The goings-on and a little something new

One more week and we are out of here! Our place is CHAOS right now and I hate it. I'm so different than when I was just a few years ago. I can't stand messes or clutter any more and the mess that is our chateau is really stressful for me. I was such a messy child/teenage/college student/newlywed and now I am so completely the opposite of that.

We have been trying to get Chloe Jo's room painted back to the blah color that it was originally so all of her furniture is hanging out in other rooms. We were able to clean off the bed so Chloe Jo and I slept in Russ and I's room and Russ slept on the couch for the last 3 nights. She could have slept in her room last night, but the paint smell was still strong so we thought it best for her not to.

But it is done and we are ready to get the rest of our things packed up. We are heading out next Monday. I can't believe we only have one more week here!

The something new is that I'm going to do a new series on here. More blog fodder? Yes, please! I am really looking forward to this and I hope you guys think it is as fun and interesting as I do.

During my teen years, I was able to travel overseas several times with my family. My Dad did a lot of missionary work and we were able to go with him. I went to Kiev, Ukraine for month-long stays each time. This was always during the school year {score!} and we always had a great time. The school put my sister and I on homeschool status during that time so we didn't fail our classes for being absent so long. I have 4 journals from the trips over there that I want to share with you guys. They are from 1994 (I was 12), 1196, 1997, and 1998. Please remember that I was young and so some of the things are rude and inconsiderate that I say in these...and other things are just plain dumb! I have enjoyed reading back through these and I'm so glad my Mom and Dad made (yes, made!) me do them. They are such treasures now! Also, I'm going to leave spelling and punctuation like I wrote it. I think it makes it so much more real and fun. Words in italics are added by me.

Without further ado, here are a couple of passages from my 1994 journal:

"Nov. 1, 1994

We arrived at KCI airport around 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday. We had 12 bags in all, 4 carryons, and 8 others. When they finally let us board we got on, chose our seats, and took-off. It is really neat to watch the ground dissappear below us.

We arrived at Cleavland airport and we had to run to get to our plane to Newark. It was basically the same except we had a storm coming and had to wait on the runway for over an hour. When we got to Newark we really had to run to catch our flight. Most of the people had allready boarded and they thought we weren't going to make the flight. We didn't get dinner until 9:00. We were served salad and meat in Scandinavean style (Gag me). Then we watched a movie called the Mask (stupid)."

Nov. 2, 1994

"I woke up with a hot wet rag because they were handing them out to wake us up by. We had a Scandinavean breakfast served to us (Gag me). We landed in Copenhagen around 9:30. The airport was real pretty and clean (until Michelle (Michelle is my sister who goes by Chelley now) knocked a trash can over). We arrived in Keiv about 2:00 (6:A.M. in H-ville time). Keiv is really pretty. From our balcony window in our flat (Apartment) we can see the river and the silver lady, Mother of the Ukraine."

I have just laughed and laughed tonight going through these old journals. I know my family will get a kick out of them and I hope you all do, too. I love reliving these memories especially written by a 12 year old me. I do wish I had a scanner to share some of the pictures from our trips. Maybe soon I can borrow one and get some of the pictures scanned.

I hope you all have a great week! Mine is going to be busy!