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103/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

The geese babies are still there but look who else I captured on our
run tonight! It's Mr. Beaver! He is much more friendly than Momma Goose.

Does it sound like I'm living in a Beatrice Potter book?

Yeah...I'm okay with that.

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102/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Today we FINALLY planted our garden.

My dad took the day off to go to the vet with Gracey and my mom took a sick day.

She really was sick. For like, 10 minutes. It was super bad.

Then she got better and she planted a garden with us!


Dad is planting some pumpkins. I can't wait to have some pumpkins.


And mom is planting some green beans. Those will be good, too.

All together, we planted 30 different fruits and vegetables. I have a hard time believing this is actually going to work. All that food is going to come out of our backyard? But my parents assure me that it will. I just hope it works before I leave in August. I really want to grab a watermelon from the garden and bury my face in it and then jump in the pool to clean it off. Just like at grandma's house. And I want to do that in July!

Africa: the facts

When I started this blog, I just had a feeling this would be an exciting year for me. Mostly because I knew it would bring a lot of change. I could view this time as a constant state of flux, but instead I know that it is a strategic time. It is a time of rest, not in a way that keeps me from being proactive, but rather to prepare me for whatever is next. When things change, life become exciting for better or worse, and I started this blog counting on the better.

After seeking loads of advice and spending a lot of time in prayer, I have decided return to Kenya. It finally boiled down to an opportunity that presented itself in a perfect time in my life. I wavered quite a bit on what to do, but I am now 100% confident in my decision to go.

Many of you may know, I have been to Nairobi twice now. The first time I went with my family for two weeks. The second time I went with my church for two weeks and stayed another two weeks after they left. This time, I'll be staying for three months. My mother is making me sign a contract that I'll return. I think she's joking...but I'm not sure.

Child at Massai village enjoying his "sweet". June 2007.

We leave in August with the church to help lead a teen camp for over 700 teens in East Africa. We will also be working with a few orphanages in the area prior to holding the camp.

After two weeks, the church group heads back to Texas, and I stay behind with two of my very close friends, Sheblye Kunerth and Amy Geron. We will be living in Nairobi as ambassadors for the youth of the country. We'll visit churches and implore them to find value in their youth and hopefully give them the resources to sow into the young people. We'll also be working closely with orphanages, we'll help lead a conference for 300 Massai pastors, and we'll find out what we're made of, quite honestly.

Sweet baby at New Life Home - orphanage for HIV positive babies. August 2009.

We return in November. When we return, please don't try to feed me rice for at least a month.

I hope to be offering updates regularly on my progress to Nairobi. I've added a thermometer on the right hand side of this site so you can see where I'm at. If you'd like to help me get where I'm going, you can donate directly HERE.

1. Click on "Go to online giving"

2. Click on "Give now"

3. In the comments section, type: "Missions - Kenya - Brittany White"

All donations are tax deductible. I need nearly $6,000 to get there and survive. It's a daunting number but I looked at it, I got intimidated by it, and then I got over it.

If you'd rather give to me directly, I promise I won't spend it on coffee. Contact me at brittanyrosewhite@gmail.com and I'll tell you how to do so.

If you'd rather get something for what you give (who wouldn't?!), watch this space. I am in the process of sewing up some one-of-a-kind retro aprons. I'll be selling them in efforts to raise money and you're definitely going to want one.

Thanks, guys. I really love you all. Can't wait to share this journey with you.

Links:

Convergence Church

Count Me In

Mission Barnabas

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101/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Look at this pretty girl!

Today is her 19th birthday. She's very awesome and she's my soul sister. We loved each other immediately. The first time we met was in Africa. We really liked being in Africa together. So we've decided to go again, and I'm about to tell you all about it in a separate post.


I bought her these flowers. I used to think flowers were boring but I'm really loving flowers these days.


Here we are! Notice how Amy is super cute and fashionable. She's always like that. I, on the other hand, have completely given up on getting dressed. I'm straight up running shorts and t-shirts. I think that's the fifth time I've worn that outfit this week and it's Wednesday. So try to figure that one out.


This guy was in front of me earlier today. I figured I'd go a little stalker city on him and expose his floral shirt. Awesome style, dude.


And here's my two-faced dog. My dad tried to shave her but didn't get very far. I tried to take her to the groomers yesterday, but her shots were out dated. So we're taking her to the vet tomorrow. But they won't groom her until 48 hours after the shots. So she's stuck like that for awhile. Literally half.....butt.

I really want to say it, but I won't. This is a family blog.

Anyway, happy birthday, Amy! Can't wait to live with you on the other half of the world!

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100/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

On the hundredth day of my twenty fifth year I watched old Felix the Cat and Popeye cartoons with my little cousins.

Yep, that sign says "try our moonshine" - Felix was trying to find out why the moon shines. And boy, did he!

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99/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

I learned something about stamina and pushing yourself today.

I learned that no matter how tired, hot, and spent you may feel, you can always go farther. Even when you know you KNOW you can't go any farther, you can. And what else, you can probably sprint it.

I learned that today, but I also learned something else...chicks be CRAZY.

I decided to go for a 5 mile run this morning. I averaged a 9 minute mile pace which, for a girl who couldn't beat a 10 minute mile when she was 13 (and barely run the entire thing), I was feeling pretty awesome.

The loop that we run in our neighborhood has been featuring some interesting animals, lately. Normally it's just different kinds of birds, but my parents spotted a coyote and we saw a beaver the other day! Kinda crazy.

Today I noticed these little goose babies. They must have just been born because we haven't seen them before. They are so cute and furry and cute! Every time I ran around them the momma goose squawked at me a bit. Overly protective, I get it.

Well, I decided the last time around that I really wanted a picture. I was just walkin' my run off, feeling good but certainly happy with my walking pace.

So I pulled my phone out of my arm band and took a picture:



I wasn't really satisfied. You can't zoom on the iPhone (right?), so I stepped a little closer.



Cute, right?

Momma started squawking. But she squawked before and that didn't phase me much.

So I got closer.



And that's when she started rufflin' her feathers. Then she squawked louder and then she charged.

I mean, charged. Flapped her wings, opened her beak, and ran full speed right at me.

And that's when I learned my lesson about endurance.

I turned around and sprinted the opposite direction which led me right to....the water's edge! I was trapped! I turned around and she was still after me! DANG CRAZY CHICK!

So I put my arms over my head and ran against the water, hoping she'd let me go. I ran. Fast. For awhile. And I did not feel tired at all. I just ran five miles under the hot Texas sun? What? I felt like a spring chicken!

I think I found my new training regimen. And the good thing is, when the goose ceases to be scary, there's always gnarly dogs and wild hogs! Also, sex offenders and fires. There are lots of scary things to run from!

On the other hand, there are lots of good things to run towards. Maybe if somebody just held a piece of blackberry cobbler a few feet in front of my face the entire run it'd produce the same effect.

And then I'll make millions off my new book, The Blackberry Cobbler Diet.

You heard it here first.

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98/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Ooooh baby.

Some of my best friends in Brooklyn were Tim and Claire and Misti. Misti is Tim's sister and Tim is Claire's husband. Claire is from Austin. Tim and Claire had a baby. A few days after I moved. I knew him when he was the size of a blueberry!

And this weekend I finally met Grover in real life. He is so so so amazing and looks just like Tim AND Claire and NOTHING like a blueberry.

Tim and Claire (and Misti.....you best hurry up) are moving to Austin which pretty much makes my life. They came down this weekend to get an apartment and a bed and show me places like this:



And to drink lots of coffee with me:



And watch crazy freak people do stuff like this:



From this bridge:



(I'm going to jump off next time, I really, really, REALLY am.)



We also watched some weed lovin' beer chugin' crazy guys climb a tree and swing from a rope:



And target people like this:

Rope Swingers meet Innocent Drifters from Brittany White on Vimeo.

And this morning, we ate breakfast tacos at Juan and a Million, where they served chips and salsa with our coffee:

And this taco that kept me full until 5PM:

Tim went into a stupor:



And I....



have a big kisser:



Anyway.



These guys are great. I love them.

But let's be honest. The real reason I went to Austin this weekend?

Because I have a camera and they have a baby.

It's magnetic!!






LOOK AT THOSE RUBBER BAND WRISTS!


Grover Emmanuel Gillen, folks.

Get used to that face. He'll be no stranger to my blog this summer. I must document his rolling rolls sufficiently.

I know in my heart of hearts...it's just something that I have to do.

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97/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

This picture in no way represents how awesome this day was, so I'm going to expound tomorrow.

But one thing that happened today is I had coffee for the first time since last month and it was at an awesome coffee shop in Austin with two of the best-ever Brooklyn-ites soon to be Austin-ites.

Stay tuned, but here's a preview of the day: hiking, wave runners, people watching, bridge jumping, rope swinging, weed, mexican food, sangria, coffee, coffee, GROVER, barbeque, banana pudding, beer, apartments, mattresses, and cliffs. Ponder that. I'm going to bed.

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96/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Today....I had a pear.

And that's all I'm gonna say about that because you guys are nosey stalker freaks and sometimes I just don't feel like it's right of me to indulge you.

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95/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Remember that random day I got crafty and decided to paint some frilly chandelier things on a big gray thing?

That painting sat on my floor...along with some clean and dirty clothes...until today. I'm embarrassed to admit it.

But I have my reasons. I wanted to hang the canvas next to these three frames I bought at Ikea during the Austin trip. Only, I couldn't decide what to put in the frames.

First I thought black and white. Then I thought blue. Then I thought yellow.

Finally, I got so tired of waiting, I decided to print some photos of flowers I took in Africa the first time around. Real quick: my computer fell off a top bunk shortly after I moved to New York, taking with it the thousands of pictures I'd taken from my first trip to Africa a few months prior. It's the reason I have credit card debt. Apple employees convinced me to buy a new one, saying old one was dead. Years later, we get it refurbished for my dad. ALL MY OLD PICTURES AND DOCUMENTS ARE STILL THERE. I actually found that out the day Knox was born. SAD because I could have saved money. HAPPY because I have visuals for my memories.

Anyway, this picture is from that trip. I decided to alter the colors to fit all the random moods I had in the process:



I'm still not convinced. It's okay, but it's not quite there. If anyone has an eye for design, give me some tips.

Ooooh how about some pillows that compliment the wall scheme? Or just taking away the blue pillow? I love that pillow, though. Maybe once I get my bigger bed this will work better?

I'm rattling now. My eyes are crossing. I gotta stop posting so late. G'night!

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94/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

It's beginning to look like summer.

Fuse (youth group) kicked off with some kick ball tonight! Heh, heh...


They're some pretty good kickers.

"And then I kick her, sir." - Anastasia


It's my uncle Chris's birthday! So everyone serenaded him. Can you just imagine the beautiful sounds coming out of those honkers?

Happy birthday, Chris!

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93/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

My dad came home with a gift for me today.


My grandparents are sweet.

This book is a collection of all the Presidents' favorite meals all the way up until...Richard Nixon.

In addition to the recipes, there is quite a bit of history in this book.

For example, did you know that the very first cook book published in America was printed in Williamsburg, VA in 1742 and was called, "The Compleat HOUSEWIFE: or, accomplish'd Gentlewoman's Companion: being a Collection of upwards of several Hundred of the most approved Receipts"?

Or how about this interesting little excerpt:

"Gelatin was made from calves' feet, or from a product called isinglass, taken from the swim bladders of fishes. These products were tasty enough in meat dishes or in court bouillon, but in the elaborate molded desserts they gave a meaty or fishy flavor to the pudding."

YA THINK?! ICK ICK GROOOOOSSS NASTY.


Here's a page of recipes from George Washington's time in office.

Can you believe it?


Food photography ain't what it used to be. Who doesn't want to dig into that fillet o' fish?! I tell you who wouldn't turn it down: John Adams.


Savory jelly? Really, Andrew Jackson?


Okay, here's a President I can relate to. William McKinley knows breakfast is where its at. Breakfast with PIE, no less.

So here's what I'm thinking...I pick a President (and his wife) and just go for it. I mean, there is some WEIRD stuff in here, but I'm intrigued. Lincoln's election cake - what's that like? And how much tastier would it look with my modern camera?

I'm going to have to decide how I'm going to decide. I might let you guys decide. It'll be a food challenge to follow the cookies. That means I might need some more tasters!

Only, can't promise you'll like it this time. But if Andrew Jackson liked pease pudding and savory meat jelly, maybe you will, too.

Okay, probably not.

I don't know where you'd get fish bladder these days, anyway.

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92/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Guess what?

A few weeks ago I got this text:



I was hanging out at the Barnes and Noble in Southlake after Rachel's birthday dinner, lingering around the children's and gardening books. It was a pretty good night already, but I felt like doing back flips at this point.

I've been thinking about when I could go back to New York and the truth is, I didn't think I could. I thought my mind and body might do a freak out melt down and I wouldn't know where I belonged and I'd self combust en route somewhere over Ohio.

But I'm feeling so good about Texas lately and frankly, I just miss my friends. And now I get to see my friends. And I'm not going to self combust. Please, oh please.

I decided to make the reservation and guess what I just got in the mail?


Yep. It's aaaaaall confirmed. And all thanks to my favorite aunt.

That's right, I'm sayin' it! At the moment, Judy is my favorite aunt. The other 15 or so of you pining for that title have quite a bit to live up to, but I'll welcome your attempts.

In the meantime...see you soon, New York.