Greetings from El Salvador

Hi Blogging World!

For the last 6 days I have been out of the internet loop. I have not checked my email, blog, and (brace your selves) facebook! I didn´t plan to either. However it is monday night and that means it was time for me to write Tressa. I am not about to let being in a forgin country stop me from sending her a hello. But once I got on my email it was just second nature to type in facebook.com and by the time I realized what I was doing it was to late. So I figured I might as well blog too.

I am here in El Salvador and having quite the time! The poor man in the lobby of our hotel, I am sure, wants me to make this quick...so I will try. It has been over 4 years since last time I was here eating real papusas and shewing away stray chuchos. I thought I knew quite a bit about El Salvador, but on this trip I have seen a side to El Salvador that I have never seen before. I have been back less then a week but it feels like it´s been two. This trip has been extremely enriching but also mentally draining. Holy cow! My eyes have been opened to the corruption in the government and the injustice I did not know was happening when was here last running around with the orphans. (They don´t talk about politics much.) It´s hard to hear and take in. Especially about a country that I love so much. But I have been inspired by the resiliency of the human spirit and the wonderful things that can happen when people work together for a common good.

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I am grateful for the safety and comfort it has given me. It gives me something to hold on to in times I have lost all other hope. It also seems to be something the people of this country have clung to as well. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church and I am so grateful for the prophets guidance and leadership.

Anyway, there will be pictures to come of course. I have had a fabulous time and wont come back the same person.

testing, testing, is this thing on?

Dear family, friends, and stalkers,
      It seems to me that when I need to use my time wisely the most it actually happens the least. I have so much to do and yes, I only checked one thing off my list today. This month of December has FLOWN by while jam packed with big exciting events. There have been temple trips, birthdays, graduations, weddings, and silliness all before Christmas! It's late and I am too tired to write about them all (they each deserve their own post). Therefore ladies and germs I give you:

My life according to a camera phone!

"I love to see the temple!"

Me and my fellow camera hog!

Someone stole my camera! But secretly I love it!

My office Before

My office after (still in progress. I've spent less then $100 and it feels good!)

Happy Birthday Rachel J!

The graduate

All you need is love!

Tressa is going on a mission!

Today Tressa's mission call came!!!! It was a blast! Watch and see! Pay very close attention.

And Take two:

So basically, I made a fake mission call for Tressa. I decided to do it about an hour and a half before she came home to open the real one. Elizabeth read her mission call to me over the phone and I typed it up. I had a little trouble with the envelope because it was to big for EVERY printer we had in the house! I think it turned out ok!

I have so many comments on the video. I was so nervous that everyone laughing in the video before she even started reading would give things away. And the second thing (probably my favorite) is that Mr. Right was in the video in footie pajamas! HA I love it!

Tressa is going to the California Carlsbad mission!

Lent

So I gave up facebook for lent.

I need to get a lot done and I knew I spent a lot of time on it but I didn't realize how this would impact my daily living!

I am sitting here trying to study and every time my mind wanders or I get bored I instinctively start to type facebook.com into my web browser. I stop myself. Nope, I can't do that anymore.....then I sit there, staring and bewildered. I am completely out of options to waste my time! I take a few breaths and get back to reading about the bipolor II, hypomanic, mild disorder or Aspergers and autism.

If there is one thing I have learned from this it is I need to expand my pointless interests to things other then who's writing on who's wall and what so and so has to say about my status. Maybe I will try to get into WoW or some thing.......No, definitely not.

Anyway, This is a cycle that happens about every 20 minutes. I thought, "Hey! That's fine! I'll go stalk my fav blogs instead of my fav facebook walls". COME ON PEOPLE! I want to waste my time and it's hard to do when I have to read the same posts over and over. Updates! UPDATES! Blogging is just not as entertaining and instantaneous as facebook. I am going a little crazy here. It's probably just with drawls. I'm waiting for when I start getting jittery and irritated. That should be fun. LOL Kidding!

I am doing pretty well if I do say so myself! One day down! 45 more to go!

My First trip to Florida

Okay, where do I start? I have had many many thoughts I have wanted to share but no time to share it in. Do I talk about my AMAZING trip to Florida? Or should I focus on my latest thoughts about my wonderful life? Because it is after midnight and it is easier to post pictures, I will talk about my trip! It was fast but oh so needed! I flew into FL Saturday afternoon and Donald Picked me up. We spent our time in Miami, West Palm Beach, and Key West! We hosted a BBQ (just like the good old BYU-I days), I met his Florida friends, and enjoyed meeting and playing games with his family.  Oh and church! Who can forget church?! During the passing of the sacrament I enjoyed the Rastafarian music coming from the man's cell phone behind me. And then I enjoyed his conversation after he ANSWERED IT! LOL really it was comical! Then there was the man who instantly fell asleep and began snoring loudly after each prayer and the woman who after the water was passed through her row began to offer contaminated Altoids to everyone around her. (she wasn't quiet about it. LOL). This was the same woman who returned to sit in front of half the ward with her zipper broken and the back of her dress wide open baring it all! When told about her dress she said, "oh I know. My zipper broke just today". She had no qualms about it. Although the sacrament was eventful, I couldn't help but sit there and think how wonderful it was to have people from all backgrounds come together on Sunday to renew their baptismal covenants and worship the savior the best they know how. I bet heavenly father appreciated the meeting as much as I did. (Ok probably even more).

Here are my pictures from the trip. (They are all on facebook too. So for those of you who stalk me here and on facebook, sorry for the repeats!)

Biking in Key West was heaven and SO much fun!

Cute cafe in Key West!

Oh I wanted to see a Cuban so bad! (apparently they were all over)

After a long day of beaching, walking, biking, and touring it around Key West.

The beach was beautiful even with the seaweed carpet behind me.

80 degrees with a light breeze! Perfection!

I was only allowed to take one bag on the plane that would fit under the seat in front of me. I was pretty darn pleased with myself that I was able to fit so much in as well as travel so light! Go me!

Mimi after I flew in.

Oh Paradise

I should be sleeping. But instead I am writing this post about my adventures this weekend that I probably wont finish and will never post. Yep, I'm already sick of it and going to bed. (But I'll post it just for fun anyway). Good night gang!

Day 23-Favorite vacation

I feel like I have already blogged about my favorite vacation. Some of these topics at the end of the list here are seeming a little redundant. So after discussing it with my editor and trusted adviser, I have decided to just talk about my dream vacation.

Really my dream vacation would to be to backpack through the world!

 I met some people while hiking the volcano in Guatemala who were doing exactly that and it has been a dream for me ever since. They found packages where you could get like 5 plane tickets for a certain amount of money and they chose where those tickets stopped.

So I would start in London and then travel through the European countries by bus and train and then catch another plane to like Africa and follow the pattern. Obviously I haven't planned it all out but I am not one to really plan every single detail out anyway. Maybe when I graduate grad school I will do it! How awesome would that be?!

Can't you just see me doing THIS?!?! I can!

 I would love to stay in hostels and meet new people!

A picture of some random hostel in Paris.

It's amazing how little you have to spend and bring on a trip like this. I would only bring a backpack and whatever I could fit inside it. I love eating at little cafes or street vendors which keeps the cost of food much lower then going to a restaurant. One day....One day.

Day 14-A picture you love

My Cute Grandpa with my Cute Nephew!

Welcome to the World

Milo Eldon Shipman

1/28/11 12:45ish AM

8 lbs 7.3 oz

He is the cutest little MES I have ever seen!  

He was just about a week past his due date and his mama was anxious for him to get here! He was Born on Eldon's birthday! Eld, couldn't have gotten a better present! Liz I want a baby for my birthday too! I know that there are a few readers that may wonder, "Is it hard for Deborah that her sister just had a little baby boy?" The answer to that question would be not at all.  I could not be more excited or elated for this sweet little boy to be here! I would say I have only had maybe two moments of....I don't know how you would put it. Only two hard moments in the last 9 months. I am so happy for my sister! She is going to be the best little mommy ever! And I have LOVED taking everything baby with her for the last 9 months! I wish I could be there to meet him and love him! The night she was in labor I had an early morning class the next day but I couldn't sleep at all. It was like Christmas eve as a five year old all over again! I kept bugging Tressa to text me updates on the process of everything and telling her what I wanted to tell Liz. I sure am proud of her and her smooth calm labor. When my mother told me all about how it went the next day I couldn't help but cry a little because I was so excited, proud, and happy for my big sister! She really is my hero!

I thought for those curious one's out there I would post a few other pictures for you to share the joy of this new little one.

Only Minutes old

Day 9-A picture of your friends

Oh how I love my friends! I have been so blessed with so many that I hold near and dear! I think every one should know them because I have the greatest friends. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of all of them but here are a few. Enjoy! *Update* Some times I write these posts a few days in advance. Since I wrote this post Brad and I had a conversation where he insisted I had way to many best friends! He said you can you can only have one best friend and that is it! I say that's silly talk! I have like 10 best friends and I love it! I wouldn't have it any other way!

Jana Banana Casino is my FAVORITE Friend. I can't get enough of her!

DFK

I love this man! He is probably one of the most personable people I have ever known! Every one loves Donald Freakin' Kelly!
I want to be more like him someday!

I am stuggling with not waking up and seeing these two faces in my apartment!

Sarah is my sister! She takes such good care of me!
I'd do anything for this woman!

My all time BEST FRIEND! She has held that title since the 6th
grade through thick and thin!

My rock star best friend Catherine Loveland Hutchings

Good times at Wal-Mart

Devri! I love her and will always love her!

These two woman are my two biggest supports! They are my best friends!

Amanda is seriously my hero! She is Wonder Woman and Sister Hinckley in one! She is smart, loving, spiritual, and fun.
She makes me want to be a better person and always makes me feel so good about myself!

Brittany is my confidant! Her smile brightens every room and can lift any soul! I had a class with  her in the fall of 2009 and thought, "I like her! I want to be her friend." But I never talked to her ever. Then, the next semester we had EVERY class together. She is Brilliant, determined, tender hearted, and will be a wonderful sister missionary! I miss her already!

That little baby is Stuart! He is my best friend too! Any chance I have to see him or talk to him or hold him I grab it!

Best man ever! Brad is so kind hearted and would do anything for any one!

These two are the best! Nicole and Sarah kept me going last summer! What would I do with out them?

Weird picture I know but It's all I have. I could not do a picture post about my friends with out this man. He is the best. I can vent to him and be irrational to him and he can laugh at me and it makes me feel better. If any other person said the things he says to me to whip me back into reality I'd probably shoot them, but Bradley can say it. This guy is a a great friend.

Rob is wonderful! He has taught me soo soo soo many things and has made life better!

Eric is my hero! (that's his roommate Ivor in the back ground) I can't go to Wendy's without him! He is the best listener and always saves the day!