OK, now that I have your attention. Are the DR flights getting set up? Chelsea and I don't want to book our flights to and from Atlanta until we know what time of day we'll get back to Atlanta in December. We don't want to risk booking them for a time too early so that we miss it.

and also, I was reading through the handbook and it said one piece bathing suit ONLY. I understand this. But listen to my case. I like to wear tankinis. You know, the two piece, but the top fits like a tank top? The top comes all the way down to meet the bottom half (even if I raise my arms up over my head and wiggle around, my stomach does not show) and the bottom half is that "boy shorts" kind. so it's not high cut. I actually think this tankini is more modest than a lot of one pieces. And, I don't have a one piece and would prefer not to go out and spend money on one. So, even if what I just described isn't good enough, could I just bring it along and wear a shirt over it? I wore a tankini suit last year to the DR on the ambassador trip and it wasn't a problem.

Support is looking good. I've got another couple hundred dollars in from my second round of support letters and it puts me at $4350.

I've got all my paperwork together and I'm just waiting on the flight schedule so I can book my atlanta flights.

Chelsea, have you bought yours yet, because I wanna make sure we're together.

This friday I'm working 8 am to 8 pm at a jewelry store in town during our annual Summerfest Sidewalk Festival. It doesn't pay much, but I like selling stuff and I'll get to be outside all day.

Oh, my 18th birthday was sunday. I went out to eat with my family and (spent the whole weekend reading Harry Potter # 7) then that night I went out with my friends to a latin club in Ypsilanti where I learned to dance Bachata and Duranguense. Sweet! (Chelsea! Emily! I'm 18 now, let's dance!) Also, nobody at church remembered it was my birthday, except for my small group leader, but my mexicans and dominicans made up for it because I got calls from all of them wishing me a happy birthday and many more. (Manuel, Eliu, Miguel, Arturo, Sergio, Raul, and Adrian) Oh and my brother called too :)

I've been reading My Utmost for His Highest devotional every morning and it's really put me back on track with God-time. I like that the entries are short, but that they pack a lot in there. It really makes me think about life and what I hold on to.

So, I've been having a hard time with all these new changes. Everybody going off to college and making new friends and I almost feel like I'm getting left behind, but I know that this year in the DR will be so much more exciting and filled with learning than a year at school. I hope Chelsea and Emily and I will become really tight and always be able to talk to each other if we have problems, and also Angelo and Will, I can't wait to meet you guys! I think God's put together and really great team and I pray we'll all become really close and teach and learn from each other.