Going Back to My Roots

I'm heading back to Korea after not being there for two years!  I can't believe it myself!  Now I just have to cross my fingers that there won't be some new virus that develops around the world.  My trip in 2010 was cancelled due to H1N1 and I didn't plan on going the following year.  

I'm really looking forward to going back, I have truly missed Korea.  And I am going early with a great friend so it will be a lot of fun and another great friend will be in the group too!  

I think I've really appreciated my Korean heritage in that past few years.  I've eaten more Korean food, I've actually brought kimchee into my house, and I've now learned how to cook Korean food!  Will I learn how to speak Korean?  No, I just don't have the mind set for learning the language.  

I have a wonderful hubby to support me in traveling to Korea (or anywhere else), I couldn't do it without his support.  How many hubbys out there would accept their wives wanting to travel at anytime they felt like it?  My hubby is just that great and he's all mine, I'm so lucky!!

Let The Summer Project...

Begin!  Seriously...Finally!!  Contracts have been signed and the plans have been finalized.  The project will actually begin the end of August...seriously, it's been such a long road just to get to the start and now we have an entire month yet!  But in the end, it will look fantastic and will be well worth it, right?  Right!

The reason this whole thing has taken so long to get going is because we are working with at least 13 different people/companies...geesch!  We want it done right and we want it to look great, so we did our research and waited and waited and waited...but now I can exhale and let this project begin!! 

Stay tuned!!

A Proud Mama

My son returned from his church mission trip to Sturgis, South Dakota on Saturday.  We didn't get to catch up too much since we all went out on the boat when he got home, then he went to bed immediately afterwards.

The next morning, the entire work group went to church to share a bit of what they experienced.  It was wonderful to hear how well the group did and what they got out of it.  Later in the day, some of the other kids from the group came over to our house and shared some more about their trip.

The living conditions consisted of 13 of the boys in one classroom in a high school all sleeping on air mattresses.  My son's mattress happened to be the envy of the entire group, who knew!  The visual is not a good one in my mind as the room was described as damp and smelly...ewww...I can only imagine with 13 of them, their damp clothes, smelly shoes and sleeping attire all in one room...Luckily they had an industrial fan blowing into their room.  Seriously, I would not have made it in those conditions!  Then they had to share the locker room shower and bathroom facilities, which were clear down the hall.

The food wasn't a hit with the group either, but yet, these kids kept going and going during the hot temperatures and long rides to their crew projects everyday.

But the experience they had with their work crews helping a family that was less fortunate and sharing in the bonding with other crew groups from other states...sounded like they really had a great time and mostly, came out of it with an enthusiastic urge to sign up for next summer's mission trip AND the national youth gathering in New Orleans.

I would have loved doing these types of trips when I was in youth group, but we didn't have programs like these way back then.  My church has now really focused on our youth groups and makes it a priority to budget for these programs for all of our youth.  How wonderful is that!  I feel these are so important for our youth, to be involved in the church, to feel a part of something, to belong to a group of people that are so accepting of one another, to help those that are less fortunate.  

Makes me a proud mom to know that my son has such a deep passion to keep going on these mission trips.

I Have a Zit!

I must be stressing or it's the weather...or it's both!  I think it's due more to stress from worrying about my hubby and the stress he is feeling at his job.  I hate, hate seeing him so stressed out!  I feel so helpless!  Then I feel guilty sitting at home doing nothing...nothing, as in helping to make money.  But it's not all about money...or is it?  

Why do people work so hard?  What is the goal?  Money?  Title?  I've always struggled with not working outside of the home.  It's always been in internal struggle with me.  Yes, both my hubby and I decided I would stay home with our kids...but I struggle non-stop with the fact that I don't contribute monetary-wise to the household.  Why am I still struggling with this when I have been a stay at home mom for 20 years?!!  I think it's times like these, when my hubby is stressing at his job that these feelings begin creeping up inside of me.

My hubby has worked so hard to give our family the good life, ironic that we live in Nebraska as the state motto is "Nebraska, The Good Life".  He has loved the challenges along the way, but lately, the challenges have really gotten to him and there is nothing I can do!!  I feel like screaming for him!  Ugh!!

There have been things I've tried to do along the way to help try and ease my hubby's burdens at home, but I sometimes feel these are pitiful attempts when the reality is, his job is taking it's toll on him.  I try and buckle down and get things at home in order, but now it's coming to a point where I really have to put my foot down.  It's my family's future that matters so I must face things head on and take charge.  My hubby has been patient enough, he doesn't need the added stress.

Blood Lines

I have posted the story about someone looking for her sister from Korea and would there be a chance that I could be said sister?  So the big question of what is my blood type was asked.  I had no clue until I called one of my doctor's and the nurse found out for me because I had surgery almost a year ago.

My blood type is O+.  Guess that was a disappointment to this person searching for her sister, as she and her entire family are A+.  I have no clue what blood types mean and what combinations are compatible.  I don't even know my own family's blood types, except my hubby's since he gives blood on a regular basis.  He is B+ for anyone wondering.  Yes, he's a special one, his blood is always wanted because I guess his blood can be used for many types and babies?  I'm still not sure.

I guess this whole thing regarding if I am this missing sister has come to an end.  Will my search continue?  Yes, I am always in search mode.  You just never know what or who is out there in this small world.

To Be Continued...

It's the summer project that never ends...or at least the preparations that never ends!  We are still in the planning stages of this whole thing!  I feel like the beginning process will never end!  We are gathering information and costs from this group and that group and yet another group...SO many groups!

But, I do see the light at the end of the tunnel...I think.  At least we have the final plans drawn up and it looks awesome!  We hope to get this thing going by the end of this month or at least by the beginning of the month.  This will be about a two month project.  Gonna entail a lot of patience thru/out the entire process, but the end result will be SO worth it...right?!