Not A Forever Farewell...

Well, I'm back home in the States now.... This will be my last Honduras blog update. A bittersweet feeling comes along with that thought. It is amazing to think that I just spent a little less than a year of my life in a completely different, but all-around amazing country.

Leaving was terribly difficult. I did not expect it to be as difficult as it was. The Friday before I left (I went home on a Monday), all the kiddos had a "surprise" farewell party for me. The surprise part was ruined when I walked in the previous evening and saw "THANK YOU BOBBI! WE WILL MISS YOU!" That was when I thought to myself, "Hmmm, I think something might be going on tomorrow." In addition to the farewell party, I received a picture frame with a photo of all my kiddos. That was particularly emotional for me because around the picture, they all signed their names in their goofy, crazy, messy, 5-year-old handwriting styles. I realized right then that I was in for a difficult good-bye weekend. No one ever realizes how attached they are to something until they have to let it go.... I definitely learned that!

On that next Saturday morning, I was able to purchase the copier for the school! This was my big surprise/gift for the school because they have done so much for me. It was truly a blessing to be able to do that for them.

Saturday afternoon, my roomies told me that they wanted to take me to lunch. Unfortunately, they didn't tell me that little detail until AFTER I already put my leftovers from Friday in the microwave. Justin came out to the kitchen and yelled at me to make me take my food from the microwave just because he and Ashley wanted to take me to lunch. I did not know I was doing anything wrong, but Justin was just like, "Take it out of the microwave! NOW!" Haha. Then when I asked what time we would be going to lunch (at Pizza Hut), he said that he had to shower first and it would probably be an hour or so. What kind of GUY takes an hour to shower!??! Well, the reason he took an "hour long" shower was because once we got to Pizza Hut, all the staff from the school and some of Pastor Dennis and Tammy's family showed up for a surprise lunch. It was a wonderful time of fellowship where everyone went around the table and said wonderfully nice things about me as they all made me cry. I didn't realize that I really had much of an effect on everyone. I am blessed that I was able to hear even a small part of what I have done for everyone else.

Sunday was another emotional day, yet again. Pastor Dennis had asked me to share in church, so I got up there and spoke in all Spanish (surprising more people than I could count!) to tell them about my experience in Honduras. Pastor Dennis then shared some wonderful words and took up an offering for me! That was such a wonderful surprise. Everyone down there has been so amazing to me, and I greatly look forward to the day that I can visit them all again.

My "Good-bye" in Honduras is not a forever Farewell..... It is a "See you again soon!" All of my Honduran family is excited for me to move on to the next step of my life: Marriage. I greatly look forward to taking my future husband back down there with me, so that he can experience the love and support of my family there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now that I am back home, I have done a little bit of my remaining wedding plans, but I don't have much left there. It is more of a waiting game at this point. I have also gotten a puppy. Her name is Piper and she is a feisty little lab puppy. Matt and I love her to death though! We also moved forward with the house hunt. In fact, we made an offer, it was accepted, and we are now in the closing process. Closing will take place on or before July 19! Matt and I will have a house! We can't wait to get it all ready to live in for October! Needless to say, each and everyday I count my blessings. My experience in Honduras has been a wonderful opportunity to prepare me for what is yet to come in my life. Although I have yet to find a job, I am at peace that the Lord will provide an opportunity for me to use my Spanish.

I thank each and every one of you, my readers. I love you all, and I am blessed to have your unending support. May you all be greatly blessed this day and throughout the rest of your lives! ;-)