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195/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Today was pack day. I am taking three suitcases, one carry on and one purse with me on the plane. We're filling two third of the suitcases with our own things and one third with donated shoes for the kids. I think...I'm ready.

For dinner we went to Cheesecake Factory and I knew what I wanted to order but I just said, "I can't. I can't." But when the waiter came I looked at Rachel and she said, "Do it." And then I looked at my parents and said, "Sorry. You're going to have an obese daughter."

And after that meal, I'm ready for Swahili food. Or no food. Or a stomach pump.

I've been thinking about what is going to happen to my blog while I'm in Africa and I've come up with two rules:

1. I will try to update every day.

2. If I can't update every day, I will still take a photo a day and I will post it later.

Hope that works for everyone! I keep travel journals, so with that, plus a blog, plus a video camera, I should remember every detail of my three months in Kenya.

My flight leaves from DFW tomorrow at 5:30 PM. Please pray for our safety and for no flight trouble! Last year our flight was cancelled the day of. Thankfully my smart, wonderful friend, Ryan, was able to figure it out while I freaked out and got us on an even better flight. Still, I'd rather miss that stress this year.

Alright. That's it! I'm off for my final pre-jet lag sleep.

PS- July favorite photo poll will be delayed. I could set it up tonight but I don't know when I'll be able to monitor it. I will post it eventually, for those of you who look for it (Danielle, Tricia...I feel like I'm talking to you).

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194/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

My last Friday of the summer. Of the US summer, at least. I get a whole other summer in Africa! Different seasons and such.

I spent it the perfect way: in the sun and the splash with three awesome girls. One of the families I've been blessed to work for this summer.


There they go, up the stairs...


...and into the water!

It really has been a lovely summer.

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193/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Speaking of sky...

The moon is amazing. I don't know if I've ever seen it so close as I did tonight. And so orange. I tried really hard to get a good picture of it. I sat in the street for awhile and configured my body into very strange positions.

But this is the best I could do:



Sorry. Guess you'll never know how awesome it was.

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192/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

I took this photo with my iPhone. And I didn't edit it one bit. Isn't it amazing? The picture, yeah, but the fact that this sky existed tonight? New York deprived me of so many pretty skies and I just can't get enough of them here.

But I still miss New York. I wish I could just hate or love places instead of hate AND love places. Everywhere I go, there is something to hate about it and something to love about it. All this multi-faceted stuff drives me crazy sometimes.

But it's nothing a car ride at sunset with you friends and "Sweet Disposition" blaring from the speakers can't cure.

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191/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

This is my friend, Laura! We laughed our way through high school. We laughed SO MUCH. She still makes me laugh so much. I love her and I want her to come to Africa with me one day.

We met for coffee tonight but apparently everything in Texas closes insanely early, so we stood in the parking lot and talked for a long time. It was still worth it. I don't keep up with a lot of high school friends, but I'm really thankful for those that I can just pick right back up with. I feel guilty for those that I am lazy about. Hopefully when I get back from Africa I can change that if and while I'm still in Fort Worth. Or in Texas, for that matter. I have no idea where I'm headed after this trip. I'm thinking maybe I'll just throw it in there with the monthly poll and let you guys decide for me, okay?

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190/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

My mother's actual birthday is today. She's my number one reader, my number one commenter, and tied with Lauren for biggest fan of my blog. I think she's just biggest fan of me in general, actually. And I am biggest fan of her! I seriously have the best mother. My only complaint about her is that she loves me and my sisters and my dad so much that she wants us to go on and do whatever we want to do, but she won't let us go without making an impression. I am telling you - do not ever try to leave this woman. After four years of leaving her for Nashville and almost three years of leaving her for New York I finally gave up and came back home. She cries when you come home, too, only it feels a lot better than crying when you leave.

It's a blessed life when I complain about my mom loving me too much. Complain is really the wrong word, I know that. So let me try again...

I have no complaints!

Anyone who meets her will tell you she is one of the sweetest people on earth. She wants what is best for everyone around her and is quick to sacrifice if its for someone else's benefit. I know that the treasures she is laying up in heaven are busting out the seams. She's going to have a mighty fine feast some day.

But not any day soon because this is one young woman!


Look at her dainty hands! Those dainty hands just devoured a loaf of bread, my friends.

I have really good looking parents. Man!


She is a huge shrimp lover. She passed that down.


I bought her this top from Banana Republic so I made her model it. Earlier today we had lunch at Chipotle, ate truffles from Godiva, and went shopping at Target. Perfect day! I bought her lunch for her birthday and she bought me imodium for my trip! That's love.

Not that I'll need the imodium or any of the rest of the medicine cabinet I'll be travelling with...


Do we look alike? Do you see it? Why am I shorter in this picture?

I reeeeeally want to look like my mom.

Lauren called mom from Ethiopia while we were in Target. She lit up. It was a short conversation, but I think it'll propel us on for awhile. For those of you wondering, Lauren is doing great, hasn't showered in a few days, and hasn't met any husbands. I'm not sure if she's adopted any babies, yet. I'll be sure to ask next time.

Mom...happy birthday!!! Next time, come to Kenya with me because I know you want to.

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189/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

I LOVE THESE GIRLS! Shelbye and Amy are awesome. They are six or seven years younger than me, can you believe that? I can't either. We act the same. We look the same age, too, which I think is a compliment to each of us.

But Shelbye apparently can't get her "J's" right. She'll learn.

I'm getting my chain restaurant fix before I leave in ONE WEEK. Goodness gracious!

I have quite a few things to take care of. Can't believe I'm now in packing range. No one tell my mom.

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188/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Sorry, mom. Now the world knows how old you are.

But honestly, world, can you believe she has a 25-year-old daughter?


We had mom's birthday party today!


My aunt Mary Alice drew her this amazing banner! We couldn't stop starring at it. And we see it like one big coloring book that we can't wait to fill in.


My cousins, Jon Tom and Kip came. Monica, I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of them! I do have a burry one from the pool, but that's it. Anyway, they brought mom a gift in a recycled bag from Leanna's wedding. Nice, guys!


Knox and Keane. After I jumped in the pool with all of my clothes on, mom said everyone was going to be laughing at me when I walked through the living room. I said no way - there are babies in there. And I was right. Absolutely no notice to the girl who just took her sopping-wet pants off outside!


The pool. Is back.


Emmalynn swam awesomely because Amy convinced her that her dinner was super mermaid food.


She likes to smile.


Kasey in time out for grabbing the volleyball net!


Jonah in time out for grabbing the volleyball net!


I made mom a dark chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. And cherry sours on top because she loves those. 54!


Pretty Young Thing!


Tradition...grin and bear it.


New tradition: birthday girl gets to hold the babies as much as she wants!

Happy birthday party day, mom. You really did stop aging at 20 :)

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187/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

This is what I woke up to this morning. I guess that happens when you're really busy every day and you're about to leave the country for three months. But I really reeeeeally HATE IT! So maybe I'll clean it. Tomorrow.

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186/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Is it still stalker-ish if you're creeping on the strangers in your back yard?

It is, isn't is.

Oh well! Guess what's getting fixed this week??

This mess!

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185/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Daddy Squash, Mommy Squash, Brittany Squash, Lauren Squash, Rachel Squash.

Thank you, garden.

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184/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

If your car says it's 104 degrees outside, best not to leave your chap stick inside of it.

Lesson learned.

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183/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Last night was wedding number two. I was all ready to blog but I'm housesitting and I forgot that they don't have wifi. I could have taken a lame picture on my phone, but I thought it'd be worth it to delay the post and use the actual wedding pictures.

I met Caitlin a few years ago at the church in Peaster. I was still in college and she was still a part of the youth group. She met Kalen at our new church and they fell madly in love and so they figured they should get married. And last night they did! And I had the honor of playing guitar and singing with Caitlin' sister, Shelbye, while Caitlin walked down the aisle.


The beautiful wedding party.


Newlyweds!


Amy with her little sister and the flower girl.


And of course there was lots and lots of crazy dancing at the reception.

This morning, I've already fallen asleep on the couch and on the floor. I'm at Starbucks with one of the sweet girls I babysit for, waiting for her sisters to finish swim team practice. I ordered a ton of coffee. How do you bounce back from weddings without coffee? I most definitely cannot.

Congrats to the Dermotts!

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182/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

I'm 25.5 today. That means I still have six months to get really interesting. And it's about to get really interesting.

Rachel and I begrudgingly climbed out of our luxurious hotel bed early this morning and drove home to Texas. It was a pretty sweet drive. I enjoyed it and I only felt really tired once. I was home for ten minutes before I got right back in the car and drove to wedding rehearsal no. 2. A few hours there, then I drove back home, picked up Rachel, stopped for an errand, and went out to Grapevine Mills.

As we were driving back from our 1.5 hours of shopping (we are efficient, I think), Rachel noticed a rainbow! Heck yeah! "That makes for an awesome picture of the day," I was thinking to myself. But then I asked Rachel what the date was. Please don't be the 18th. Please don't be the 18th.

And you know how that ends. So we came up with a great idea: me WITH the rainbow! And I thought it'd look cool to have a rainbow coming out of my chest like a Care Bear. Hearts and love everywhere! You color my world! Spread care! And stuff.


It's there.


Promise it's there.


This happened, too. Untouched photo....pure God right there.

Six more months, ya'll. Six more months.

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181/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

My favorite picture of the day. I just love it.

I took a couple hundred, which is much less than I would have taken had I not been a part of the wedding. I still think I got a few good shots, though.


Make up.


Prepping the veil.


Mindy (bridesmaid), Lindsey (matron of honor), Lacey (bridesmaid).


Leanna wanted to see how her make up looked in pictures. Obviously, great.


She's a beautiful bride.


Pre-wedding...she was nervous. There were a lot of people to potentially mess up in front of.


Candy bar at the reception yessssss.


Candy favors! That got stolen! So we got some more!


First dance.


Jitters and nerves all out the window.


Father-daughter dance.


Reception.


Our cousins, Jon Tom and Kip, pulled out some swing dancing moves...surprise!


We partied at the reception...


...for six hours.

I was so happy to be a part of Aaron and Leanna's day. It was an awesome wedding and they are an awesome couple! I have the best cousins in the world, hands down. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Eller!