Bitter-Sweet Revelations....

We've all had those moments....you know...the ones where you are so ecstatically happy for a person or   a situation only to realize what you would lose or miss out on in the process. 

Well today was one of those moments for me....today one of my bestest friends in the entire world left today for the adventure of a lifetime with her family. You see, my friend since elementary school, Mrs. Lizzy Jaqua, and family are moving roughly 4,430 miles to the town of Kenai, ALASKA! 

Which is here........

It is a peninsula city of Alaska about 2.5 hours south of Anchorage. 

And just WHY you might ask, are they moving so far when Liz, a purebred Cajun, is used to a culture where families move onto family owned property behind mom and pop's house to such a remote location? Well simply put her husband Mike landed a pretty awesome job out there with his company, he fell in love with the area and they were excited when he was offered the position. After much prayer and consideration they decided to move.....

(and with a view like this who wouldn't!)

I am so very excited for their two children, 2 1/2 year old Olivia "Livy" and 9 month old baby Michael (aka my littlest godchild!), who will be able to grow up in and experience such a magical place that most people only dream of visiting (me included!) 

I told Livy to have fun on their adventure! 

Annnnd.....that's where the sweet part ends. 

The bitter part was watching that truck pull away from the house this evening and feeling bitter that one of my best friends and closest confidants was not going to be just literally 5 minutes down the road...and that now I have to take time zones into consideration when calling and texting, not only that but I will no longer be able to get my at least once or twice a week visit! 

Since we have reconnected after a couple of years where after high school we had parted ways it's rare that Liz and I go three or four days without at least texting each other once...and while I know that doesn't have to change...I still feel a little selfish and want her and her family here and all to myself. 

As I'm sitting here in my drowning in my own self pity God is speaking to me. He's reminding me that my friends and I are world changers...and how are we supposed to change it if we do not go out into the world? 

I know He has wonderful plans for this amazing family who is dedicated to serving Him first and foremost and I have to trust Him as they did and let it be HIS will to be done and not let my emotions and selfishness get in the way of all that He has in store for them. 

So please join me in praying traveling mercies over this amazing family and that once they reach Alaska that God will use them in a mighty way! 

HELLOOOO INDY!

So a couple of weeks ago was ridiculously busy and FILLED with FFA activities in the great city of Indianapolis! My co-worker Rebecca and I took 8 of our best and brightest high school FFA members to attend the National FFA Convention!

For those of you who do not know what they FFA is, and potentially think I'm crazy, here is a simple explanation...or you could just click here and check out our national website...anywho FFA is originally known as the Future Farmers of America, a club for students enrolled in high school agriculture classes which helps the students achieve premier leadership, personal growth and career success in whatever they choose to do, whether it be agriculturally related or not since we have a diverse group of students involved.

Well last week over 52,000 FFA students from across the country (from Alaska to Puerto Rico and from Maine to Hawaii, and even the Virgin Islands!) descended upon Indy to take part in our National Convention where we elected officers, celebrated accomplishments and heard from inspiring speakers!

Our week started off leaving from Louisiana Monday morning bright and early! First stop Nashville, Tn! After a nights sleep we loaded up and toured the Nashville Auto Diesel College where our students got a first hand look at how NADC trains its students in auto repair and maintenance along with some cool custom paint and remodel jobs. They LOVED seeing the before and after of this old car!

After NADC we headed out to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel where they have GORGEOUS atrium's filled with beautiful plants. The hotel has its own stores (my personal favorite was a cafe with gelato, YUM!) where patrons can find anything they wish from suits to Christmas ornaments, the public is allowed to go in and check it out...pretty amazing I'd say, though definitely out of my price range to stay!

And while at the Opryland Hotel I met up with some old friends! Yeap, 8 years ago I toured the facility with my livestock judging team as a student and took a picture with these exact same statues, couldn't find the original picture but I remember!

A break for lunch at the Opry Mills mall food court next door to the hotel was in order...I'm a sucker for food court Chinese food!

After lunch we visited the Tennessee Agriculture Musem. It was really great to see how much agriculture has changed and how it has influenced the area and what it may have been like to have been a settler during that time.

 

Housed next to the museum are the horses of the mounted police force. These gorgeous and friendly Tennessee Walking horses were loving all of the attention....and so was this sweet kitty!

That night in Nashville....we did something that can now be scratched off my bucket list! Not that I have one but if I did...this would definitely be on it! We watched a show at The Grand Ole Opry! We were able to hear the sweet melodies from a couple of my country music heroes Pam Tillis and her father Mel Tillis as well as Vince Gill and his wife, Amy Grant! Our night at the Opry was intensified by the fact that it was actually a night to celebrate the birthday of the wonderful and hilarous Miss Minnie Pearl!

I've always loved hearing that HOWWDEEE!

There were several commedians on hand to honor her by making us laugh hysterically! I laughed so much that my side literally hurt! Henry Cho and "Bubba" were among some of the most HILARIOUS and clean comedians I have ever seen!

While in Indy we attended the National FFA Convention and heard inspiring speeches from Scott Hamilton, who inspired the students with a message about how if your attitude is rotten the situation will seem so also, and Walter Bond, who gave a speech on being humble...there will always be someone better 
than you. And were able to see students achieve such high levels of success and receive awards. It was great! Here are a few pictures from the convention.

Yea.......that's a STADIUM FULL of National FFA blue corduroy jackets!!! 

Typical sights walking down FFA Way!

While in Indy...we took in some of the historic sights as well! We climbed up to the top of an observation tower to check out the city!

What I didn't mention is the CLIMB to get there! I figured since I run I didn't need to pay the $2 to take the elevator....BAD IDEA!!! BUT I survived it and came back down in one piece!

Yea...you read that right...32 flights of stairs...up......and.....down

The observation tower was actually part of a civil war monument and museum...our boys LOVED checking out that history!

It seemed like it was all too soon before we had to hit the road home...but on the way back we stopped in Kentucky to check out the Jim Beam Distillery and learned how the famous bourbon was made! Pretty neat process!!!

All in all we had an amazing trip filled with education and entertaining experiences that I'm sure our boys will remember for a lifetime to come! We are so very thankful to have brought an amazing group of students and have traveled with Rayne, Crowley and Midland high schools to the convention. 

Cannot wait for the next one!! See ya in Louisville, Ky National FFA Convention!

~Amb