My new niece!

Hannah

I'm one happy aunt!

This is my brother's third already. They make such. cute. children.

New Zealand!

This is Jason and I on the bus ride up to the Remarks...45 minutes up a dirt road with a pretty big drop on the side. Safty first!

Hi guys! I'm pretty excited about this blog site! I like the pictures and stories that you have posted!

I have been in New Zealand for the last three months and I have to say it is pretty sweet! I've been working at a ski resort called the Remarkables just out side of Queenstown on the South Island. It's a pretty fun little town, the resort is a lot of fun, defenently a lot smaller then the resorts in the states.

I went to Wanaka, a small town about an hour and a half from Queenstown. We went to a place called Puzzle world, which had an illusion room and tables with all sorts of games and puzzles.

It pretty much rained in town all weekend, so I didn't getto do the short hike I wanted, but that's ok, puzzle world was pretty sweet. Yesterday we went snowboarding at another resort. There was a bit of fresh snow and it was really fun. It was nice to get out of town for a bit.

I havn't actually developed any of my film, so I don't have more pictures to to put up yet, but maybe soon!

Amy's coming to visit me on monday and I'm really excited!

Love you guys!

Labor Day Hiking Adventure

This is a "before" shot.

Just before our sweet lunch break.

Aww! They are so cute :)

And, the MEN!

Labor day weekend, the Wrights, Hamiltons, Sarah and Becky Winkle and myself loaded into a minivan with our packs and headed to Manistee to hike a 20-ish mile loop on the North Country Trail and the Manistee River Trail. We hiked in a mile or two Friday night in the dark before finding the perfect camping spot -- which was extra lucky seeing as it was dark.

Saturday morning we got up and did a good amount of hiking in the morning before finding the perfect spot for lunch. It ended up turning into a four hour endeavor in which we ate, napped, swam, explored, and rode the river. So much fun!

After another hour or so of hiking we found our second campsite right next to the Manistee River. It was beautiful and so peaceful. We ate a delicious dinner, made a campfire, and enjoyed the stars. Sunday we did the final part of our loop on tired legs but still in good spirits.

It was a great weekend and the scenery was spectacular. So good for the soul to spend an entire weekend enjoying God's creation with great friends!

p.s. Julie -- I know this isn't very extensive so feel free to add/edit this post as you see fit!!

This one time...I went to Africa

We saw a family of Elephants -- they were so close we could see their eyelashes!

All dressed up for church on Sunday.

One of the girls in the village where the school will be.

So I promised Julie I would post about my trip to Africa. It was SO amazing. I was in Lusaka, Zambia for about two weeks. The group I was with was great...our team really worked well together. We held a camp for the first four days we were there for about 150 girls. We each worked with a small group of girls and then also did a session that the different groups rotated through during the week.

I was supposed to be in charge of games using balls ie kickball and foursquare. BUT, a few days before we left my boss asked if I would be willing to switch to having "Girl Talk" instead. So, for four days, I talked to 150 different girls about puberty, sex, their bodies, etc. It was a bit awkward at times, but in the long run I think I really was able to help some of them. A lot of those subjects are taboo and don't get discussed, so lots of the girls opened up and had some honest questions to ask.

We are building a school for orphaned and underprivileged children as well. So, I got to see the village where that is going to happen, and after meeting with the chief three days in a row my boss got land donated for the school -- so, so very awesome. It is so amazing to be a part of the work God is doing in the lives of women and children in Africa. I LOVE my job :)

And, I got to go on a Safari!!