One In A Minion

It's just about October around here, and we are in the mood!  I wanted to decorate our door this year and wondered what I could do with yellow.  Minions!  I was tickled with how the pumpkins turned out too.

Kori In Ecuador - First Few Weeks

It's been a packed full few weeks for Kori.  She is loving every second of being in Ecuador.  She's not a bit homesick, which is good.  She loves the kids, the food, the other girls, the fabrics, the people, and speaking Spanish.  She has been given a couple of important assignments.  She is the Site Leader at one of the orphanages, which means she's basically in charge of what the OSSO girls do at that orphanage.  She was a little discouraged when she first got this assignment because she really wanted to work at a different orphanage, but her assignment is growing on her.  The kids love her, and soon enough she'll be in love with all of them too.  She has also been chosen to be the Sites and Committees Coordinator, which means she's the OSSO girl in charge of all the other OSSO girls.  One part of this assignment is using a camera, imagine that.  OSSO is very strict about their picture policy, and the girls can't take photos of the kids, but I guess they can for their own purposes, so Kori has that assignment.  We're not a bit surprised that she would be given important roles to play so soon.  She's proven to be responsible and motivated.  This will all look great on a resume at some point, although we're sure Kori isn't even thinking about that part of it.  She just wants to do what's best for those kids, whose stories are so sad.  Also not surprisingly, Kori wants to stay longer than her intended 3 months.  I'm sure they will want her to stay as well, especially with her role as Sites and Committees Coordinator.  She may as well get her fill while she's there!  We'll see how it all plays out.  She'd like to be home before Baby Mac arrives.  This past week the girls got to hike to a waterfall... and jump in!  Super cool!  Who knew how beautiful Ecuador was?  We are loving all of her pictures.  Here are a few:

Cuenca, Ecuador.  Isn't is pretty?  We love all the tile roofs.

She loves these girls so much!

Just eating a little cui (guinea pig!)

Waterfall excursion.

She says these are the luckiest cows in the world.

At the Continental Divide.

Stunning!

There are a few American touches in Cuenca, including Payless Shoes!

Salmon Run

The salmon are running at Porcupine.  We went up last night to watch them after grilling burgers at our house.  Unfortunately, Clint had to work, so it ended up being a double date.  Lots of fun!

Homecoming Dance

SV won their Homecoming game 20 to nothing last night!  Wow!  After an epic day date, these kids are off to dinner and the dance!

For the day date, 2 of the couples came up to Bear Lake where we had brunch ready for them.  Then they went and rode the go karts, and then walked down to the park and the beach.  They are darling kids and seemed like they were having a great time.  Clint's date is Abbey and she is adorable.  She broke her finger this week during powder puff, but she was a good sport about everything today.  After they left Bear Lake, they met the other couple in the canyon for a picnic.  Clint got home about 5:00 about the same time as I got home.  The kids met here to pile in together so I was able to snap a few pics of all of them!  I LOVED Abbey's dress!  Don't they look sharp together?  I hope they have fun tonight!!

That's What I Want!

Clint's first paycheck!!  He is gainfully employed at Wendy's and making money!

Kori In Ecuador - First Days In Ecuador

Ecuador Bound

Dear Ecuador and OSSO, please take good care of this girl!  She is so excited and has so much love to give to those children, and everyone else she will meet.  Her shining light will be missed from our home, but we know she will gain so much from her service.  She will love it so much.  We will be excited to hear updates and news!  Aloha Nui Loa, sweet daughter.  Three months and counting!

Here she is after arriving at the airport.  It was an early morning!

We were a little bit early, so we just hung around and waited for the other girls to show up in their OSSO sweatshirts.

It finally felt real, and she was super excited!

First time out of the country!  First passport stamp!

We were so excited to meet the other girls!  There was one more, but she was a little bit late and met them at the gate.  The girl on the left will be going to Cuenca with Kori, going on the same Amazon trip, and flying home the same day.  Such darling girls!  I'm sure they will be fast friends!

Their plane was diverted to Tennessee after the Atlanta airport was closed due to storms.  It was touch and go if they were going to make it today.  Luckily, they were able to get to Atlanta and barely make their Ecuador flight.  We are so excited to hear updates and news.  It will be such a fun 3 months! We're so proud of Kori for having the desire to do humanitarian work.  It is just so perfect for her, and we're grateful for this opportunity!

Aloha Nui Loa!  Until we meet again!