Decisions, Decisions!

I am going to type from my heart, it might be a little everywhere, it might be a little hard to follow, but I am hoping it comes full circle! So, here I go!

Decisions... OoO Decisions! They can be exciting, they can be challenging, they can be frusturating! sometimes we make the wrong decisions that turn right and other times... OoO Mine! What a mess it becomes!

Now, don't get me wrong! I am grateful I have the RIGHT/FREEDOM to make decisions. The simply ones of what I would like to wear or eat for lunch. When you have decisions to make you have choices, and with choices brings a sense of independence. I am grateful I was born in the United States of America, home of the free and the brave bc without that I may not be here typing to all of you 1200 miles away. I would not be able to wear my short pants with a tank top, be 24 and not married (even choice my own husband). I am able EVERYDAY to make decisions of what I want to believe, where I want to worship, and voice my opipion (quietly or loudly) about the latest breaking news! Because of the choices and decisions women and men made before I was even born, before I was even thought of, I am able to make these tough decisions, these deciisons that feel as though they will impact my WHOLE path of life, if I choice to go left instead of right my life will take a path that is not right for me!

Well, if that is the case then I am screwed! Royally screwed, to more exact because I have no sense of direction, I get my rights and left messed up, I drive I-95 when I should be on I-96 and lets not even begin taking about east and west! If there is not a land mark I will miss the turn and if I miss the turn I won't realize for hours! (If you think I am kidding ask my father or my mother- they will tell you!)

But the above paragraph makes me smile! That is my life on the road and the real world! I take these leaps of faith, figure it out a long the way. I go on a vibe and hope for the best! I love my daily 'To-Do' list (Honesty, I live for that list!) but if some one were to ask me where I thought I would be in 5 years, panic would come across my face! I think about it, I have goals and I have dreams, I want to live in the moment, I don't want to miss a beat bc I was worried about the future! Then what if something better comes my way, something I never thought of comes my way, that I will LOVE more then I would of loved my first 'Plan of Attack!'

I do not want to miss a moment or an opportunity! But do I! Do I miss those opportunities because I said Yes to this and No to that! Because I did not fill that out, but I filled that out! On the map of life I joined the Peace Corps instead of getting a job or going to Graduate School right away! I became a Social Worker instead of a Teacher! What if I am messing with the 'Plan!' What if I picked wrong! I could drive myself crazy thinking about all of that... but it crosses my mind! I do not want it to appear that I regret ANYTHING, I have choices in my life, but with all these opportunities, Wi PaPa, would life be 'easier' if I did not have them! I would live a simply content life, with family as my center!

You know my FIVE year goal! It is to find this happy and joyful balance of opportunities and simply content life, with family being my center!

Where does this all come from! In 8 months, my journey is 'over' (or has it just begun!) with the Peace Corps! I must make my next move, I must make decisions, I must choose a path! It is frighten, it is fantastic, it is overwhelming, and it is relaxing!

As I get overwhelmed, as I lay my head down at night, I say a very simply prayer: 'God, Guide Me, if I am not suppose to do this or if I am, sending flashing lights, horns, and noise makers to ensure my stubbornness does not get in the way and I hear you!"

Little Moment #4

Many times in my life, I have to stop and think to myself, how did I get here. How have I been so blessed to have many unique and powerful moments in my life. At times I am truly in awe with the life I live. Sometimes it the view I am looking at, an individual I meet on the road who is THRILLED to see me, or a story I have been told. It makes me think "Life is good!"

This moment was no different. After, I stopped and thought, "what events landed me right here, right now, in this moment!" I do therapy with a very unique group of women. They are currently in the State Prison, there are only three of them and I have been working with them since January. For the month of August, all parties needed a little break from 'traditional' therapy. I was sick of talking and they have, had enough of the listening piece. So I decided, lets do Yoga! It is a way to calm the body, relieve stress, and find your center. I called on a lovely PCV to help me in this task, since I do not know Yoga and she is a Yoga instructor!

Afterward, as we were both cleaning up the mats, we just stopped, smiled and said "How did this opportunity found itself presented to me"

Little Moment #3

The world is truly small! People say it all the time, I have said it in the past, but being on this island makes me believe how small the world is! I was waiting to get into where I do therapy and this car pulls up! The man drives gives me a Jolly HELLO! The women sitting in the seat gives me a Hello and then ask a questions I would never of expected out of her. She says, as frank as can be, ‘Are you from Michigan?’ A little side bar, I have met about 10 people who know where Michigan is and about another 5 who have traveled/lived to Michigan, so for someone to ask me about Michigan is VERY rare. There is a large Dominican/Caribbean population in the New York, New Jersey, Florida areas, NOT Michigan!

Delighted she asked me about Michigan, I tell her yes, explain that I grow up on the East Side and went to school on the West Side. She ask what school, I tell her Grand Valley University (Go Lakers!), and she says, “I teach some classes there in Special Education, and have a degree in counseling!

Also excited to have a little connection of home, she made my day!

Little Moment #2

I spent three days in Martinique (as mentioned in a previous blog!). I went there for volleyball but at night time, we went to an outdoor celebration in honor of the town we were in. The outdoor celebration was filled with different type of food booths (Crepes, Grilled Sandwiches, French fries, and chicken), BUMPER CARS, a Carnival Ride, and some Carnival Games. On the last night, we were getting ready to leave because it was raining and getting late and all of a sudden, the sky light up! No my friends it was not lightening but rather FIREWORKS! I was simply in aww… and then had a moment of trips up north for the Fourth of July and all of the memories that come with that. Nobody there really understand the joy those Fireworks brought me. I stood there standing, staring at the colors, wanting to take every moment in. I did not want to miss an OoO… or an Ahh… I just wanted to stand their in silence and ENJOY! It was a pleasant surprise and treat to have Fireworks and I just thought of it as my Fourth of July Fireworks about 2 months late! Rather late then never!

I have attached my favorite Fourth of July picture from my sister, from this year.

Little Moment #1

I have been having all of these ‘Little Moments’ lately, most that make me smile, some that make me say “aww…” , some that bring sadness to my heart, and other moments that give me great joy from moments of home! I thought I would share all of these random little moments with you. Some are long stories while others are one statement. For the next few days I hope you enjoy my ‘My Little Moments!’

Have you every seen a child under the age of three eat ice cream? OoO My word, it is the cutest thing in the world I find. There is such a sense of pure joy and mess! While I was walking back to my bus stop after getting some ice cream with a PCV, I pass this little girl, whose mouth, lips, and chin was covered with strawberry ice cream and her mother was giving her an ice cream popsicles to eat next, it was precious!

Martinique

Over the first of August, I went to Martinique to play three on three grass volleyball. There were two men and one female on each team. There were a total of about 20 teams there. Martinique is about a 1.5 hour ferry ride from Dominica. Let’s just say, Michelle does not have sea legs and will no longer be taking the ferry without a little motion sickness medicine! It is a French speaking country; one will find lots of pastries, breads, teas, crepes, ICE CREAM, a mall, a Grocery Store and wonderful shopping. The country is very development since France takes care of them. There is even a McDonalds! I hate to say this but I did get some French Fries from McDonalds, they were REALLY good!



Back to why I went! Each year this town in Port de Pierre has a festival. The Dominica National Team has a connection with the town. Dominica took 8 individuals over there (4 women and 4 men) to play in their volleyball tournament which took place on Sunday. We did not stay in an hotel but rather with a family. My host mom’s name was Carol, she was very sweet, could speak English, and made AMAZING cocoa tea which I enjoyed every morning! I stayed there with one other teammate, and then the other 2 females stayed at a house, and the four men stayed at another house. The meeting point was Joule’s House, where we would have our meals on her porch, gathered to leave, and just sit and hang out.



Beside playing volleyball we went to their outdoor celebration the two nights we were there, to town to shop before we left on Monday, to a beach party, a fashion show on the beach, and to a distillery where they make their local beer.




Over all it was a GREAT three days! I feel so lucky and blessed to be given this opportunity. NEVER in a million years would I of thought that I would leave one island to go to another for the weekend. I have had so many opportunities and experiences because on January 2nd, 2008, I decided to take a ‘leap of faith,’ fill out more paperwork then I have ever done before, have interviews and interviews, have appointments, run around the city of Grand Rapids as my mother was running around the Metro area for me, be told I was not going anymore, and finally sign up for the Peace Corps!

Summer Camp- Graduation!

I have been busy and pictures were not uploading properly so I am sorry it has taken me so long to get these to you!



But a few weeks ago, my camp had its Graduation! In Dominica they have a graduation ceremony for everything, Summer Camps, School, Sports Camps, etc! With mine, I tied in an arts and craft display as well. I have been saving all of the arts and crafts they have done throughout the three weeks and put them on display for parents and students a like to see!



Here are the rest of the pictures from the LAST weekend of Camp!

Click HERE to see the pictures!