my journey contines

i had a wonderful time with my family today - boy, am i ever glad i got to come home. originally i thought that i’d be unable to come home for Christmas. and although i’m sure i’ll have those coming up in the future, i was glad it wasn’t this one.

grandma and grandpa came over and we took our time (lots of time) to just relax, have breakfast, open some gifts, took a break to put the turkey and start the dinner, opened a few more gifts, had dinner, visited, etc. i love my family so much and i’ve missed them incredibly while i’ve been gone.

here are just a few pics to share…

last night my family and I went to see the Chinese Lantern Festival downtown by Ontario Place. It was nice to hang out and it was beautiful!!

it’s been nice that while i’ve been home, although rushed, i’ve been able to visit with some good friends. last night the Azuma’s came over and we talked about what i am going to be doing, different realities of travelling abroad, etc. it was great.

today i got to spend some time with my grandparents. my family drove over and we spent some time w/ my grandpa, had dinner with my grandma, and then went to church with both of them there. i saw some people that i knew from when i was little, so i heard many statements such as “you MUST be [your mom's] daughter!!” and other such things. it was so nice to just spend some time together though. my brother is leaving to go out east to meet his g/f’s parents on Tuesday for a week — so this was also one of the last times i got to spend hanging out with him.

hello!!

well training went well! after a week (Monday-Thursday) and I was able to meet some of the other interns as well as Marshall & Kiki (my housemates to be). it’s a really interesting organization and i’m so excited to start my internship! that being said, i’m wiped. it’s been an intense summer, with school and moving back here with such a short time before i move again…

i miss my friends from school. i’m so thankful that i’m busy because knowing me and my “sentimental-ness” haha i would be missing them more if i had more time. gradually people are setting up their blogs and getting ready to go. everybody has a field placement now! isn’t that awesome. a special congrats to janell who has most recently had everything fall into place. (you will do great!! i’m SO excited for you!) and all of you. i’m excited for all of you! keep in touch, don’t be a stranger… i’m still working on the DVD…

also, a side note, i bought my pack for backpacking, hiking boots, and a variety of other things. i’m so excited. also, i found out i’m going to be able to take spanish language classes 2-3 hrs a day. i’ve wanted to become fluent for so long! woo hoo

well that’s all for now, i’m going to spend some time w/ the fam tonight.
thanks for reading!

shannon

… no i’m not really in denial. i’m so excited for the next chapter of my life! i can’t believe this Philly portion has gone by so fast though. again, sorry i haven’t blogged lately — no, wait i’m not sorry (i apologize too much :P) haha… but ya, it’s been so busy and i haven’t been getting tons of sleep, etc.

also, I talked to the two people that are going to be working as interns in nicaragua as well on skype this week. still figuring out housing… got an e-mail about possible housing options so that will probably get figured out this week — exciting!

and ALSO, i got a call today from rafael which was nice. another great friend from back home and I hadn’t talked to him in ages… although I might not have been so alert having gone to bed at some ridiculous hour — it was great to hear from you, rafael. i appreciate your interest in my journey and am excited to hear about all God’s doing in your life. remember He has a plan for you!! (and you, all you other readers!!!)

this coming Friday is my commencement. i can’t believe it. this has been wonderful. and my family is coming!! i’m so excited! mom, dad, andrew, grandma and andrew’s girlfriend, jess.

1 month today i fly to nicaragua. crazy!

well that was kind of a quick update, i’ll try to get back on track. really appreciate your reading and following along. still love the comments, keep ‘em coming!

shannon

it was so nice to be home!! spent some quality time with my grandparents and family, made them look through all my Philly pics/videos (hehe) and just relaxed. now that my brother lives in my old room, i got the daybed in the office which is suprisingly comfortable! so it really wasn’t bad! and mom’s homecooked meals mmmm delicious!!!

anyways it was great to be home. thanks to those of you who shared my special day with me and thanks mom and dad for pulling something together on last minute.

me & my grandpa

today i got to spend some quality time with my grandparents and it was a real blessing! i truly have been fortunate to have been able to get to know my grandparents on both my mom and dad’s side, and when i was little i even got to meet my great grandmother!!

anyways i really feel blessed. my grandpa on my dad’s side and my grandma on my mom’s side have been particularly influential to me in my life. my grandpa died when i was 14, but to this day i still can think of ways he’s impacted me. he was a truly amazing, God-honoring man. i wish you could all meet him. my grandma is another one of the most Christ-like, amazing women i have ever met in my life. she exhibits real faith, deep faith, patience, kindness, love, discipline, i could go on and on. it’s been wonderful as i’ve gotten a little older to get to know her better.

today is my dad’s birthday. he just turned __. (hehe) happy birthday dad!!

it’s the first time i haven’t been with my family for one of their birthdays. although i’ve had a productive day, so far… been in the library for a couple hours this morning researching cross-cultural orientation and training methods.