Family pics...

My JV Slovenija Family... Tomorrow Camp activities officially start! So...I wont be around much, but feel free to drop me a note and I will write ya when I get a chance! If you think of it, say a prayer for us. We will be working hard! The first camp--for me--is Castle Camp in Austria!

Čakovec & Cherries...

This Summer one of the Camps I will be helping with will be in Čakovec, Croatia. Niall McSheffry asked if myself and our two intern girls could come and help him out. So, this last weekend I took Mary and Lindy down to Čakovec for an English Camp Training Meeting. We met the team of Croatians we will be working with. Practiced the Theme Song. And we ate Pizza! Then after our training the girls and I went to the Horvat's house (A Christian family we will be working with) and spent the evening walking around their property, eating fruit from their beautiful fruit orchards and gardens, and then lastly we pitted 7 and 1/2 gallons of cherries!! This actually took most of the evening. It was an experience I have never had before! But we laughed a lot and took some fun pictures. For a few more pictures click HERE!
















Mary and Lindy showing off all our hard work! It took around 2 and 1/2hrs to empty the buckets!











(l-r) me, Filip Horvat, Reuban Horvat, Mary and Lindy. Showing off our cool aprons and cherries!

Heidi's Wedding...

They are a bit late, but they're of the wedding I just went back for. The Batchlorette Party and the Wedding Day! (click on pics to see our beautiful faces a little more beautiful and closer to life size!)












The Bridal Party! Me, Amber, Heidi, and Julie.












Showing of our fun Rings
























The Morning of. Playing with out hair, drinking our coffee. Please notice my newly manicured red nails...



























Helping Heidi to get ready...I was on makeup and dress duty here
















The beautiful bride... Doesnt she look Hot?!
















The cute little couple!













Just hanging out!













Me and Amber looking cute...













We did our toes too!













Kicking back and Eating food after they drove off to the Sunset













They are GONE!!!!!!!!!!!

Its as easy as 1, 2, 3... or not...

About a month a go I realized my car insurance was about to expire. Because I bought the car from some friends I never registered the car under my own name so I knew that I should probably do that as I renewed my insurance. So I set off on a quest to figure out how to do all of that.

Johnny told me what I needed. My passport (with my new visa) & EMSO (my Slovene SSN). Go to AMZS. Do it there.

Sounded simple.
I wasnt worried.
I should have been.

First thing I realized was that I didn't yet have my VISA. But, it was waiting for me in the visa office. So I went and picked it up. Easy.

Once at home I realized I needed to register in the country so that I could get my EMSO.

So...back to the visa office. But before I could register and get my EMSO I was told I first needed a housing contract. They handed me the blank contract and I went home to call my landlord. He was in Naples, so his best friend and paperwork guy Gabriel fudged it over for me.

Back to the Visa office. Handed them my contract. Registered. Got my EMSO!

I got all of my papers together and went to AMZS. They were closed.

A few days later I tried again. Open! I handed them everything and in broken Slovene told them what I wanted. They gave me a weird look and told me that I first needed to get a contract with the old owners of the car. I asked repeatedly:

Me: ok, is this ALL I need?
AMZS girl: Yes its all.
Me: Anything else I should bring??
AMZS girl: Nope if you have the contract you will be fine.

So, I called up Anja from my church since the car used to be hers. She took the contract. Filled it out and gave it back to me.

Trip 3 to AMZS. Same girl working. Perrrfect. Handed her the contract. She looked at it and frowned.
AMZS girl: You didnt pay the tax.
Me: Excuse me? What tax?
AMZS girl: Right here on the form you didnt pay the sales tax. Go and pay the sales tax then come back.

Back to the Visa place...waited in line. Handed them my papers.
Me: Id like to pay the sales tax.
Visa lady: You are missing some papers. Have you gotten your car checked out?
Me: Um, no.
Visa Lady: Well you cant pay the tax until you get the car checked out. Do that then come back and pay the tax.

(Call Josh Patty in tears...after a "you can do it, go get 'em!" speech I drove to get my car checked out).

Car place. Go. Get it checked out (like a DEQ test). It fails. Im told I have three days to get it fixed.

Mechanic. He looks at the car. Explains whats wrong. I dont understand. Call Josh for translation. Turns out it was just cause the engine was cold. Leave it running while I wait next time.

Next day back at DEQ place. It passes!! I ask if I can start the insurance process.
DEQ lady: Hmm...It doesnt look like you paid the sales tax.
Me: Yah...about that....
DEQ Lady. First pay the sales tax, then come back and Register the Car.

Visa place again...(How many times have I been there?? People know me now.) I proudly show them that I pass my DEQ test.
Visa Lady: (Look at my papers. Frown.) You don't pay the sales tax here. Go Down town.

I go. They are closed for the weekend. Come back on Monday.

Monday (today), I show up. They look at my papers. I recognize the frown.
Visa Lady: You dont have enough copies of your contract. Go downstairs get some copies. Get them notarized and come back.

Go downstairs. Wait a very long time. Get the copies. Go back upstairs.

Once upstairs...
Me: Can I pay my tax now? I have my copies.
Sales Tax lady: (Looks at her watch) Oops, we just closed for lunch. Come back in an hour.

An hour later I show up.

Me: Can I please pay? (close to tears)
Sales Tax lady: You can, but you dont pay here. Here is the bill. Go to the Post Office across town. Then come back.

Ride my bike to the Post Office. Pay. Come back. I get the stamp of approval and green light to go Register my car.

Back to the DEQ place...hand them my papers...Register...Get on an insurance plan... And...

Im done!!!!

4 weeks later (Ok I took off two weeks for America). But I can officially drive in Slovenija. For another year.

Then I have to renew my registration.

For now though, Id rather not think about it.

Randomness

So Im back in Slovenija. America in a short summary:

North Carolina: shopping, sipping lemonade--wrap around porch-- rocking chairs--and fireflies, being robbed,many policemen, strawberry picking, tea parties, meeting so many people, laughing to the point of tears.
Chicago: missed my flight, sketchy hotel, waking up to screaming, tears, so glad to leave!
Oregon: Batchlorette Party, sketchy men, black boa's and glowing pink rings, old college friends, wedding, high heels that hurt my feet.
Washington: Family, Memorial Day Picnic, Pictures.

If you want more details, ask me, I like to tell stories, especially when they involve me! :)

My latest read is 1776. Ive kinda become a history nerd. I love the book...