Surprisingly, moving takes up a lot of time.....

I have been meaning to post for awhile now, but thankfully spring break has given me that chance! There has been such amazing weather all week, and hopefully by Monday I will be stoked to go back to school. The Science Olympiad state competition is coming up and possibly more testing (ACT or SAT)... fingers crossed that I did well on the ACT! Math 1050 has been a bear, but it seems to be getting better. I was getting a little worried having all A's and then a D+.
Moving was hectic, but my mom has been Wonder Woman through it all and with her ninja organizing skills has the house pretty well put together. Just the office and some boxes in the living room need to be gone through, and  I'd better get that done before the week is up. It is just crazy that I have had so much homework to do over spring break too, and it is already Friday! If I had a panic button, I might be frantically pressing it right now. Deep breaths probably work better, but hyperventilating and pressing the panic button seems much easier.
I am still accepting donations, but I am currently selling Lia Sophia jewelery right now. If you are interested in getting some gorgeous jewelery, please contact me! Thank you all for everything you have been doing to make this trip possible. I cannot wait to get started on this adventure!!!
In Medical Explorers,  we have already started making our lesson plans to teach children and adult classes in the Dominican. My group is in charge of teaching about hand hygiene and Dengue Fever. We already have some great ideas, but suggestions are also great. I am in charge of collecting hand sanitizer, so if you have any pocket-size hand sanitizers that haven't been used and you would like to donate, it would be greatly appreciated!
P.S. My last payments are coming up in April, and any help would be appreciated!

Crazy: Me or my life?

Sorry for not posting in so long! I got caught up in the new semester's crazy schedule. Ursula and Scott visited and it was so nice to see them! I have a Science Olympiad Competition next week, and the week after that another Dominican Republic fundraiser and I am moving!!!! Everything seems so up in the air right now, but it will work out. Oh, yeah, and in March I have ACT testing... Time to roll with the punches ;)

Second Semester

My second semester has now begun, starting at 8am and ending at 4pm (not including the length of the bus ride), without any free periods or even a lunch! And to start off the new semester I got sick on Tuesday, so I started school Wednesday with a sore throat, stuffy nose, and dead tired. Thankfully I am feeling a lot better today!
I love my classes, and am especially excited for drawing because it will be a nice, relaxing class compared to all the rush of the rest of the day. I start the day with seminary, a religion class, after running across campus since the bus drops us off on the opposite side UVU. Then I have Political Science (which I love!). I always feel really up-to-date on what's happening in that class. Following the is Biology, Drawing, Science Olympiad, National Honors Society, Math 1050, English, and then Communications. It makes me feel tired even looking over my schedule.
Anyways, I have been really bad at getting the raffle prizes out to the winners, so it is my goal to take care of that tomorrow! Thank you for being patient with me :)

January Winners

Today was the first raffle! Thank you all that donated!
Monica has made some beautiful scarves for the raffle that she just gave me today. Thank you, Monica!
I have been making and selling empanadas with my friend whose family is from Mexico. She is going to the Dominican Republic as well, and we thought it would be a great idea to raise money since empanadas are also a traditional food in the Dominican. Now I know how to make DELICIOUS empanadas.
Now I am at $205, just $1,795 to go!

Here are the January winners:

Dr.Whitaker Health Package-Travis and Mema-Ticket Number 7490003

Massage-Caroline H.-Ticket Number 7490026

Massage-Connie D.-Ticket Number 7490056

5 Hour Pet/Child Care-Heather B.-Ticket Number 7490033

Homemade Scrub-Mike K.-Ticket Number 7490061

Homemade Scrub-Alma U.- Ticket Number 7490057

Scarf-Candace S.-Ticket Number 7490060

Scarf-Lisa B.-Ticket Number 7490049

Scarf-April P.-Ticket Number 7490021

To those far away I will get your prizes off to you soon. Local winners can claim their prize any time! Thank you ALL!

Fall Semester Is Over!!!!

I almost thought I wasn’t going to make it, but here I am, still pinching myself just to make sure I am really alive!
Today was my biology final, and thankfully my last test for the year... well, except my driver's permit, but that is another story. I am quite sure I am going to wake up several times in the night screaming, "Finals!!!" and panic before I realize there is no school tomorrow.
And now that I have finally woken up from finals a little bit, Christmas is right around the corner. Even though there is no snow, it feels like Christmas because everyone has been so generous! I cannot wait to pass the good on in the Dominican Republic!
$185 dollars down, $1,815 to go!
Merry Christmas!!!!

Finals week

I am not meaning to neglect my updates. I am in the midst of finals and running on fumes.

Great news is I have had two donations! (Your tax deductible receipts are on the way) That means they have some wonderful odds of winning some great raffle prizes in January. They both touched my heart immensely.

One is from a person who I know is struggling with keeping her family fed and her husband is unemployed. Words can't express how much her sacrifice means to me and I promise to honor it. She also gave me my first journal, which I filled up long ago and have kept new ones going since. Even if I just write a sentence, it still gets written in everyday.

The other is from a family who I "adopted" (or they "adopted" me)in New York. I spent valued time in conversation with "Mema". Her words of wisdom and example of compassion have done a lot in shaping the woman I hope to become. I just burst out in tears when their unexpected donation arrived in my PO Box (first usage of the PO box :) ).

My German sister has offered to add some of her incredible artwork to the raffle! My great Aunt offered to sew something to add to the mix too! I am SO BLESSED.I have received many treasured words of encouragement and advice. What a difference it makes in a perspective of life when you have people who believe in you! I do not know what I would do without such an amazing circle of support.

Hoping to get through finals with my sanity intact...

Thank you all for your love!

Yay!!! The donation button is up :)

I feel so blessed. I have three followers, an Aunt has offered to make something for the raffle, and someone said they would donate if I had a donate button.

My Mom researched it for me (thanks Mom!) and the donation button is up. Hopefully it works. If anyone experiences a problem please let me know.

Since I have had no cash donations yet, your chances of being a raffle winner is extremely high if you donate now :)!!

Yesterday after school was filled with: Biology and Math review (finals fast approaching), a project for my Banking and Finance class (we are presenting different kinds of health insurance and what happens in certain scenarios. How scary it is to be without health insurance in the US today. Heck, it's scary with health insurance. One hospital stay can cause a lifetime of bills!), and three hours volunteering at the local library (it's helping get my alphabetizing skills in order ;) ).

Thanks again for caring enough to help me on my journey. No matter what happens financially, it helps to know there are people who believe in me.