Mexico 2012!

Mexico

(May 24th- June 1st)

        Where do I even begin?? This was my second year in Cordoba, Mexico at the Mexican-Indian Training Center (MITC)! My number one goal this year- To have a better relationship with not only the people I am going with, but the students at the school! The week started off great. I was, of course, on the paint crew. This year I was accompanied by John and Janet Crawford, Olivia Wilbanks, and Anna Kate Minyard. It was sooo much fun! We laughed so much in the long hours in the sun! Talking about everything from the Beatles to She's the Man! We painted a whole building in just the first day. (Little Secret: The first week only painting one building all week!..just sayin').I think all week, we completed 4 whole buildings! It was amazing!

        When we weren't painting, we were doing anything from going to the soccer fields, or to the local orphanage, or to one of the many churches associated with the school. The soccer fields is something all the guy students ad staff do every monday! It is very true what people say about Mexicans being good at soccer!! Then there is the orphanage, one of my top memories of the trip!!When I am with kids, it is so easy for me to speak Spanish!! Of course, I was put in charge of all things balloons, again! I loved being able to make something for all the kids to play with. We played a version of follow-the-leader witht he balloons! It was so much fun for us and the kids!

Then there are the many churches that we went to!! Early on in the week, it was very obvious that the youth of our group were going to be singing at some of the churches. Turns out, we sang at least song at every church service we went to. Mark on guitar, Anna Kate and I with vocals and Laura with flute and vocals. We sang Day by Day and Victory in Jesus. Anna Kate and Mark did a few songs on the side but mostly we sang together! We sang Day by Day a total of around 10 times in the week were there. Let's just say we got really good at singing together!

Through all this, There is the time we are at the school just hangin'! Meal Times at 6, 2 and 7 are the best times to get to know the students. I definitely achieved my goal!! From inside jokes about guys with Eunice, to Perry el ornidorrinco with Lewis to just laughing about anything with Narahim; I made long life friends this summer! Another time to get to know the students is clean up time after every meal! From scrapping excess food to drying to putting away, you always have contact with someone else! The mexicans stand at four sink and bleach, scrape, clean and rinse so quickly, youre almost never standing still. Sometimes, if youre lucky, they will let you help in the washing process. Its amazing!

Literally could write about memories and details all night, but my battery is running out so, yeah. The Lord helped our group in so many ways and blessed our trip. I not only feel closer to the students but the people I went down there with. I love it down there and hope to return next summer.

The Fabulous 5! We all got really close on the trip! (Olivia, Laura, Mark, Anna Kate, then Me!)

P.S. This post was supposed to be Mexico and Bonnarroo but i couldnt stop writing so. Wait for another post on Bonnarroo!!



Weekly Wrap-Up

Highlights from the Last Week Of June!

June 24-30

Got to spend like 6 hours with the Minyard family. Even if it was at the hospital for their grandfather's quintuple bypass surgery at Baptist Desoto.

Then afterward on Monday, I get to go to Homer Skelton Ford in Olive Branch and got to hang with Bethany Taylor! I even got to help her answer phones;)

Tuesday I got to watch Haven and Stone, while Micah and Sarah ran errands:) Had to say goodbye to Micah before she went to Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, I went to pick out SENIOR PICTURES!! It does not seem like I am old enough to be doing that! I need to re-do some but for the most part I loved them!!

After, I went to the Germantown Commissary with my mom. It was very good!

Watched me neices while their mom went to the Lady A concert, so jealous!! But I got to watch the Lion King, so yeah. Way cool!

Friday- Nothing until I get to go to my second home. THE BARKERS!

Had the best time with H and S for awhile. Then, I blogged for the first time!

Today was so much fun! Lindsey, Reece and Mclaine got here this morning!! We chilled for awhile then went to Chiles for lunch. Got to see Jamie!!

We headed to Leigh Anne and Drew's house to swim!! We swam for 3 hours!! Then, Drew made us a delicious dinner! Now we are just relaxing in the living room, loving life and eachother!

That's all for this week's Wrap-Up! Thanks for reading and come back for more crazy adventures with me, Macy Lee!



The Thing I Do Best:)

Sitting at my second home, just put Haven and Stone to bed for the night. It's funny. I can still remember the first time that I ever babysat. It was in 2008, when i was 13, and I did it like once or twice a month. Now, on normal weeks, I am working sometimes 53 hours a week, just babysitting! It is for sure, something i want to do for the rest of high school, maybe some in college too! Definitely considering working with kids for the rest of my career!

When I go to the Barker's house, it's basically like going to a friend's house for a few hours. I have been babysitting this particular family for alittle over a year now and it has been amazing! Micah(11, seen in picture) is practically my little sister now!! However, a year ago, she seemed so quiet and shy. Turns out, she is funny, sweet and the most sarcastic little 'thang' I have ever seen!! I wouldn't change her one bit! Except, maybe make her alittle closer to my age! Haven is her little sister, who has just turned 5! From the first moment I met her, I could see that she was going to be a hand-full! She is cute, sassy, and such a girly-girl! I love her to death. It took us a while to get to know one another, but when we did...it was, as she would say, "Magic!"!! I remember one day I got to the house to watch the kids, i literally stepped one foot in the door and she comes running towards me yelling "Babysitter!!!!!!!!". It was the cutest thing ever!!! Took her about a good 6 months to really remember my real name! Ha. Then there is Stone, wow. Looking back, he was such a little baby back then, not even a year. I have gotten to see him learn to crawl then walk, sign then talk, sit in a high-chair then a booster! It's so cool to be able to watch kids grow and learn. Now he is almost 2!!! I can't believe it!

Carson(6)- one of the boys i watch!

Of course, these are not the only kids I babysit. I have probably babysat over 15 different families kids at different times. Not all as often as the Barkers though. I am currently a FULL-TIME nanny, watching 2 boys for 10 hours a day monday-friday! That has been a very interesting experience so far. One that I have definitely learned from!Sometimes it is very hard to deal with the kids, but i know it is where God needs me right now! When i first started babysitting, i started with the Strouds. Wow! Almost 5 years ago! I have definitely watch those girls grow up! At one point, I was watching those girls twice a week!! Its crazy! (Sorry this paragraph was kinda all over the place!)

Next is Hannah! Oh boy, where do I start with this one?? She is the daughter of my sister's best friend, Leigh Anne. She was born on March 31, 2008:) She is so bright and funny! The most silly kid I know!! I love when we all get together too. Lindsey, Leigh Anne, Drew(Her husband) Reece(below), Hannah and Me! We always have so much fun!

With all this, I also get the priviledge of being an aunt, to 4!!!! Reece was my first! He was born on July 31, 2009! He is most def related to me!! Pretty much from the moment he was born, his face had sarcasim written ALL OVER IT!! hah he is such a joy and I can't wait to watch him grow up more and became a  young 'gent'! Then, not even four months later, Kinlee Amelia was born on November 6! She was a gorgeous baby that was so cuddly! Great addition to the family She has become so smart and sassy! Just like her May-May! (what the kids call me!)

Well, for about 19 months, we got to enjoy our little Reece and Kinlee. Then Kathryn Elizabeth came along! On June 14, 2011, she came into the world with bang! She is the most chubby, sweet, chubby, cudly baby ever!!! Oh, and she is chubby!!! hah. She really is a great baby!! She only cries when she is hungry. when she is tired, she just lays down....where ever she is!! If she is in the middle of crawling somewhere and she gets tired...she lays down!!! Hah its so awesome! Then, we almost went a year without a baby, but then Mclaine Nicole Miller was born! On April 27, 2012, the new 'Kevin" of the family arrived. She was 10 lbs 9 oz!! ha 1 oz bigger than my brother kevin, who is big!

Well, hopefully from this first post, you will be able to tell what I love doing! I love to be with children!! God showed me my love and skill for caring for kids when i was young. I have always known i want to work with kids. However, to this day, im not sure exactly what. I know He will show me soon, I hope!!! Watching kids my last summer in High School!!!...a Lot! hah But it is what I want to do the most!