This is something I have hesitated to post, mainly because I kept hoping against hope that my mom and Scooter would volunteer to keep her. We adopted Coco in the summer of 2008, planning on taking her to Honduras with us, once we got a house.  We have decided, however, to live with Ruth and Arturo for this next year and until the orphanange is open. Ruth and the girls are very scared of dogs, and add to that the fact that there is no yard, and we do not feel that taking her with us would be fair to her or to Ruth and the girls. She is currently living at our old house, where my step-sister and her husband live. My step-sister is allergic, so Coco cannot come inside and, while she gets played with, she spends all of her time in the backyard.

Although I want to keep her, we feel it is not fair to have her just living in the backyard. If we can find a family who will love her and play with her, that will make her happy, then that is what we want. This dog is wonderful!

Coco is German-Shepherd mix, weighs about 70 pounds. She is 2 1/2 years old. She is an amazingly good dog. Very protective against strangers, but also sweet and kind. She loves to play, and is very obedient. She does not chew furniture or bite. She likes to chew on bones and go for walks. We have taken her to obdience school.  Please e -mail us at kacyneinast@gmail.com or contact us on facebook if you are interested.

I am thrilled to be home, celebrating the birth of Jesus with my family. I cannot help but think of the things I have seen this last year. The heartache, the addiction, the pain, the destruction, yet I remain hopeful because I know that long ago, a little baby was born, who would grow to be a man who would die on the cross for our sins. He came to end it all, and although it is not over yet, His birth points directly to the day we await. The day He comes back and ends it all.

So, on Jesus’ birthday, I am grateful for the gift of salvation, grateful that He came to release us from our chains. That because He was born, the world has hope. So, let us remember now why we celebrate this day, and let us continue to remain faithful to the Lord who became a man. Truly He was grace in the flesh!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Yesterday, I opened my e-mail and in my inbox was the following e-mail:

Dear Kacy,

 I am thrilled to tell you that we are sending you a love gift of $350 from Designs of Faith at Mid Cities Bible Church .  It will be deposited in your Lighthouse Missions account.

Mrs. Cadenhead is the mother of my best friend, Laura. She is woman I have known for over twenty years, who loves the Lord and serves her family and our world wonderfully. I am so grateful for this gift, I cried when I read the e-mail. Many of these woman have known me for my entire life as Mid-Cities Bible Church is the church I grew up in. I cannot express my gratitude enough. I will be visiting these ladies in January on a whatever Saturday they are together to express my gratitude and share with them the things God is doing in Honduras.

I think often that the world of women missionaries is overlooked. We have lots of resources for missionaries in general, for marriages in the mission field, for raising children in the mission field, ect., but the world of the woman gets overlooked. I thought often this year of other women who are missionaries, including my friend Allison Green, and the team of women from the Village who are in Guatemala. What is God doing in there hearts, are they able to enjoy their womanhood living where they are. I know that there were times I hated that I was a girl in Honduras because I was so tired of getting cat-calls and men saying disgusting things to me. It’s hard to live oversees, but sometimes the cultures that missionaries find themselves in aren’t “women friendly”, which can make it all the more tough.

Often, when groups come they bring the essentials that are needed, such as school supplies, candy and gum for the missionaries and teams, and books (at least people brought those to us). I got one of the most wonderful gifts this year from a group from Tennessee, which was a scented candle. I loved it! That might seem ridiculous to some, like who needs that. But that is the point! Jd and I lived with only what we needed, and sometimes I found myself wishing for some fun makeup or lotion that smells good, or even new nail polish. So, if you know a female missionary and you are sending them a care package or visiting them, try to include some fun goodies like nail polish, scented candles, makeup, scented lotions, you know girly stuff. It’s a blessing to receive those sorts of things. 

And thank you again Nita and the women of Mid-Cities. The service you do brings such glory to God and the prayer over me this year has been such a gift. I love you, Mrs. C!

We have been home for almost two weeks now. It has gone by quickly, yet has been so very overwhelming. For me, at least. For JD, he has been soaking it up, seeing his friends, having a ball. I am a more sensitive person. I have become quickly overwhelmed with seeing lots of people at once, but I feel as though I get more adapted each day. I am relishing spending time alone here. I am loving going to the gym, spending time reading somewhere, just walking around Wal-Mart or Target. I am really enjoying the hot showers, and relaxing. We went back to the Village this past Sunday. It was good to worship in English, listen to a sermon in English, and see friends. 

The most interesting thing I have noticed is that my English is not as eloquent as it was a year ago. My mind seems foggy at times, just not able to function. So bizarre. I have been watching TV in Spanish, also, just trying to see if I know what is happening. 

I know this is a random post, but, well, my mind is kind of random right now. So, in honor of my dear friend Courtney, I will list out my favorite moments since arriving home.

1. My first Diet Dr. Pepper from QT. Heaven.

2. Running on the treadmill at the gym. 

3. Sitting on the couch with Jd, and my nephew between us, and Max exclaims “I’m just here with my best friends.”

4. Shopping at Target.

5. Taking that first hot shower. And all the ones after that.

6. Surprising our friends at the Village Flower Mound offices.

7. Having dinner with my family. Shopping with my sister. Seeing any and all family members at any given time.

8. Chic-fil-A…Holla!

9. Watching the TV with the commercials in English.

10. Decorating the Christmas tree.

We have been home for three days. Let me tell you that we are happy to be home. Jd and I have both equating our experience so far with that of a dream. It just seems odd right now. It’s like we are back in the world we were born in, but we don’t quite fit well. Like a puzzle piece you have to force in, it fits but not quite as well as it did. 

We are enjoying our time so far however. We are enjoying spending time with our family and also looking forward to seeing our friends soon. It has been quite hard to get used to the cold temperatures, it gets cold in Honduras, but not this cold. I am also enjoying going to the gym. I cannot express how wonderful it is to run on a treadmill, to have a multitude of weight machines to use. In Honduras, I ran outside, and often got “hollered” at by the men I would pass. 

But more than anything else, we are LOVING the warm showers. Like, we don’t like to get out. I get sad when I know it’s time to get out because I have been in there for 30 minutes and it’s getting a little ridiculous. We are so grateful for the blessings the Lord has given us. 

And, the big surprise I had. I cut off all my hair. 

Pictures later.

I am going to go ahead and write this today, because I know I will be way too busy tomorrow to sit and write a blog. I should start doing some stuff today, but I would rather not. 

We are coming home for two whole months in only two days. That’s right, on Thursday, we will leave Honduras and bask in the loveliness of North Texas for two months. Excited doesn’t even begin to cover what I am feeling. I have had lots of trouble sleeping the past few nights, out of plain excitement. 

I am a little nervous, however. What will people expect out of us? Will people treat us differently? Do they really want to hear the truth about Honduras, or just the fluffy happy missionary stuff? How will my heart respond to the over indulgence and ridiculous money spending that happens at Christmas time? How will I be different from the person that left? 

Luckily, we have a wonderful pastor at The Village who has been in constant contact with us and sent us an e-mail helping us hash out what is going to be happening in our heart and minds as we visit America. One thing he said really has helped me get ready to come home. He said to remember the “2″ answers about Honduras. He said to have a two minute answer, a twenty minute answer, and a two hour answer for the question “How was Honduras?”. He also reminded us that most people just want the 2 minute answer. Of course, I expected as much as Americans are usually in a hurry and only ask “How are you?” because we want to be polite. 

I am interested to see what has changed for me, what has changed for JD, and how others have changed since we left. There are things I hope haven’t changed, however. Like what a QT vanilla Diet Dr. Pepper taste like, how amazing Target is, and of course, I hope the gym still has all the machines I love. 

And I am really excited. Like really, super excited. 

Plus…I have a surprise for everyone (No, I’m not pregnant, so don’t go there).

And, just for laughs, I present the ugliest school uniform on the planet. Consider it an early Christmas present.

So, our Thanksgiving holiday failed to leave us relishing the gifts of life, but the more I think about giving thanks, the more things I realize I am thankful for over this past year. So, as I love to do, I will make a list of all the things I am thankful for. Please enjoy, and as you read, please be reminded that above all else, I daily strive to remember that all the great and wonderful gifts we have were given to us by the amazing Lord we serve. 

1. Jesus, and how He loves me in spite of myself. Because, let’s be honest, I am not nice.

2. My husband, Jd. He is a wonderful man, who loves Jesus, looks on the bright side, brings me a drink when I ask for it, loves kids, loves Honduras, loves football, and is generally an amazing person.

3. I am so very thankful for my sister Kyle, her husband Joey, and my nephew Max. They spent lots of money to come visit us this summer, and although the trip was stressful, it was one of the highlights of my year. Thanks for all that you do for us, for always helping us feel included even though we are far away. I love you, and I hope you come back to visit again.

4. My mom and stepdad Scooter, who have supported us financially, and encouraged us on our journey here. 

5. For my dad and stepmom Ellen. My dad has visited us twice, and they never hesitate to bring us all of the things we need, including, but not limited to, hair dye, pens, gum, candy, and our mail. They have also cared for our dog while we have been away. (Special thanks also to Jeffrey and Leasha who feed Coco, we are forever grateful).

6. For Donna and David, Jd’s parents, who have sent out our letters faithfully every month, supported us financially, and came to visit us for a week in September. 

7. For Ms. Alicia, our head principal and good friend. Her family has loved us well, and helped us get adjusted here.

8. For Arturo, Ruth, Abi, and Noemi for sharing their home, dinner table, food, refrigerator, treadmill, TV, car, and hearts with us. We will forever be indebted to you, and I pray that God blesses you immensely in your service of Him.

9. For Fransico, Elvira, Emerson, Nelly, Ada, Manuel, Asa, Abi, and the other Emerson, thank you for taking us in, inviting us to your family events, bringing us ice cream, hugs, and love.

10. I am so very thankful to my friend Courtney Hofmann, who has faithfully e-mailed me and encouraged me this year, and thus helping me fight off the loneliness that often plagues missionaries.

11. I am so very thankful for the internet, Skype, digicel, and all the other ways we have remained connected with friends from South Korea, Texas, Boston, Las Vegas, and many other places.

12. I am thankful that God placed us in a safe city, where I can run, we can go for walks, and all in relative safety.

13. I am thankful that God has given us a new grocery store in Danli, which is fantastic and has plenty of wonderful American items.

14. I am thankful to Jim Faber, Jim Martin, Rex and Cristine, and countless other people who have helped us in our adjustment here.

15. I am thankful for yogurt. I really like yogurt. and Coke Zero.

16. I am thankful for Litsy, Onessy, Lessther, Loany, Francia, Cindy, Axel, Fabricio, Andrea Joan, Carlos Anibal and Alexa for behaving every single day and always doing your work. 

17. I am thankful for Ms. Gloria, who taught first grade and second grade Spanish. Her friendship and help made this year a success. (and by success, I mean I didn’t murder anyone)

18. I am thankful for electricity and running water. 

19. I am thankful for The Village Church, Hillside Community Church, and the countless other people and institutions who have encouraged us through e-mails, reading our blog, skyping us, calling us, visiting us, and being the body for us this year.

20. Cheese. String cheese, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, for these things I am grateful. 

21. Facebook. What else do I need to say? I mean I can look at facebook and see what’s going on and feel connected. Holla!

22. I am thankful that we get to participate in end of the year fun with all of our friends…you can see pictures, here.

Let me preface this post by sharing that last week, I finished all the work I was told I had to do for the end of the year. I was psyched because that meant no more work for me! Yesterday, I took some of my second graders to “Chiminike”, which is a museum for kids. We left at 6:20 in the morning, and rode the bus all the way to Teguc. We got back around 2:15, and JD and I bought a graduation gift at the mall and went home. I was feeling good about the school year, feeling okay about missing a holiday, and was ready to relax today before we went a graduation. 

So, I went to bed last night, thinking I will wake up whenever, get in a good workout, go to graduation, go out to eat with Jd, and have a “non-conventional” yet enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday. 

I woke up this morning around 9:30. About five minutes after I get up, Jd comes home from school and tells me they need me at school. I need to make a list of “A” honor roll and best behavior for first and second grade. I told Jd that I already did this, TWICE. I get my workout clothes on, thinking I will go to school, show them where the list is, and then just leave from the school for a run. So, I get there, and walk in the office, and my list is gone. And the principal says she doesn’t have it. Then another teacher comes in and shows me this book where I have not written the averages of the grades for each subject of the year. Apparently, this is a cardinal sin, which I find odd because last year that same teacher only wrote the names, not the grades at all. So, I have to do that. Then another principal pulls out this other copy of a report card and tells me I haven’t filled it out yet. 

I didn’t finish those report cards because NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT THEM! 

So, at this point I realize that I am going to be at school a while, and I need to go home and get a pen, because there are no pens anywhere in Honduras and Hondurans do not share. 

So, I come back to school and make the final reports for second grade, but I do not have enough copies of the page to finish for first grade. So, I go in the office where the director of the school is and I ask for copies. She asks how many and when I say forty she goes “FORTY! FOR WHAT?!?!?!”. Um, for the 40 first graders, duh. She then goes through the list of all the things I need to do to finish my work to see if I had done it. After the inquisition, she agrees to more copies. 

Oh, and then, after I made another “A” honor roll list, the principal “found” it in the file folder she had put it in. 

So, at this point I have made that list 3 times. I have written two copies of the report cards for 70 students. I have filled out the grades for this semester in one book for each semester and in the book for the final grades. And all of these copies were hand-written, with my best handwriting, using ALL FOUR NAMES that Honduran children have. Please invest in some printers, maybe a few computers, and maybe some sort of database so I don’t have to write all this crap a million times!

And, so ends the most annoying Thanksgiving holiday ever. I hope you all enjoyed spending time with your loved ones, watching football, and eating turkey. 

My stepsisters Whitney and Ashley have a really great crafting site. Go visit it at shanty2chic! You will not be disappointed! They have great ideas for the holidays and for any other time of the year!

Today my nephew turns 2 years old. He can speak in complete, grammatically correct sentences, read, tell time, speak three languages, and cook gourmet meals. Okay, not really, but he is really smart! So, Max, I hope you have a wonderful day. I pray that the Lord makes you a brave man who loves Him more than anything else. I pray that He keeps you safe, warm, and well loved by your family. You are a wonderful boy, and I will see you soon!

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!