A Gift to Me!

I've been meaning to post an update on what's been going on in my life, but I just can't seem to find the time or the words. Life is crazy and I can't wait to get off this boat. I've gotten to the point where I've put up with about as much as I can. And that really only means one thing, that everything gets on my nerves and makes me so mad! Anyways, I'm not writing to go into all those details, I just wanted to share a short story with you.

So, I got up the other morning at 0330 for my 0400 watch. (The time really is irrelevant, but I thought maybe I'd get an "awe, poor dear, has to be up working at that hour". You know, a little sympathy. Ha ha)

Anyways, so there I am standing at the sink brushing my teeth. And I look in the mirror and think to myself, "wow, I really need to whiten my teeth". Then I go on thinking about how I'm trying to save money for Australia and that whitening my teeth really isn't something I must do but only something I want and therefore is not really important at all.

So, off to work I go. When I returned to my room a couple hours later, I noticed something odd in my bed. Weird I thought. What is in my bed? ...You'll never guess... Teeth Whitening Strips! Oh my gosh! Where did they even come from!?

So at breakfast that morning I asked all the girls if someone left their whitening strips in my bed...

Everyone stared at me strangely with the look of, "why would I put whitening strips in your bed?" I mean, it is kind of an odd question. Who would put whitening strips in my bed? hmmm maybe God? He does like to give me little gifts like that. Just to make me smile.

So, that's my story. And now I have nice white teeth again! YAY!

Australia + Alaska = Smiles

This is my happy face!!!!

Well, as most of you know, I put my application in with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) for their Discipleship Training School in Australia… And… I just found out that they accepted me! So, I don't think I need to say it, but I’M SUPER EXCITED! The school doesn't start until the end of September so hopefully by then the exchange rate doesn't change a whole lot and I'll still be able to afford it. I can't wait!!!

Also, I just got this amazing deal on a plane ticket to Alaska. (I'll be going there July-August for another year of salmon fishing). I was going to pay $600 for a round trip flight and I was pretty excited about that because I spent over $1,000 the first time I went. But my amazing friend Amanda found this guy on Craigslist that was selling his air miles for $200. I wont go into all the details of the whole process but I thought for a while there that I had been had. And so did everyone else on the ship I'm working on. They kept telling me that you just can't trust anyone and that everyone is out to scam you these days. But I said that you just have to take risks sometimes and that there are still some trust worthy people out in this world. Not very many, but still, you can't live your life in fear that everyone is just out to get you. (Don't worry I don't just go around trusting everyone, I will definitely use my good judgment when hitchhiking.) :D

Anyways, after hours of being on the phone and computer I finally got a round trip ticket to Alaska for $200! YAY! I think it's safe to say that I've had a pretty amazing week.

Oh and I also only have five weeks left here on M/V American Spirit! Then I get to go "home" to Arkansas and see Joey, my family, see some friends, go camping and swimming for a week and then I'm off to Alaska!

*smiles*