Kenya Countdown

I can't believe I leave for Kenya exactly 3 weeks from today! When I went 2 years ago I felt like I prepared and counted down the days months and months in advance. This time I've been so busy and I guess since I know what to expect, the anticipation hasn't been quite to the degree it was before. Not to mention that it is going to be really, really hard to be away from Paul for more than 2 weeks. BUT, I am really excited and I cannot wait to see the faces of those precious children and hear their voices. I can't wait to see the beautiful culture and be reminded of how content and grateful they are even though they have so little.

Also, for y'all that don't know, my mom is going too. This is a huge deal and step out of her comfort zone but she is soooooo excited and I cannot tell you how it makes me feel to know I am going to share this experience with her. When I got back from my first trip to Kenya, my mom was so interested and wanted to hear every detail. I told her everything I knew to and showed her every single picture but I knew she could never fully grasp it unless she went herself.

I really need to get busy with some last minute preparations. We have to wear long skirts everyday there in order to be respectful of their culture. Last time I went, I left all of the ones I took for the women there to have. So I have quite a few trips to Goodwill to make in the next couple of weeks. I got all of my shots last Friday so that can be checked off the list. I don't mind needles at all-thank GOD-but can I just tell you that it's been almost a week and one of my arms is still sore? No pain, no gain-right? I decided to take Typhoid pills this time, rather than the shot because the pills are good for 5 years instead of just a year. I started taking those this week too. There is a chance they can make you really sick and I wanted to get that good and over with before we start our 2 day journey to Kenya. I will start my Molaria pills a week or two before we leave. Other than that, we just need to shop for snacks, bug spray and whatnot. Our group will have one final meeting when our passports and visas come back.

I thought I was actually going to write a post with no pictures but I just can't do it. I have a little obsession with pictures but besides that, I took over 700 on my first trip and I'd hate not to share a few with you. Here is just a glimse of what I get to see and do in Kenya...

Low key week for the Hicksters

It's probably past time for a new post but I really don't have much exciting to talk about. Paul and I were out of town more than we were home in June and things have slowed down quite a bit, for now anyway. It's been so nice being home and not having anything to do this week. We had a great 4th of July with friends and family.


Other than that, the highlight of our week so far was our day with Mason yesterday. He is so much fun and I just cannot tell you how much I love watching Paul interact with him. He is going to be an amazing dad one day. Don't anyone get excited, this will not be anytime soon. Lord willing of course ;)




Well y'all, I guess I better get busy. Today's to-do list includes laundry, errands, cleaning and most likely an afternoon trip to the pool.

Hicks Family Vacation

We just got back from vacation with the Hicks fam-Paul's parents and his brother Jonathan and his wife Laura. Paul's parents have a time share in Williamsburg, Virginia, which is where we spent a week. I had never been to Williamsburg before and I'm definitely not the biggest history buff (or even close really) but I loved looking at all the old "stuff" and I think I even learned a thing or two. There were a lot of horses and tea pots, which are both two things I love.





Paul and I celebrated our first anniversary while in Williamsburg. We ate at the Williamsburg Inn, which was just lovely.



We also went to Busch Gardens. The pass we had for the week allowed us to go as many times as we wanted, so we took advantage of that and went 3 times. I had never been before and Paul and I both love roller coasters.


We had a really great vacation but it also feels good to be home. We've been gone every single weekend in June and as much as I love to travel, I am definitely a "home sweet home" kind of girl. I'll be leaving for Kenya in less than 4 weeks now, so it will be nice to slow down and enjoy time at home with the hubster and our little Sophie.

Y'all have a happy 4th of July!

One Year

On Sunday Paul and I will celebrate our first year of marriage. WOW! Sometimes I still can't believe God would bless me with someone as wonderful as Paul. It is very humbling. Only because of God's grace and blessing of marriage counseling, marriage prep classes and a newlywed Bible Fellowship class at church, we have really had an easy first year of marriage. I don't and won't ever claim that our marriage is perfect, but I do think that if you put God above each other, and each other above yourself, marriage can be one of the biggest blessings we will ever receive. Paul is my very best friend. I love being around him. I love talking and laughing with him. I love going through life with him by my side, whether good or bad. I love him for the amazing husband he already is. I love him for the father I know he'll be one day. We have grown so much closer in this first year that it is hard to fathom growing even closer and loving him more than I already do. So thank you God for giving me Paul, to be my husband as long as we both shall live.

Back to reality....sort of

We got back from the beach last night. It was the best feeling in the world to know there was nothing I HAD to get up for today and the only reality I had to face was not waking up to a view of the beach. Although my very hard working hubby was up bright and early at 6:00 for workouts with his high school soccer team...to be followed by coaching at a baseball camp, to be followed by doing a soccer camp this evening. To all you people reading this from work, don't worry-I think I'll skip the pool for today and be really productive myself...you know like update my blog, catch up on Facebook, upload pictures, maybe do a few loads of laundry, stuff like that.

My family always goes to the beach together for a week but with my mom and I going to Kenya this summer, we were going to have to skip the beach trip this year. Paul's aunt and uncle have a house at the beach and they had a long weekend that no one was renting it and my family got to come down for the weekend. It was such a blessing and even though it was a quick trip for them, they were grateful to get to come at all. The beach was amazing, as it always is. As many times as I've been, I am still in awe of how peaceful and beautiful it is. The only thing I had to stress about was whether to listen to my ipod or listen to the waves crashing while I lay there soaking up the sun in between fishing, swimming in the ocean and walking on the beach.





We took Sophie to the beach for the first time. I can't believe I've had her almost 5years and have never taken her to my most favorite place. She wasn't big on the water, but she loved the sand and loved being there with us. She is absolutely exhausted and has barely moved yet today.



Ok y'all, I guess I really better get to work on my to-do list for today. After all, I do have to get up at 7:00 tomorrow morning to take Soph to get a hair cut before my day with Mason.

Upcoming happenings

Welp, we are officially done with another school year. It's one of the best feelings to know I have 8 weeks of relaxation-AND 8 weeks off with my husband :) Between the long hours put in and the pretty sad paycheck that we make as teachers, there probably wouldn't be very many teachers if we didn't have summer breaks. Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful for my time off, I'm just saying I think we deserve it ;) This summer is going to be here and gone so fast this year. We are heading out to the beach today, leaving for Williamsburg with Paul's family next week-then July will already be here-I leave for Kenya the end of July and when I get back, summer will be over already. In between all of that Paul will be doing several soccer camps and we get to spend every Tuesday with our favorite 3 year old in the world. Yesterday was our first Tuesday with sweet Mason.






Alright y'all , the beach and the sand are calling my name. Hittin the road to paradise...

Weekend Recap

Paul and I had an extra special weekend. My cousin Ashley and her husband Craig recently had a baby boy, Cole Henry, and Paul and I were asked to be his Godparents. This is such an honor to us and something we plan to take very seriously. We will pray for Cole daily and hope to make a positive impact on his spiritual life as he grows and matures. This past weekend we got to go down to meet him for the first time. They live in Kingsland, Georgia, which is where Craig has been stationed in the Navy for about 4 years now. We had such a wonderful time visiting with family and loving on precious Cole. He was such a sweet, content baby and I was so proud of how well Ashley and Craig are doing as first time parents.

He is perfect from his head...


To his toes


Such a sweet little blessing


And we love him so much already


Us with the proud parents