here and there..

the new place

As of last monday I officially moved out to go to school! It was pretty exciting other than all the work involved lol. and everything went great, i never even got lost on my way up here. and my car is a beast, its only real problem is that it doesnt handle hills very well. So my new residence is in Damascus OR. I am living in some family friends (Rauch's) basement, its great, i love it becuz it is the first space ive had in my entire life that i havent had to share with some one. The Rauch's are great, they are so all encouraging of me and happy to have me live with them.  so as of right now im just job searching. I have tons of applications to fill out, but i am also doing a lot of it online, besides just handing out resumes. Its been a lot of work, with no profit (yet), but it will happen. I start class March 10th, at Portland Beauty School, I will only be working through their esthetics program, which should take about 8 weeks. Yes, its crazy short i know. 

Back for More!

So I'm back for yet another round. I was asked by a few people to continue on my blogging about this next phase of my life. Thus here I am :) I have now been home for almost a month, this seems nearly impossible for me. But luckily its passing fairly quickly. My next adventure is moving out, and starting school. For everybody who doesn't know I'm going to beauty school, to get my esthetician's license. This will take me about 8 weeks, and I have class 2 days a week. The rest of my week I'm hoping to fill with some sort of job. Thats also my main reason to go up so early.... to find a job. I've already applied at some places to online already. and also things with my sister Paige and my cousin Bri are a little difficult, which made me decided to leave a couple weeks ahead of schedule. To udate everyone in Latvia, my dad has a job! Total answer to prayer! He is now a teacher at North Lake High School, he also got the head baseball coaching position. Another great thing is that our house might sell. My parents have been trying to sell this house for a number of year and it would be insanely great it it really did. I also have a great living situation. Some family friend offered to let me stay in their basement free of charge! That was also an answer to prayer because the supposed plan wasn,t working out so well. And thats about where I'm at, packed and ready to follow where God leads! 

Thank you everyone for all your support during my time in Latvia, it means alot that so many people consistently, or inconsistently followed the blog, and prayed for me!

its a sad day... :(

Today i leave Madona for good. this is my last time blogging from the desk in my room. its 930 am and im supposed to be totally packed up and cleaned out of my room by noon becuz thats my ride to ergli. yeh i really am guna have to be quick. but i wanted to just check in. so wednesdat night i got home from ergli. i washed basically all the clothes i have here with me becuz i hadnt done laundry in like 2 weeks. then i proceeded to clean my room another job that i had left undone for some time. thursday we prepared the house for the party to come thursday night and friday morning. only about 8 people came but it was still fun. right before midnight we went to the "town square" so to speak and watched some fireworks, that was pretty fun. a little cold but still a cool experience. we played games and ate latvian food. we ended up staying up till 7 am. and then getting up at 10 i didnt get up till 1030 :). well actually i didnt sleep in a bed i slept on the floor in my room! it was so dumb we were hanging out in my room, daniel, elvis, elmars, and me, it was about 2. and elmars asked me if he could take a nap in my bed, well they were all already laying in it, so i said "sure why not?" well little did i know that he would stay asleep. so i stole my blanket and one of my pillows and camped out on the floor. but over all it was a fun experience. the next day at about 1 everyone left, including me. we walked elvis to the bus station then we all went to rudzons for lunch. then elmars and daniel took a bus back to ergli. and i did a little walking around town taking pictures. then i stopped at rimi to get a few things. spent the evening hanging out with elvis becuz it was my last one here. ok so i feel like everyones probably wondering how daniel is doing. he is doing pretty well, but he doesnt really like it here, and im not sure really actually ever enjoys himself. i feel very bad, i try to come up with fun things for him to do sometimes but idk. hes been ready to come home since he got here. well sunday monday and tuesday we have a winter camp. daniel and i will be attending i think he will actually be a camper. i will be 1/3 camper, 1/3 babysitter, and 1/3 errand runner i think. we'll see. i hope God really move in Daniel at camp. please pray that this will end up being a good experience for him. i am excited to see all of you and talk with people. but idk i want to come back soon. i really like it here, and dan and katie are already coming up with ideas and things for me to do so i can come back. or Diks said i can be his slave. lol fun times. well ttyl :) LOVES!

Priecigus Ziemassvetkus un laimigu jauno gadu!

OR..... Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I have been in Ergli for almost an entire week now. i had Christmas Eve with my family, and "Santa" brought me a beautiful silver bracelet. Then we had choir practice before our Christmas service. everyone should be very proud i sang in church choir for the service in latvian. im actually learning a lot. i can read most things in lativan becuz im learning the alphabets sounds. its been so great, i really like it here, i plan on coming back for a longer amount of ttime. i just need to find a more permanent job. so anyways, i spent Christmas with the Roths, and Diaga, Elvis, and daniel. 2 adults, 5 teenagers, 3 children, and 2 guinea pigs. its was a scream. Anna and i make a ginger bread house, then a nativity scene. and dan and katie gave everyone presents. i was amazed. monday i watched all the kids ao that Dan, Katie, Dustin, and Kritine could go on a date. i did the ladies makeup and katies hair. they said that they hada good time so i was pleased. so i officially leave in 6 days, im not impressed. the time has went so fast, well maybe not for mom, but def on my side. as im sure a lot of you figured Danny is already plenty ready to come home. he doesnt like it here too much. but i still think over all he would say that it was a good experience.  i hope when i get home everyone will see the changes God has been doing in me. im so excited to be moving to portland and start out totally fresh and new, and this time be who God wants me to be. If anyone knows of any good churchs for me to check out, leave me a comment of the name and address if possible. please continually keep me in your prayers leaving everything here will not be an easy task. 

                                                                                          Love,                                                                                                                                                                          Alise