thing I have no distractions here. ha ha. It takes a lot for me to learn things here because I have to translate everything first ha. ha.
I talked to momma today, jimmy aaron, and melody via skype yea!! I am hoping I'll skype my whole family later tonight and my jimmy aaron.
i am so ready to be home but i will miss costa rica. I will miss these classes, the sun, the breeze, queso quesadillas, ICE CREAM ( i wish daddy was here to see the man about a dog with me...they have the best ice cream ever), the trees, the monkeys, the people, and the cool money that makes me feel rich.
i wont miss the rain, the cold showers (although my shower in Heredia isn't bad), bugs, iguanas, lizards, BUGS (did I already say that), the CRAZINESS of drivers (too bad I will be seeing that again in Raleigh) and the HARD BEDS.
Costa Rica has been an experience that taught me a lot. I started out hating every moment and by day four i was enjoying it a whole lot. Although I love Costa Rica I am ready to see Jimmy and my family and my friends.
I hope in 2 or 3 years Jimmy & I can come back and see everything that I wasn't able to see, although I like that I have lived the typical days of college students (minus the clubs and the drinking) in Costa Rica, so I was diving into the life and culture instead of being tourist, so that taught me a whole lot.
Costa Rica is different than USA but they have a lot of similarities, when you live in paradise you don't often think of the world around you but Costa Rica has made me realize that I am not only an american but a world citizen. I should really think more about what other people live through every day

xoxo i love you all. see you in 4 days
PS I GOT TO TALK TO TRISTAN CADEN AND LEVY TOO!!!
&& i will miss THE FRUIT it is sogood here

SHORT ROADS now 5 days. yes!

Yesterday was my long travel back to Heredia. I was so bus sick. I woke up not feeling well and I couldn’t eat hardly any breakfast. My host family dropped me off at 8:45 at the hotel where my bus was going to pick me up. I waited in the scorching hot sun until 9:20, the bust finally came. I think I mentioned before there were NO SPEED LIMITS well my bus took advantage of it. We went around mountains going at LEAST 80-85, I was so bus sick. Finally we reached a place where we switched buses. This place was neat. I saw about 30 parrots, the just flew over me I could have grabbed it, if I was brave and fast enough. There were also 3 monkeys, asleep in the trees, but so fascinating. My trip would not have been complete without seeing those monkeys & parrots, what is costa rica without seeing exotic animals? The bus ride to the airport was WORSE, then I got a taxi, he wasn’t too good of a driver either. He drove the WRONG way down an ONEWAY street. Scared for my life!! But I keep praying. God takes such good care of his children. My trip only took about 5 hours total, which I was relieved my trip from Heredia to Samara was about 7 hours total. I was shocked it was so fast, then I remembered the speed and was like O yea! Shouldn’t have shocked me that it was so fast. I finished Eclipse Saturday night, and began The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks Sunday on my bus trip. I finished it before I feel asleep, now I have nothing to read and pass time  . It is not one of his best books, but its sweet and simple, it is a quick read obviously. It is still good and keeps my mind of things. My host family here is really nice. They are about the age of my grandparents, the husband walks with a cane. The son is about the age of my oldest brother. I have only met one of his children, I am not sure he has another, but I know my host mom has two grandchildren. I met Sebastian, which made me think of The Little Mermaid, and it made me smile. Tristan and Sebastian are about the same age. Sebastian is stockier than Tristan though. My house is a lot cleaner, NO BUGS! My room is smaller, but the bathroom is bigger and HAS WARM water. The sun heats it up and it felt so nice to have a warm shower. Today is my first day of classes in the city. I am sure it will be similar to Samara. The campus isn’t as pretty though. It is smaller and SQUISHED together and does NOT have a good view. But that is okay, ONLY 5 days left. I can make it. The school has like 100s of people. It’s was way too big for me. I feel crowded always, but I only have 4 days of classes left so I can handle. Unlike Samara I have classes ever morning, 8:30- 12:30 my time, NC time 10:30-2:30. I have to keep reminding myself I only have 4 days left in the BUSY city and then I head home and TRAVEL ALL DAY. I really only have 3 days of classes, then I take an exam and graduation. I am so nervous about graduation now because there are so many people, and I HATE talking in front of crowds, especially when I DON’T speak the LANGUAGE well. UGH! But these people well never see me again so O well. Haha!
5 more days: and I GET TO EAT DIRT CAKE STRAWBERRY CAKE CHOCOLATE PIE STEAK && PREZELS yes! And chick-fil-a

****2 weeks down one to go***

Today is my last SATURDAY!!! && Next week at this time I will be flying home, YES!! That makes me very happy. Last night was a long night. I got sick, my tummy still hurts. I have to pack tonight. UGH! && I have long long bus ride that I am dreading. Please pray tomorrow it is very very important!!

I made another 89 on my exam yesterday. That’s all I can seem to do. I only missed 3 questions, one was careless, the other I just forgot one part of the sentence. Geez! My grades really don’t matter here though, because either way you progress to the next level, you next go down. So I will be in Spanish 3 on Monday in Heredia. My grades don’t really matter too much back at Meredith either, because my grade here doesn’t transfer into my GPA, although a B wouldn’t hurt my GPA. You have make a “C” or better to receive credit for your course. I will receive 3 credits for Intercultura, sorta of a credit each week. Also I have to keep a journal in Spanish, about a page a day, for the Spanish director at Meredith. If I do this he will review it and then he will give me one credit. It’s like family and culture foreign language credit, it is pretty easy. I hope I have wrote enough. Some days I write less and some days I know my grammar is so bad. But I am trying. I understand a lot more Spanish then I did before I came. I can read it pretty well, but I do not speak it will, PRONOUCIATION is getting, surprise? Not for anyone that knows me well, my flat high pitched country voice doesn’t even pronounce English words too well. I can see it in my head and I know how they say the letter, I just can’t get it out through my voice. If someone says it first I can do it. It almost makes me think I have a learning difference, because I also struggle with carrying the tune of a song, but I hear it in my head I just cannot get it out, hmmm…..i just put my psychology soon be degree to use haha. Mom & Dad and all daddy’s side is at the beach for Williams wedding, and Jeffrey and Jennifer at the beach, the couple Jimmy & I hang with are at the beach almost everyone is at the beach this weekend. I am here too, but we are looking at different oceans. I am at the Pacific and they all are at Atlantic. There was an earthquake on Thursday one city away from where I am. Well actually it was Friday at 4am. I didn’t feel it because I was asleep, but from I can understand from everyone it was pretty big. Yikes! But I am in God’s hand so I have no need to fear he will protect me forever and ever. Next Friday is graduation as they call it and we have to say a mini speech in Spanish, mine will be “A mi me agradan mis profesoras mucho. Me clases está muy divierta y yo aprendo mucho. Muchas Gracias” And that is all. Haha! I am not much for words around people I don’t know well, and I will have only been Heredia one week, so yea. I also don’t like public speaking in front of people the same age as me, I don’t mind teaching/ talking in front middle school, elementary, preschool, or high school… It is just my peers that get me. For those of you who know me well, it is hard to imagine me shy, huh?

I am almost finished with the 3^rd Twilight book, Eclipse It is really good. I only have 2 chapters left, which I am going to finish tonight. I recently found out the author is writing Twilight from Edward’s perspective, it is going to be really long. I am excited because she posted the first chapter on the internet and it is really interesting. After Eclipse I only have one book left here, The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. I am going to buy Breaking Dawn at the airport Saturday so I have something to read on the plane. =]

*7 days until I come home.* I am so excited I want to eat so many things that I miss. I have a bunch of cravings like CHOCOLATE covered STRAWBERRIES & BANNANS, A PRETZEL (from the Rocky Mount Mall), Mac & Cheese, Kabobs, Friendship bread, CHOCOLATE PIE, DIRT CAKE, STRAWBERRY CAKE. Soooooooooooooooooooooo much! Yea, I know I am a fatty, but I cannot help it.

Thank you all so much for praying for me don’t stop. I really need God more every day. And my family needs him too, because my phone bill is soooooooooooooo high. So pray for us to find ways to pay it. God provides us with everything we need so I know he will provide us with the fiancés.

OOO I forgot to you what you missed from yesterday my room flooded Thursday night. It was to my ankles. Yikes the whole house I was in flooded. There were 5 lizards in my room ugh! They were all big, but one baby one. They are almost white green, I don’t like them, well I didn’t last night, I was scared they would bite me. But I was told that they eat the bugs so that’s a good thing. I guess. They are really loud. The sound like a pig mixed with a cricket haha. Great explanation huh?

Well I have written you a whol lot so I will stop writing for today. The next time you will hear from will be either Monday or Tuesday probably. Crossing my fingers that it will be sooner rather than later. This week flew by thank goodness, let’s hope next week does too. I am going to miss my family here I really like them they are so nice. (not enough to want to stay longer though.) Pray my Heredia family is nice. I leave a 9 am tomorrow for San Jose, 11 your time. I will get to the airport between 3-4 (5-6 your time) and then I have a 15-30 minute taxi ride to Heredia. So I will be safe about 6-7 your time. PRAY hard.
& pray I can get a taxi heehee. I am not sure I will be good at it. But I will praying the whole time.

Xoxo I love you guys. Keep praying. One week I can make it

8 DaYs

I am going to be home in 8 days! I am so excited I cannot wait. This weekend I take another 6 hour bus ride to San Jose, and then I have to get a taxi and take a 15-30 minute ride to my new host family....ugh ALL DAY. I won't be safe until like 7 or 8 NC time. I won't have the computer until sometime on Monday. I don't know what time or when. So tomorrow will probably be my last post for a few days. Well today has to be really short because I got class in 2 minutes.
Love you all a bunch

I have made it to the single digits.

More is now past me then before me. I have made it to the single digits. I have completed 11 days abroad and have 9 days before my travel home. I am so happy, although I will miss a few things here. Like the cheese quesadillas, my host family here (the family is really nice I hope my host family in Heredia is this nice), the beach, and the beauty. But I will not miss it enough to want to stay here any longer. maybe some day i can come back and visit and see the volcano and the rainforest. i hope so anyhow.
I am so excited to be closer to home. I am also glad I came because God has taught me so much and I am thankful for that. I will see you all in 9 days, 216 hours. aren't you all excited. i think yall should plan a *PARTY* with BUNCHES of AMERICAN FAVORITE FOODS and lots of HUGS! so think about it...
...l love you all!

me

YO SOY MEDIA TERMINAR

Yo escribo este BLOG en español para mi profesora. Mi profesor es nombre es Dr. Duncan. Ella desafió me escribo el puesto en todas las español. Hoy yo se despertó a las seis y media. Yo desuyuna con mi familia de Costa Rica. Yo como tortilla y arroz y fruitas. Yo bebo juga fruita fresca. Yo voy a la esquela a la ocho. Yo tengo clase par cuatro horas. Mi clase es muy rapida y dificil. Mi profesor habla muy muy rapid y no ayuda pero ella es muy paciente y simpatica. Ella debe pronuciación es muy muy muy mas importante. Pronuciación es muy dificul para me.
En diez dias yo voy Estados Unidos. Yo tengo muy feliz. El clima es muy bien hoy, pero posible llueve a noche. Las misquotios es muy malo. A mi no me gustan las misquotios pero las misquotios mantener morderme.
Para a la nocho yo hablo me family via Skype y trabajo me la tarea. Yo siempre tengo mucho mucho la tarea para clase de español. Yo aprendo mucho español en Samara y Heredia pero yo quiero ir mi casa. Yo hacen falta mucha mi famili y mi prometido y mi amigos .
Yo leo a todas los noches mi libro, Eclipse.
Yo recib my primer grado de nuevo hoy, yo hice 89!

yo no está seguro es corecto pero yo probado! Yo esperanzo disfruta este , Dr Duncan!


So here it is in English:
I am writing this total blog in Spanish for my professor. My professor's name is Dr. Duncan. Dr. Ducan challenged me to write a whole post in Spanish. Today I woke up a 6:30. I ate with my Costa Rican family. I had tortillas and rice. I drank fresh fruit juice. I went to school at 8. I have class for 4 hours. My class is very fast and difficult. My professor speaks very very fast and does not help us but she is patient and nice. She says pronunciation is very very very most important. Pronunciation is very difficult for me.
In 10 days I go to the UNTIED STATES. I am very happy. The weather today is good, but it will possibly rain tonight. The misquotes are so bad. I do not like the misquotes because they keep biting me.
For tonight I talk to my family via Skype and work on my homework. I always have a lot of homework for spanish class. I have learned a lot of Spanish in Samara and Heredia but I want to go home. I miss my family, fiance, and my friends a lot.
I read my book, Eclipse every night.
I received my first grade back today, I made an 89!

*I am not sure all my grammar is correct in Spanish but I tried :) Hope you enjoyed this Dr. Duncan!!!!



Lots of love and keep praying *10 DAYS*
JL

*****11 DAYS*************

I will be home in 11 days! I am so excited. I am sitting on the HOT HOT HOT beach...lucky a breeze will come every 30 minutes or so. I had chocolate chip ice cream. Its not like our hershey chocolate chips instead its like coco bean strips. it was still GREAT. I am so ready to be home, o goodness Eye of the Tiger is playing from somewhere close by in English....must be someone vacationing...crazy huh?
I am not sad anymore, I have not cried since SUNDAY two days without tears, are you all so proud. I am still ready to come home, I don't miss home any less I am just use to it now.
Well I am of to class, have a great day

One down Two to go

I have almost made it half way through this battle. Well I guess it cannot really be a battle when you are in a gorgeous place, but its a battle of my heart, because I really love my family, my JIMMY AARON, and my friends. I have almost made it through half way. I am a little sad that this is my last week in Samara because I am just beginning to get close to my family. My host mom and I talked a lot last night, I showed her pictures of my family, my jimmy, my friends. It was very nice, but I stayed up late, which made me wake-up late and almost late for class yikes...haahaa my bad. I hope I will get to skype tonight, but I am not so sure....it depends on if joe or jimmy get home early, which probably won't be today but maybe tomorrow.
Well I just wanted to check in and say thanks for all the prayers because everyday is EASIER and one day closer to home.
Oh, the weather today sucks, its dark HOT VERY HOT slight breeze but not often. It makes me sad. if is going to be hot I would at least like to see the sun geez.
Love you all
JL

Hola!

Hello all.

Today is better. I woke up and my host family was still asleep, I hope I didn't offend them by leaving early. But if I did I will say, Lo siento, I am sorry. I went to look at the shops and now I am sitting on the beach waiting for mom and dad & Joe to get on the computer so I can talk to them. I saw Jimmy Green, my family of course and finally Jeffrey. I saw Austin take 2 steps. I am so excited. I am one day closer.
Today I am going to sit here and talk to my family and then I will go to my host family and make it through another week.
Thanks for the prayers.
-JL

One Week has Passed

I have made it one week and I am so lucky. I am proud of myself. I made 7 whole days and I come home in 14 days. Don't get me wrong, I think it is gorgeous and I am taking as much in as possible, but you see I am not a loner. and most people my age like to PARTY and drink. and I don't like that. I like "oldies" movies, putt putt, bowling, BINGO, silly stuff that is innocent and fun. All the people I have met are party people, and I am not changing to be that, so I rather sit on the beach or the patio of the school enjoy the beauty of Samara, Costa Rica and talk to my family and jimmy. I am so ready to get home and eat. The food here is okay, and I am more than I was at the beginning. But momma and daddy and joseph could tell i looked smaller. no bueno. I am trying I really am. I will eat more when I get home. BOY let me tell you AMERICA we are blessed with the FAST FOOD, and the CHIPS and LITTLE DEBBIE. I love little debbie cakes. hehe and ma-mas cakes.
Last night I was taking a shower and I looked and there was an IGUANA trying to shower with me. I fought back a scream....rushed through the shower and got out and shut the bathroom door. I have not returned haha. I will try again tonight haha. O my goodness it scared me so bad. I woke up this morning and found a tick on me :( that scared me a little bit but I pulled it off. There was a lot of blood, but I will be okay. Momma prayed. so Jesus has me. The beach is beautiful today. There is a slight breezy so that is good. I saw Roxy and Poco and watched Daddy build a tree house and saw my little nephews via skype. Trey called me and I talked to him for a bit. HE IS HAVING PIG tonight BBQ :( jealous. I Tristan drank daddy's tea in front of me....:( i was sad here they only have HOT tea. yuck. haha. 14 days, I can do this. Monday-Friday will be okay. Saturday I will stay here and do what I am doing today. Sunday I will ride to Heredia, for 6 hours....yes SIX hours and then i will meet my host mother. Then Monday I will wake up and go to school take a test and then hopefully I will be back on the internet talking to you people!! I doubt my host mom has internet in Heredia so it will be staying school for internet like I do here. All of your prayers are working because I feel better. I am use to it now. Skyping makes me less homesick. Nights are easy because I know when I wake up I am closer. I rush to get ready. Eat with my host family and then I rush to the school to email everyone and write on my blog. Well I am going to go for now. Hasta Luego. JL

SKYPE

Jimmy got off work early and we saw each other on skype. It was so wonderful. I will only get to do that like once a week. I wish I could do that with mom, dad, joseph, and my other family, but they work during the day so I probably won't be able to. I paid $10 to have internet at the school for the rest of the time that I am at Samara. I think I will be able to pay to have internet at Heredia.
Today was somewhat better, but I just miss home o so much. I try to keep my mind buy but I am starting to worry about the weekend, how will I keep my mind busy? I will read a lot, hopefully come to the beach and sit in the school yard and email. When the weekend is over the hardest part is over, because next weekend I just have to make it through Saturday and then Sunday I ride on a bus for a really long time (6 hours) and then I meet my new host family, get settled. Then I wake-up go to school, make it through that week and then GUESS WHO IS HEADED HOME, me. I am still going to keep this blog when I get home I just probably won't write near as often like once or twice a week. I will be so busy at home with work, going to weddings, lake, beach, ballgames, and jimmy and i will wedding plan, && momma too. We gotta go dress shopping. Hopefully we can go to Lucille's in Wilson, if they are still open. My bridesmaids and I have to find the right dress for them. I started a guest list last night, but I need jimmy's family and I need momma to check and make sure I didn't miss any of our family. Momma & I are going to be very busy getting things straight, and jimmy is going to HELP plan this a lot, right mister???
the ocean here is gorgeous and it is clear today so I can see little islands that are like 2-3 miles away. I tried to capture that in a picture, but you cannot tell.
I am getting use to this place, almost everyone I meet is here for 3 months or more...my goodness I could not do that. They sure are travelers, I am very content with my home life. I like vacationing but without people you love its really just missing party.
I have gotten closer to God. I think God planned this for me, because I took a lot of things for granted, how blessed i was, my relationships, i was missing out on what God wanted me to see, i did not understand how amazing my life was until i left it all behind. Now I really know. && I hope I never forget. I am going to try and be more patient when I get home and my smile WILL NEVER LEAVE MY FACE. of course at times I will get stressed and frustrated but I will be glad I can share my stress and frustration with the people I love.
I just got off the phone with momma, her, joe and the boys are going to skype me in a few minutes...yes!!! I am so excited. I wish I could see daddy too. I love them all so much!
I am really happy.
I going to read God's word while I wait because that makes me happy.
Joshua 1:9 this is MY VERSE "This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Thank you God for being my strength
15 days.

No me gusta desayuna hoy.

Today I did not like my breakfast...it was not yummy. It was wrapped in this greenish brownish looking shuck and it look like potato pot pie when it was unwrapped. It was very hot (temperature) and somewhat spicy. It had a weird texture...I can still taste what little I ate. I used the trick Joe and I did when we were little by spreading it around the plate (or shuck in my case today) to look like we ate more. Jimmy makes me do this in restaurants when I don't finish all my food...he never has to do it because he loves everything.
I hoping today will be better. It was not raining this morning but there were a lot of clouds out. Its way hotter than it has been the whole time I have been here. The breeze is picking up now and again though. There are suppose to be scattered showers throughout the day, so I brought my coat. I was prepared today. Go me.
Well I guess I will go to class know :( I wish I could just write up here all day, but then you guys would get tired of reading haha.
Have a good day, and please keep praying for me.

Forgot to tell you about my classmates :)

I keep forgetting to tell you guys about the people here. They aren't all Americans or Costa Ricans. I have not met anyone from the United States, well two people one in Heredia, she was from Maryland, I have met one from San Fransico, I have met a person from Canada, a person from England, and several people from Germany. Majority of the people I have met have seen the world and speak multiple language. They are a little older or younger than me, and I feel like a kid around them because of the travels they have made. They see all of God's wonderful creations, but unfortunately I am not sure they know God. I hope my light of God shines through me. I talk about church and how I love God. I tell them I don't drink or party, I think they view me as a kid, but you know what I am. I am God's kid and I don't plan on changing that EVER. I am blessed to see that I am who God wants me to be and I am strong.
I am going to stop flooding the blog for tonight...sorry I just want you guys to know everything and I want to look back when I get home and remember everything.

*Blessed

I am so blessed that so many people care about me enough to read this and send me verses and pray....i know people are praying because every second God's spirit is stronger....I have so much be thankful for and I will be home soon to huge everyone of you all for your prayers and support. Please don't stop because when I think I am okay, it starts again. I am trying and I will be strong, I have to be to get through. I refuse to be sad the whole time. its too beautiful to cry through...i have to put my big girl smile on shine for God. I have rough moments and I have easy moments, hey that's life though.
Thank you Thank you Thank you
Momma & Daddy- you are the best parents in the world never forget that...mom i am glad i got your compassion and daddy i got your strength.
Joseph-thanks you for knowing what to say.
Jeffrey- thank you for emailing me everyday and telling i can do this and your proud
Trey-thank you for saying ENJOY this and be strong
Jimmy- thank you for saying you miss me and love me and i can do this and you have my back and hand the whole way.
everyone- i love you and thanks

Praying...

I have been sitting here praying for such a long time and God said, "Think positive, I would never give you anything you couldn't endure my child, every second that ticks by I am with you and always will be. Every moment that passes you are closer to home, and closer to completing this task" -God
This is by far the hardest thing I have ever done. I would never do this again, although I would visit Samara, Costa Rica again because the country is wonderful, I just would NEVER do it alone. God has comforted me so much and told me I could do this...if I push back the tears they build up and flood, but I try to make myself happy by thinking of some great things that are to come:
-I will complete this
-I am strong for doing this
-I get a HUGE JIMMY hug when I get home
-I get to hug my daddy & momma
-I get to see austin WALK!!!
-I get to see Jeslyn when she gets here, and she wont be here until I get home
-I get to go to the beach with my family
-I get to go to the lake with Jimmy's family
-I get to make the difference in the life of a child with autism
-I get to see TRISTAN CADEN AND LEVY
-I get to see my big brothers
-I get to go TO MY CHURCH church on the rise and work with the kids every sunday
-I get to see my kitty cat Magzy and my doggie
-I get to sleep on my bed
-I get to snuggle with jimmy
-I get date nights with the andras'
-I get happiness...and bliss because I didn't realize before I left, I had the most amazing life I could ever ask for, no matter how beautiful Costa Rica is it NOT as wonderful as my life. I miss my life that is America...but everyone better believe when I get home in 16 days I will enjoy it to the fullest.
*16 days and my life is back to the way it should...

Thunder rolls and the tears come

My little heart just broke at the sound of thunder...rain season is here...or as they call it wet season. It will be raining most of the rest of my days. As soon as I heard the thunder I jumped on the weather channel and saw the forecast for the next 10 days is RAIN :( and it is so WINDY here right now. My heart is breaking and the tears are rolling I want to go home. I made it almost 5 days, but it was sunny which made it happier, how can I make 16 more with rain? I know I have to get through I have no choice and maybe after almost day 5 of rain (which will be almost day 10 here and HALF way home) I just so ready to get home...
...start praying harder again and flood the verses in...please
Thanks
-JL
I love you all

Mas o menos

Today is much better, I still miss home o so very much but I'm use to missing it. I still feel a little uncomfortable here, and by the time I finally get comfortable it will be time to head to Heredia. I am not sure if I will get comfortable there or not. I really like Samara much better then Heredia. If I ever get the chance to come back it would be Samara and I would see the volcano and rain forest. Not enough people signed up that so I cannot do it unfortunately but that is okay. I will go shopping instead, maybe. :)
I am done with classes for the day, yes I am glad but also sad because my host family is not home so I am staying at the school because at least people are around. I don't really like being alone but it is okay because it gives me time to seek God and get even closer to him. I am probably going to go sit on the beach soon. After I catch up on emails and my blog. I have learned a lot of Spanish. I wish
I had kept more of what I learned in High School, Ms. Carter taught me so much and it is slowly coming back the more I am here. Classes and everyone is totally in Spanish so I am forced repetition and that helps me a lot.
I have learned when I start teaching that is so important that I remember at school my students are like foreigner, like I am here. They don't know the material that I am teaching and they don't always understand what I am saying; it is my job and duty to show them and teach them so they don't feel lost and alone. If I remember this when I teach then Costa Rica is worth it, if I can teach knowing this I am going to be an awesome teacher, and God will shine through me and show my students a whole lot.
I am a little worried about my phone bill, I try not to talk long but when I am sad Momma and Daddy pray for me and I feel better and Jimmy says, "cheer up little one, I will be holding you soon" and hearing the people I love most helps me feel better. I will work all summer if I have to so Momma and Daddy don't have to pay all of it. I hope to pay majority of it for them, because without them doing that for me I would probably still be crying my little eyes out.
Classes are fun so far we have played games like, charades, bingo, match game, hangman, and others to help us learn verbs, numbers, colors, and other things. I can so take this back to my classroom. Interactive learning is the best way to learn I think.
Also to get an extra credit I have to keep a journal in Spanish this really helps me learn too. It started in English which is okay, yesterday it was half in Spanish and by the weekend it all will be in Spanish.
Today was a whole lot better than Sunday, only a little better than yesterday. I have not cried yet today, I watered up, but not cried yet...go me...maybe I can keep being strong but only with your prayers and God's help.
To everyone who has been reading and praying, Thank you so much for caring about me enough to take the time and read this and pray hard for me, thank you for your words of encouragement and the bible verse...the verses help more than anyone knows.
I love you all so very much.
-JL

Mornings better than Afternoons

Yesterday was a good/bad day. The morning I felt fine, then that afternoon I was sad, and that night I was okay. I so I guess yesterday was more better than worse. I had SPAGHETTI last night and it was yummy. I had french toast this morning it was pretty good. I am enjoying the beauty of Samara a lot more than before. Today I noticed there are NO SPEED LIMIT signs...wow would JIMMY and Momma get in trouble driving here. I also noticed there are NO road signs...no wonder I keep getting lost geez.Well I have class for the next four hours but I will write after class and let you know how my day is.
Keep praying, thanks for reading all these and all your prayers and support. I love you all so much.
<3>

Slight Set Back

I a little sad, I am almost finished with my second book, and I only brought four...reading helps me past time...so what will I do if I finish. I am not reading again until this weekend to make my books last me a little long and limit myself to one chapter a night except on the 6 hours bus ride on May 23 and then I will finish book 3 and start book 4. I will probably finish book four before the week ends which mean I have to buy a book at the airport in San Jose or either Miami for my 8 hour trip with (lay overs).
I still want to come home I don't think i will ever stop wanting that....not a moment goes by that i don't wish i was home, but this is an experience God has blessed me with, a test he promised i could endure before it began.
I have learned that I am not going to ever be without Jimmy; I never have to worry about divorce ever because this separation is heart breaking and we are STILL TOGETHER...how could I live without him EVER!
I learn that even though mom and i tend to argue i rather argue all day then be worlds a way from everyone....i am definitely living close to Spring Hope, Nashville, or Rocky Mount.
I miss daddy's wisdom..
i miss wii with joe, and jimmy and nick and melody...
i miss everything :( even miss driving and i hate to drive...
17 days...i want to go home, but i know i have to do this...i will graduate early because of this i will be a better woman of God because of this...
Dear Jesus,
GET ME THROUGH, Show me you face and guidance. i love you father. thanks for protecting me everyday.
love you all
PRAY guys PRAY
JL

one day closer is one day easier

Everyday gets a little easier, because I know I am one day closer to home and if I have made it 3 days I can certainly make it 17 more (6 sets of 3 is what I tell myself). Don’t get me wrong here, my host family is much nicer here and I like them a lot. The classes are fun and interactive; they keep my mind from missing home. I love the beach it is gorgeous. The whole country is beautiful. San Jose reminds me of New York, and Heredia reminds me of China town in New York, and Samara is paradise it’s like Siesta Keys, Florida. I wish I wasn’t going to Heredia my last week but if I do its cheaper for one, and for two I won’t miss my last day of class, especially since I missed my first day of class. I am sure I will get through this though. I know I will a be better stronger person because I overcame this. IT is sooo hot here but very pretty!! You wanna something funny, I learned they BBQ Iguana here, but it is illegal. They supposedly taste like chicken and the locals commonly do this, and I probably won’t even KNOW!! I ran into a huge iguana yesterday, I almost peed in my short it scared me so bad haha…. I don’t have class until 1-5 (3 America time and I get out 7 American time). I am about to go sit on the beach soon and just read and try to keep my mind busy by praying and reading. God has helped me so much by showing little signs that he was here for me always. My family cooked me French fries last night, they knew I missed home so much. They are so much nicer than my first home. I like them a lot. They are easy to talk to, well easy isn’t the word because it takes a while. My host sister is 14 and is learning English and I helped her last night too. She helped me as well by asking me what certain things were in espanol. I tried hard. I still miss home, but I know God wants me to do this so I am. God promises to never give us more than we can handle. The best part was flying and seeing what God sees every day (except he sees clearer and more) it was amazing; God did an amazing job creating what he did and Costa Rica is like a paradise at Samara!! It’s so beautiful…there are stray DOGS EVERYWHERE, as a matter of fact I am looking out the window and I see a dog missing an eye. There are so many roosters and they are very loud in the morning. Oh you can throw toilet paper in the toilet, how strange to us, not to them, you have to throw it in the waste basket. There is no hot water, my showers take like 5 minutes max, when I get home I am taking a nice long HOT bath…cannot wait. I miss everyone so much. I paid $10 to get internet for 2 weeks on my laptop, but its only at the school, I can stay here until 10pm (12 am at home, but I am not crazy about walking in the dark, so I will probably leave here around 6ish or 7ish each day.) I think they close early on Fridays so I probably won’t get to be here long, but I will sit on the beach and maybe and type…then I will be able to have it longer. One last not so good thing there are MANY HUGE BUGS...but its okay I GOT DEET OFF :)

I am a little worried about the weekends, I haven’t had a weekend here yet, I hope I can stay busy!! But I won’t have school :’( So I am worried about that because it will be here in 2 days!!! But the sooner the weekend comes the sooner I am home. I hope I do somethin
PLEASE DO NOT STOP PRAYING!! I LOVE YOU ALL BIG!
One day closer!!
**********************17 DAYS*******************************

My first day of classes

Classes are four hours long...ALL in spanish of course...I feel like I am learning a lot though. I had classes this morning 8-12 and tomorrow 1-5. (11-2 america time and 3-7 american time). I miss everyone so much still...I met some people but I don´t think I would hang out with them during the day, they seem very wild!! I probably will be at the beach when I dont have class doing homework or reading...I wish i knew how to ride a bike so I didn´t have to walk. I will spend majority of the days alone, which stinks but its okay...i think i am going to like samara better then heredia because of the beach....my last week is in heredia, but thats okay because then i will only be 1 week from home!! YEA!!!!
i do enjoy it here a little more, but i still rather be home snuggling with jimmy, being at the house with my family & nephews, working in the autsim lab, and eating yummy food!!! O thats what i miss a lot!! and of course ENGLISH!!
i think it would be fun to come back for about a week with jimmy of course, and maybe the family too....
i miss home still....18 days!!!
i love you all keep praying and sending verses.

peace at last

Your prayers are working...i am finally settled...i think because mom and dad called. i talked to my jimmy. mom and dad fixed my phone to work, i sure it will cost a lot but i will help them pay i am just glad to hear familiar voices. it is very beautiful, it is still really hard. after the 6 hour bus ride yesterday i got off on the wrong stop, and was lost for 2 hours but i found my way to my host family. it was so good to sleep. mom and dad and joe called me and made me cry but i sleep all night. i finally stomached a banana all there food is so different...it is definitly not mucho mexic, el tap, or my favorite taco belle not even close....i may go the volcano this weekend but it cost $165 american dollars so i am going to think about it. the beach is gorgeous...i dont know if the water is cold or not.
i hope to make friends today...
thanks momma and daddy and joe for calling i felt so much better
thanks everyone for your prayers
i love you all
jimmy it was amazing to hear your voice this morning....i felt much better...

ill post more as soon as i get the chance....good bye for now.

NEED PRAYER

I am so sad...i miss everyone...this is by the hardest thing in my life..I cry constantly....I want to go home....I cannot eat here, I keep throwing up...not good I need strength...PLEASE pray!! 19 days and 450 hours...
Momma and Daddy please pick me up at Miami at 12:00 Sat May 29 so I dont have to wait longer...I so sad....
Jimmy Momma and Daddy and Joe come get me PLEASE PLEASE...I couldn't buy a calling card or international phone....Change my phone plan daddy i need yall...i so sad.......
I not want to be here...
my skype video doesnt work....
I want to come home please get me please...get a hotel and stay with me here PLEASE guys please....
I cry everynight....PRAY for peace and comfort and that time will fly

Landed

While I flying I look out the window and I feel like I saw the world from God's eyes. It was gorgeous. I landed in Costa Rica at 11 (1 in our time). It is so scary, I don't speak espanol, so its really tough. I could not figure out where the baggage claim was, and when I finally found it I was so anxious, what would my family be like, where they there. I kept waiting and waiting and my luggage never seem to come...everytime I saw a blue bag my heart was happy and then let down because it wasnt mine...20 minutes later I saw my bag and was so happy. I got it and confusingly found the way and my host mom of one night was there...waiting. I couldn't understand her because she spoke only espanol. Finally we got to her house it is very nice and she made me a sandwhich. She left for a little while with another boy that is staying from Canada, his name is Carl I think. I don't know when I will have internet again but I cannot wait....
toodles for now
PLEASE PRAY for peace, understanding, and that I will stop missing everyone and that it will get easier
408 hours till I am home....

Preparing for the Toughest thing ever

Preparing to go Abroad and leave everything I know and am comfortable with is the toughest thing I have ever had to do. I know that God will be with me and protect me everyday. It is just a really scary adventure & I have to rely fully on God and my 10,000 angels that protect me every single day.
I am very excited about the plane ride though, I love flying the world is so pretty from up top!! God must love looking down at his amazing creation.
I still have not packed yet for Costa Rica and I leave Sunday! YIKES!! Hee hee!! I guess I better start really soon...I leave at 6:50 am on Mother's Day and I will come home May 29 at 6:40 pm.
While I am gone I hope to catch up on my last Nicholas Sparks books and TWILIGHT!!

What I am going to miss MOST while I am gone

• Jimmy Aaron
• My family
• BABY AUSTIN, TRISTAN, CADEN, & LEVY
• Working in Kids Church
• Working with the Meredith Autism Program
• Hanging out with NICK & MELODY
  
• PRETZELS
  
• Capri Sun : Strawberry Kiwi
• having a cell phone
• Magzy (my cat)
• Roxi (my lil doggie)
• my bed
• fishing
  

What I won't MISS

• Driving
• WAL MART
• bills
• yea that's pretty much it!!!

Well please be praying for me while I am gone.....