You can take the thrifter out of the country. . .but not out of the girl.

A while ago I had the pleasure of helping the OWC with their "Nearly New" boutique sale that they were having.

"Nearly New" is just that.  It was stuff in peoples closets that they were no longer wearing/couldn't fit or just didn't want.  What greater way to entice a 'thrifter'. . .ask me to help!  Help I did!  The day before, I arrived with several other ladies - who might I add, probably had the same reason for helping that I did (love finding fellow thrifters!) - we unboxed, hung, folded, organized  - tried on clothes.  Wait?  Did I just say that out loud?  Yes.  We are guilty.  We were eyeing all the stuff and trying on things we liked.  We had prime pickin's.  Booyah!  I forgot to add that I was also fed.  What greater way to my heart than feeding and thrifting.  I am a girl that doesn't ask for much in life. . . . 

Going into Middle School

I can't believe the school year has come to a close 

I REALLY can't believe that I will have a middle schooler next year either.

It was really fun to watch Olivia mature this year.  O has always been the youngest one in her class and you can kind of see it in her maturity.  Don't get me wrong. . .she is a good kid, but it is noticeable.

This year she formed friendship and bonds, that I fear when we depart India she just may be devastated.  As all things in the life we lead, this is our new norm.

On one of our final weekend before heading home for the summer, she got together with two girl friends to celebrated her birthday.  Unfortunately, mom and dad are not into birthday parties.  We still celebrate them. . .but in a smaller scale.  O and her friends went to the mall, ate lunch and watched a movie.  I was a little apprehensive to take on such a feat. . . but they were so good!  They checked in when they needed to.  They were nice to Paz - she tagged along.  All around a great day.  I can see more mall days with preteens in my future. . . .

It was a few days after this pic was taken that O found out her close friend - Elisha would be moving back to the US.  O was crying.  Our kids have never had to deal with losing friends.  Prior to India - we lived in a school district where people NEVER left.  So saying goodbye for ever was just something that O could not handle.  :(  

I am hoping that the excitement of the coming school year will distract her and the new friends that will be moving in will encourage her to reach out of her comfort zone and form new bonds.

I hope you all have a great school year ahead!