Turkey Time, Beach Time!!!

So lots has happened in the past couple weeks! I blame my beginners MIA to Vera, my Guatemala friend that has become my temporary roomate! I love it! It's been two weeks and we've got one left-- we've been fairly secretive about her being here, since she doesn't work for Buckner Guatemala anymore and it's a sensitive subject but it's been good times... watching you tube videos, concerts, game nights, shopping like the stores are gonna close next week, road trips, and galavanting fun!!!

We both went to Houston for Thanksgiving... Vera got the best glimpse of the crazy fam that I think any one of my friends has gotten... that's big-- mom danced on the table at one point... my non-english speaking grandpa attempted to play english taboo... the sassafrass sister... and thanksgiving dessert baking 101, it really was fun! My mom loves going to Galveston for Thanksgiving, ask me why she thought it was a good idea to cram 10 people into a 2 bedroom condo. Somehow though, it worked, and there weren't people in my face at all times! Surprising I know. We had a beach model shoot day, vera, julissa and I did... more photos soon to come... and then ran around on the beach with the dog. Thanksgiving day we went around the table and said what we were each thankful for-- and by the end all the girls were crying-- I think my mom passed on the cry at any and every sensitive moment to my sisters and I, cause they just pour out and you can't do anything about it; mom's though, you could put a timer on those things and probably get it right at the start, it's pretty bad. Then we played Spanglish taboo and finally finished the night off with salsa/merengue dance party.

Really, I love my family. As crazy and insane as they are, they're amazing.

in the beginning....

Hi! So I'm officially digital.
I guess this is for friends and family and for me to just unload really... but for all, here's my intro... I'm Jouleen, currently 23 and living in Dallas-- i like it most of the time. I've been blessed with great community here, that I am continually encouraged and challenged by. My family is incredible, crazy and insane, but incredible. I have two beautiful sisters, Jennifer (19) and Julissa (14), that I laugh more with than with most people. I have a boyfriend of almost 3 years-- Jason, who knows me all too well and loves me anyway.
I work for a non-profit organization called Buckner International (www.buckner.org) and I plan mission trips internationally. The work I do is for our kids, all orphans; the strongest men and women I have ever met. And most days I love it, and when I don't, I think of them and can't help but feel blessed because how I am able to serve these children. They are true treasures if I've ever seen any, even the bratty ones. :)
That's all for now. Thanks for reading.
Loove.