Sexy, Innocent Child-Woman

Off to Indiana

I'm leaving for Indiana tomorrow. YAY! =) I'm going to Shipshewana, a small, sleepy town in Northern Indiana with a significant Amish and Mennonite (people with Amish roots who chose to adopt technology) population. It's way out in the country, which will be a welcome change from the urban atmosphere I breathe. I'll be visiting Nina, my baby, and her adoptive family. (I met Nina when I volunteered at CRIBS Philippines when I was in college. I took care of her for about for years--that is, from my freshman year of college till the time she was adopted, which was five months after I graduated. By the grace of God, I'm in touch with her family, so I visit them every once in a while.) I'm so excited!!!!! =) I haven't seen them for the longest time. I spent part of the holidays with them during my first two years here in the States, but I didn't get to visit them last year because I ended up going home for Christmas and I worked my butt off (with three part-time jobs) during the fall just to pay for my trip.

Ang laki na siguro ng anak ko. The last time I saw her was during her 8th birthday. She's 9 1/2 years old now. Her mom said she grew really tall daw.

Nina's parents are soooo nice. Actually, I look up to their family a lot. They have a business (a canvas shop) that's doing well and a hobby farm, but they're pretty simple and low key. They're also very religious, but not pushy. They're really involved in community service work, not only in Indiana, but also overseas. In fact, they met while doing volunteer work daw. (I've always said if I get married, I'll marry a Mennonite. Kung wala talaga akong pag-asa sa minamahal kong seminarian, maybe I really will scout for a Mennonite boyfriend...hahaha =) At least I won't get struck by lightning.) I consider them the modern-day Holy Family. Nina's parents have four biological children, yet they adopted her, Janae, a five-year-old girl from China (she also came from an orphanage), and as of this year, Marcy, a cute two-year-old baby whom they had taken into foster care when she was four days old. I found out they took in 11 other foster babies before Marcy.

Anyways, I'm excited. I just bought toys for the kids--I always try to get them a little something before I go there. Maybe I'll do some last minute shopping before I take the train down to Southbend--that is, if my work schedule will permit it.

***

I'm glad I'm going to Indiana kasi sobrang ngarag na ako. I now have three jobs, in a manner of speaking. I started doing some part-time editing work for my school's Philanthropy program and my summer internship at a foundation last May. And last Monday, I started my new job as a student assistant at the women's archives office at my school. It can be crazy to divide my time between all these jobs, especially when I have conflicts in my schedule, but I have no choice. Since I'm no longer on scholarship, I have to save up so I can pay for my tuition and rent this year. God willing, I'll be done with all my coursework by the end of the summer, so my tuition will be much cheaper. I know my parents are willing to help me out, but they can't pay for everything. Besides, I try to be as independent as possible because I've always been that way at para wala nang masyadong maraming salita, hehe =)

I'm not making any sense anymore, so I'd better end here. Have a good weekend, everyone!

found herself @ 8:57 PM