GO Home, smell ya laterr. November 28, 2007

Hey everyone. So this will probably be my last Northern Ireland post! Norma and I will be picking up dad and Mr. Troxel at the airport tomorrow early morning and then I will be busy hanging out with them, visiting, going to boring meetings, and making dad take me shopping. Not really. Ok, yes really. SO we have reached the end of my stay here in the b-e-a-utiful city of Ballymena, NI…. and it has been truely amazing.

So much has happened here and I wont give all the details online but we will all talk at some point, I promise. Most importantly, Toni Lynn made a profession of faith last Sunday at GP. We are all SO proud of her. I had a very good lunch with Norma yesterday and we got to talk about some interesting things!!

I miss everyone so much. I say, party at the Burton’s when I get back??? Oh yeah.

We are having a Christmas party at Amy’s tonight so that should be fun. I have not seen wee Catherine in FOREVER which makes me really sad, but she has a new job so she can save up money to come to America and visit everyone!!!! I am so excited!

So thats me out. I hope these little posts maybe helped a little to shine light on the craziness over here! I will see you all in a week, I hope. Pray for dad and Mr. Scott’s flight!!!!

Hannah

Pasta and Beer November 23, 2007

So I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving… ate alot of my dad’s turkey without me… but thats ok because I had leftover pasta and beer with Fiona and Amy. So I would say my Thanksgiving was a success… hope ya’lls was too

Jingle Bell Rock November 20, 2007

So we put up Amy’s Christmas tree yesterday!!! Now I want it to snow or something… wait, no I dont.

AND we are teaching the girls a dance to Jingle Bell Rock. Oh. My. Word. Its too cute. I will record it for everyone, maybe.

what’s up, nashville? November 17, 2007

I have officially experienced the foulest thing ever that was allowed to be consumed by humans. Amy Lynn decided to introduce me to Nik Naks the other night while we were watching a movie at her house. She had me try the Scampi and Lemon flavored ones. I was hesitant, but hey, why not. MISTAKE. I nearly passed out from the grossness. It was stanky. ugghh…… Do not ever allow yourself to be tempted to try these. They tasted like fish. No Lie. gaggg.

Ok, so… yesterday I had a lunch date with Ann Cairns, which was amazing. I think she is one of the most encouraging people ever. We had coffee at Grounds, went shopping (haha) and just hung out for a while. It was so nice to see her because she has been traveling like crazy since I have been here so I have not gotten to spend very much time with her, so sad… but yesterday was fabulous.

Last night I went downtown with the Lynn family to watch the Ballymena Christmas parade. It sucked so bad. First, Santa came on a horse drawn carriage. Then some kids followed by two men dressed up as snowmen, and then the ending of a lorrie. You took two breaths and it was over. Everyone just looked around like, what?? Its over?… The lights and the tree are now set up downtown. SO pretty… its beginning to look so much like Christmas around here! Even the Duncluggers are putting up their lights outside! Its sweet.

Today I went out with NORMA’S FAMILY. It was so funny, reminded me of my crazy family. Then we shopped for a while and went back to the McKinney’s to relax. Next, we went and got Haribo STRAWBERRY STICK THINGS. No clue how I am expected to stay within the weight limit since the boxes weigh about 7 pounds a piece. pfff.

Tonight I went ot Mary Mc’s sweet 17 partay. That was fun! I bought her a clutch purse and some blinging earrings. I told her happy birthday from everyone… I am sick, I think… I have world’s worst migraine… maybe its because I am slowly withering away from 2nd hand smoke inhalation. That or its the fact that I forgot my coat today and froze to death. One or the other.

NEWSFLASH: Amy, Reegan and Catherine are making their way to Nashville in May. So get excited!

Steve-O and Mr. Troxel come in two weeks from yesterday!! CANNOT wait. Miss yall. Cant wait to come home and see everyone waiting for me at the airport with balloons and banners… sike. I will catch up with yall laterrr.

hannah

I said Brrrr, Its cold in here, there must be no money in the electricity box. November 13, 2007

So it is Monday night and I just got in from girl’s poker night at Amy’s. I won. Just so you all know. Then we decided to play Monopoly (London version) and I had 2 hotels on the yellows and no one could pay me for them… so I won that too. Yes, I was a double threat tonight, ladies and gentlemen. So when I get home, if anyone wants to challenge me, good luck.

THE SHOWCASE: it was amazing. So many parents showed up to hang out with us. We had lights everywhere, the art was displayed, we filled all our seats. It really was an awesome night I took pictures of the girls. They all looked adorable! We did their make up and  they all matched… so sweet. It was a blessing to meet all the parents and grandparents and brothers and sisters of these kids who we have grown to love so much! It was a true testimony to how God is working in this place. Thanks for praying for us!

Sunday went really well! First we had the breaking of bread service which I slept through.. ehemm… and then we had Kidzone, which in my opinion was the best one we have held since I have been here!! The kids were really great, the lesson was awesome… altogether, it was a success. Then, now dont be jealous… ok, be jealous… I went to Robyn and Heather’s for lunch. So fun.

I come home in like 3 weeks or something like that. It is so cold here, I have lost permanent feeling in my toes and thumbs. For some reason, my thumbs get colder than any part in my body. I have just now noticed this and I do not think this is normal. Anyway, rain+freezing temperatures= ice… this is not good for me seeing to it I run everywhere I go in order to work up some kind of body heat… which means at some point I am going to bust it. bust it good.

thats all,

hannah

ps… there is a show called the “X factor” over here and last year’s winner, Leona Lewis, has the new hit song over here.. it is called “Bleeding Love”. I hear it about 87 times a day. So when I get home, I am going to make yall listen to it and feel the pain I feel.

hey, hey, you, you… November 9, 2007

SATURDAY NIGHT SHOWCASE this saturday at the church at 6.30….. I never get stressed…. EVER. Then again I have never tried to plan anything of any importance before. So I am a little stressed out about the whole ordeal but I know it will be okay. The kids worked on their art pieces today and they turned out beautifully! So sweet…

I went christmas shopping downtown with Amy and little Reegan today and it was freezing. The Christmas lights are on now and its seriously beginning to look alot like Christmas… and feel like it too. I am frostbitten. Not really, but I should be. I might be, I dont really know what it looks/feels like… so yes, I may be frostbitten. My toes may fall off…. just as long as it isnt my whole foot because a. then I would not be able to walk and b. I would lose my awesome new tattoo that I just recently got. It is awesome. It makes me that much cooler.

Other than the showcase, the freezing cold weather and Christmas lights not too much is going on! I got Reegan a pair of purple skinny legged jeans that are to die for! She is too cute. Youth group starts back to normal tomorrow night so that should be neat.

Hope everything is going nicely back home! Dad comes in 2 weeks or so!!! I cant wait.

Hannah