wow. time flies. period. summer, so far, has been crazy and so fun!

monday

i went on a road trip with this chica:

we went to brainerd because i had a btw session. we went to all my favorite places and to my hometown to see my old school and house. it was crazy. and, i got to see:

tuesday

hung out with:

and it was great! i miss them so much.

then i babysat:

wednesday

hung out with:

and

we watched tommy boy. then the girls and i ditched the boys and had a sleepover!

we went shopping at one o'clock in the morning (one of my favorite things to do) and just happened to find the mango juice that we drank in mexico every morning. what a find! and we watched prime.

thursday

got to talk to emily and her wonderful family for quite some time. <3

and

hung out with:

and made cooookies! tons and tons of cookies. and watched redeye.

friday

hung out with:

and saw the fast and the furious: tokyo drift, while soaking wet because we had to run to the theater in that crazy rain.  then had a nice little adventure because miss amy locked her keys in her car! what a night.

saturday

worked at the open house of:

and had a BLAST!

then had a mini-party at my house. those who attended:

with a special appearence by:

sunday (<3)

went to upper room (church outside, baby!), chili's, and em's house with:

and

.

we watched 101 dalmations and guess who showed up to say good-bye?

(i miss you, michael!)

alas, the first week of summer has passed. i know the rest of the summer will be fun, but the time has come for me to get to work.

Okay, so right now I have a huge smile on my face. Would you like to know why I have a huge smile on my face? Okay, I will tell you.

Background Info

So, in Mexico, on our first day at the Casa, there was this adorable little handful named America. It was her first day at the Casa. She had grown up in a one-hall womens prison (in Mexico, if the mom goes to jail, the kids go with her) and had never been anywhere else until that day. She was a little over a year-old (maybe a year and a half, it's hard to tell) and she was having a really difficult time adjusting to being there. She wasn't eating, she was constantly crying, and she wouldn't let anyone hold her except her sister and the house moms. Well, by the end of the week, she was a happy little girl, giving kisses and laughing. It was honestly amazing.

Heartbreak

Shortly after we returned to the U.S. we found out that she had been taken back to the prison because her mother wanted her back. I was honestly heartbroken. I cannot even tell you how angry and sad I was.

Reason for Smiling

I just found out on Tuesday that she is back at the Casa, safe and sound. This is huge to me; it's an answer to prayer. I was so excited when I found out.

^ That's her sister Reyna.