International | The Bailey Bunch Blog

Our Travel Wall

July 26, 2016

When we first bought our home, 4 years ago, I adamantly claimed that our office wall would one day be turned into a travel wall. As Patrick hung up the leather, hand carved world map that he purchased prior to our marriage, I said to him, “I’m going to fill the surrounding wall with photos of all the places we go over the years!” Today, I finally held true to that promise! Check out our travel wall, y’all!

Some of my most treasured possessions are my photos, and one of my greatest passions is traveling. Add in all the happy memories with those I love most and I now have a room that I won’t be able to pass without smiling!

I’ve collected all of the frames for years. Some are from the places we’ve visited (a newer tradition) while others are ones I’ve picked up along the way that remind me of the places we’ve been. I’m in total love with this wall as it is now, but I hope it only grows and changes as time goes on!!

What the heck took me so long to finish this project? A lot of things…time to find all the photos and get them printed, money for all the frames not purchased on a trip, and of course the fear of asking my husband to nail up an entire wall! But you know what? I got all of my frames on sale at Hobby Lobby and Home Goods (Hobby Lobby has the BEST frames! They are always 50% off!) not one nail was used as I opted to try out Command Strips (Highly recommend! I cut them in half to get more strips!) and my husband wasn’t even bothered as I did this project all by myself!

What are some of the ways you document your travels? In addition to a frame, I also always purchase a magnet for our fridge and an ornament for our Christmas tree. I also make a Shutterfly Photo Book to document each trip…which I’m seriously behind on after all the traveling we’ve been doing!

I hope this post inspires you to finally finish that home improvement project you’ve been working on for too long!

Be Blessed + Be A Blessing

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Traveling with Toddlers

July 18, 2016

It’s been a YOLO type of year when it comes to traveling for The Bailey Bunch! Since last July we have made the following trips…

Boston Massachusetts (flight with kids)
Manchester, Vermont (drive with kids from Boston)
St. Louis, Missouri (drive with kids + dog from Nashville)
San Antonio, Texas (drive with kids + dog from Nashville)
Tel Aviv, Israel (flight with no kids from Nashville)
Petra, Jordan (bus trip with no kids from Tel Aviv)
Louisville, Kentucky (drive with kids from Nashville)
Columbus, Ohio (drive with kids from Louisville)
Atlanta, Georgia (drive with kids from Nashville)
Hallstatt, Austria (flight with kids from Atlanta)
Prague, Czech Republic (drive with kids from Hallstatt)
Vienna, Austria (drive with kids from Prague)
Budapest, Hungary (train ride with kids from Vienna)
Bratislava, Slovakia (train ride with kids from Vienna)
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (flight with no kids from Nashville)
Phoenix, Arizona (flight with kids from Nashville)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (drive with kids + dog and no hubby from Nashville)

Each of these trips have had moments that haven’t been pretty – they are inevitable with kids! Tough stuff aside, I’m becoming a bit of a self-proclaimed pro at this whole traveling with toddlers thing 😉 I’ve have a lot of friends tell me they don’t know how I do it, so today on the blog, I wanted to share some tips on how to survive a drive, fight a flight and keep sane on a train 😉

SURVIVE A DRIVE
Drives with kids can be long – all extra stops aside! It is however the one way to travel that allows you to go at your own speed and on your own schedule. Plus you have the added perk of packing extra stuff to keep your kids happy 🙂 With no chance of anybody else being affected by a meltdown, I find driving a great way to travel with kids – especially when I follow my own advice listed below!

Keep Time in Mind – My husband and I make it a point to drive through times that we know our kids usually sleep. While hitting the road first thing in the morning after everyone is well rested is ideal, it’s just not for this phase of life with little ones. We now opt to leave at nap or bed time to assure our kids will sleep for a good portion of the travels 🙂
Supply Sleep Aids – Be sure to pack your child a blanket and their favorite sleep buddy if they have one. If your child is on the bottle, offer milk. If you have a paci sucker, have several on hand and attach one to the carseat to assure it cant be lost. Have a lullaby CD on hand or download one to your phone (If you haven’t discovered ROCKABYE BABY! yet, go ahead and make the splurge! Your favorite rock bands songs turned into lullaby’s – brilliant! I personally love the Dave Matthews Band and The Beetles 🙂 Pack Melatonin – I found a gummy version that is peach flavored…my kids think it’s a car treat candy!
Toys! Toys! Toys! – I always keep toys in the car that are within arms reach for the kids, but I add a few more for long car trips. I love to have board books on hand that have touch and feel features or flaps to lift. Magic slate toys are great to have so kids can draw, erase, and draw again. I keep an electronic learning toy by each kid – I try to choose two that both can find entertainment in. Magnetic puzzles are another great option as all the pieces keep contained 😉 I usually hold out on a few of the toys, keeping them on the top of my bag. Pop Toobs are always a hit – as are my favorite toy ever, Melissa & Doug Water Wow Pads!
Chat – Car rides are the perfect time to talk to your kids! We ask our kids the colors of the cars passing by us and what they see outside, we encourage them to make animal noises, or even point to their different body parts. Sometimes I’ll ask my son to tell me about a specific story we read (The Gingerbread Man or 3 Little Pigs for example…) Kiddos are way more observant than we are, I like to try to see the world through my kids eyes because I tend to miss so much as I get older!
Children’s CD – So this could sound annoying, but I kid you not, the Sing-Along Favorites CD is actually good! It has all the best classic kids songs that we all grew up with, but are set to current sounding music which doesn’t make it so bad to listen to. Our kids love it and we don’t mind it so much either 🙂
Electronics Are a Plus – I always hold out on our electronics such as the iPhone or iPad as long as I possibly can! A lot of Apps need internet, and when you can’t connect, it’s a recipe for a tantrum! We’ve recently discovered that charging up our old phones and deleting all of the Internet Apps from them has worked really well for us! We’ve downloaded some of our kids favorite movies to these devices so they can watch them which has been really helpful and allows us to keep our phones in case of an emergency – and in my case, for the GPS!
Snacks and Treats – I always said I would be a mom who wouldn’t let her kids eat in the car – HA! Oh the unrealistic goals we set for ourselves before having kids! It takes having kids to realize that food can most definitely keep kids happy and quiet in the car! I love the Munchkin Snack Catcher Cups – I feel like these not only keep snacks secure, but also almost perform as a puzzle toy with the reward being the snack 🙂 I’ve also found that lollypops are a fantastic treat to have on hand. They last awhile, and as long as your child is old enough, don’t make too big of a mess 😉
Hydration 101 – It’s important to keep your kids hydrated always, and a road trip should be no exception! Though bathroom stops aren’t convenient, they are a must, so keep giving those babies water! We recently discovered the Klean Kanteen and love this product! I’ve had these water bottles spend blazing hot days locked in the car, and they are always refreshingly cold after! Best news yet, we’ve not had any leaking or mold problems! Oh, and our kids approve of them too!
Overnight Bag – So this is one I always seem to learn the hard way. I almost always forget to pack an overnight bag! With the unpredictability of kids, weather and traffic, anything can happen! I’ve learned you should always have easy access to a bag you can grab and have everything you could possibly need for a night. I can’t decide what is worse, lugging everything you packed in for a night, or digging through packed suitcases for the few things you need…either way, both can be avoided with an overnight bag!

FIGHT A FLIGHT
Flights with kids are tough! There is nothing relaxing or enjoyable about them! However, they are the quickest form of travel. Parents need to go into flights prepared with their parenting A-game, and some FUN ammunition doesn’t hurt either 🙂

Prepare Yourself – Know that flying with kids will be NOTHING like flying without kids! This isn’t going to be a flight where you can get some work done or finish the book you’ve been reading. Instead, you need to look at this flight as bonding time with your child. It could very well be some of the most miserable bonding time you have with your child all year, but think of it as bonding time none the less!
Check Your Pride With Your Bags – There is nothing like a bad flight with your child to make you feel like the worlds worst parent. Seriously, I’ve been there, on Mother’s Day no less! Don’t let the judgement or looks from others break you! If your child cries the entire flight, have peace knowing they aren’t the first one, and they most certainly won’t be the last one! Dress yourself in your most comfortable yoga pants and your best “I don’t care what you think” attitude because Mama, you may very well need it! And remember, YOU ARE A GREAT MOM! You are taking your child on an airplane for goodness sake! Let the adventure begin!
Don’t Let Them See Your Fear – Our children feed off of us. If you have a fear of flying, don’t let your kiddos know it or see it. This goes for meltdowns too…If you keep calm, there is a greater chance they will calm down. Treat your flight as a fun adventure, even if you are stressed out or scared to death!
Use A “Bad” Baby To Your Advantage – Confession: I don’t do all I can do to keep my kiddos calm during an open seating boarding process. Sorry, not sorry! Nobody really wants to sit next to kids, let alone crying kids (yes, even you, but YOU have to!) I totally use this to my advantage on non-full flights and it’s often gotten my lap-child a middle seat! And you know what?! I don’t feel bad about that because really, who wants to sit next to a child while in the middle seat?! You’re more doing everyone else a favor! You’re welcome fellow flyers!
Pack Strategically – You can’t bring everything with you…but you can bring everything you can fit into your carry-on and one personal item…pack wisely! If you don’t think you’ll NEED it for the flight, pack it in your suitcase. DON’T pack things like your entire wallet (you won’t need every credit card and your checkbook for the flight!) multiple shades of lipstick, and the sunblock and bug spray you always have on hand. DO pack things like hand sanitizer and sanitized wipes, extra diapers (Come in real handy in case of a spill! Super absorbent!) and of course something to suck on like a pacifier, bottle of milk, cup of water or juice, a lollypop or piece of candy or even chewing gum for an older child…having something to suck on helps the ears to naturally pop 😉
Pack A Plethora of Snacks – As I’m writing this post, I just got a text from my brother-in-law stating “As soon as we get to the terminal, “I’m hungry” good thing we packed snacks #thanksmaggie” – ha! Made my day! Seriously though, if you think you are going overboard on the amount of snacks you are packing, throw a few more in there for safe measure 😉 Even if your kids don’t eat them on the plane, you’ll have them at your destination – which is especially helpful if you are overseas and your kids favorite snacks aren’t available! Note: security will allow you to bring milk and water through for children, so go ahead and pack their favorite cups and bottles filled.
In Flight Entertainment – When choosing the toys you’ll bring on a flight, keep in mind 2 big things, moving parts and noise! While puzzles and coloring books can keep a child occupied for awhile, they aren’t a great choice for flights as pieces can easily get lost. Instead opt to download a few different puzzle and coloring apps on your phone. Don’t pack toys that make a lot of noise…your child making noise is one thing, your child playing with a noisy toy is another…be as courteous to those around you as you can be! This being said, an iPhone or iPad is my number 1 must have for in flight entertainment for my kids…you can keep a kid so entertained with different games, downloaded movies and if all else fails the camera. You do however need to have some backup just in case it’s a phone-throwing kind of day 😉 I like to have a favorite book to read on hand, stickers or a sticker book and some kind of clean writing or drawing option like the Crayola Color Wonder Travel Tote.
Charge! – Don’t forget your chargers! Some flights have options where you can charge right in your seat. You can also plug in during layovers. Portable chargers are also worth investing in once kiddos come along! Before our trip to Europe, we got the Loop Travel Adapter which is pretty nifty because it not only serves as our adapter (that can be used in 150 different countries!) but also has 2 charging ports! I’m all about one item serving multiple purposes!
Hello Headphones – At 3, our son has officially learned where the volume button is on the iPhone…darn it! To battle the sound war, we’ve invested in the LilGadgets Volume Limited Wired Headphones for our kids. Last flight, our son was so zoned in on his movie with his headphones that he didn’t even notice the drink and snack service! Added Bonus: these headphones have a Share Port, allowing both kids to plug into the same device!
Spare Set of Clothes For ALL – I know space is limited, but accidents happen, and not just potty related! Our last flight my husband opened a bottle of Coke that he didn’t see my son shake to be opened…he was happy I had a spare set of clothes for him, and I was happy he had a spare set of clothes because that would have made for one miserable sidekick! Remember, you are one blowout diaper, potty accident, massive spit-up or spill away from having to use that spare set! Plus, luggage gets lost often…it’s nice to know you have spare clothing just in case!
Medicine Mama – Crying can be a sign of illness or pain, and because littles often can’t tell us that, it’s hard to diagnose. I always start natural, applying Lavender Oil and giving a Teething Tablet. I always carry Tylenol with me, and it has definitely done the trick for us before. I was recently told about the affects of Benedryl. I’ve not ever used it on a flight, but I’m not above it either. While I’m sure this could be considered a little controversial, I think as long as you are using it according to the directions and as a worst case scenario remedy, you should be okay…though I have read that it can have the opposite effect and keep kids awake…eek! Use at your own risk!
Don’t Get Cocky – So you had a good flight with your kid and everyone is praising your child’s behavior and your parenting skills…don’t let it go to your head 😉 Remember, you’re one bad flight away from judgment and bad looks!

KEEP SANE ON A TRAIN
We don’t take a train too often, but we’ve taken it enough to know that you can’t solely rely on the awefactor of riding a train as your form of entertainment! “We’re riding Thomas” and “Choo Choo, All Aboard” is going to get you about 3 stops max!

Stroll With Me – I’ve brought my stroller with me on all of our train rides. This allows us to be able to pack a little more in the bottom and is also an extra way to try to keep the kids contained a little longer!
Tablemate – Most trains to extended destinations have tables – take full advantage! When we traveled to Budapest from Vienna, we packed our breakfast for the trip and ate up not only our croissants and juice, but also some travel time! Double Yum!
Tablemate Take Two – That awesome table on board allows you to pack different kinds of toys for your kids. A train toy is always a must! I also packed some cars that we had a lot of fun rolling back and forth across the table. The kiddos also loved rolling them up the windows and over their chairs…with a little more freedom to move around, a lot more fun can be had! I found coloring on the train with our Crayola Color Wonder pretty doable.
Keep It Clean – All of the trains I’ve been on have been pretty clean, but you need to keep in mind that people are getting on and off constantly…this makes me wonder when exactly trains get cleaned? I always brought some Clorox wipes with me to wipe down the table before and after. I also packed a garbage bag because unlike a flight, there is nobody coming around to collect your trash!

These are my travel tips and I hope you find them helpful! I know there’s a lot of info here, but it takes a lot of preparation to have successful travels with kids! Being prepared is the number one thing you need for a trip with kids!!

Be Blessed + Be A Blessing

Work Hard, Play Hard – Dominican Republic Overview

July 11, 2016

After two jam packed days of serving in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, on our Sensabugh “Missionmoon” Mission Trip, we were awarded one day of fun to take in the beauty of the country! Our group did so in style in a fleet of ATV’s and Dune Buggies!

We drove the rolling hills through the neighborhoods of those we served, to the crystal blue ocean but the coolest stop was at a secluded watering hole for locals!

I started out in a Dune Buggy, but it, like all the rest in our fleet, broke down mid trip. The ATV’s were definitely the better choice! Going through the rural dirt roads made it hard to dodge the piles of poo, and being so low to the ground in the Dune Buggy made for one fragrant trip. I did a good job of dodging the doo-doo – until my Dune Buggy broke down and I needed to be pushed by an ATV – which pushed me right through a pile of poo! Just Awful! I was happy to have to switch to an ATV after my Dune Buggy refused to start!

This tour was a great way to see all parts of the Dominican Republic!

After our tour, we headed to the market for some Dominican style shopping – yes, poo covered and all – ugh! The Dominican Republic has a few things they are known for that we had to take advantage of…

Vanilla – Fresh made Vanilla is super fresh and super cheap here!

Mama Juana – A drink and aphrodisiac – this was Patrick’s souvenir 😉 It comes as a bottle of tree bark and herbs. When you get home, you mix rum, red wine and honey into it allowing it to soak into the bark.

Larimar – A pale turquoise stone which is only found in the Dominican Republic is very popular sale item. Look for a “Happy Hour Ring” – a ring that flips and switches stones – it was pretty unique!

Dominos – This game is the National Pastime of the Dominican Republic!

Cinnamon – Fresh cinnamon sticks are harvested and sold here.

The shop owners were very persuasive, offering extra goodies and discounts to buy from them! This is definitely an area where bargaining is accepted which always makes for a fun shopping trip 🙂

The Dominican Republic is probably best known for it’s affordable, all-inclusive resorts. We stayed at one of them, the Lifestyles Tropical. This was kinda tough – we knew we were there to serve, but our selfish side wanted to indulge in all the included drinks, scenic pools and the breathtaking beaches. It was sometimes hard to keep in mind that we were staying at the resort purely for safety reasons! Doing so provided us with a safe place to stay, safely prepared food and drinkable water at a really affordable price.

After our ATV tour, we had some free time to enjoy the resort before our final dinner. Myself and Sandra, Dominique’s mom, and my roommate, decided to beat the heat and check out the spa! After Sandra’s impeccable bargaining we indulged in a discounted massage, which included access to a private hot tub, steam room and sauna, with freshly prepared fruit smoothies! I mean, I think we earned it 😉

The next morning, we had the option of waking up early and heading to Teleferico, which is one of 3 Christ The Redeemer statues in the world! Being that Christ The Redeemer in Rio de Janerio is the TOP thing to see on my bucket list, I needed to surpass sleep and make the trip!

We rode the funicular up the mountain and experienced beautiful views all around us, but my favorite of course was the statue at the top!

They had some amazing guides at the top who were so helpful in taking the coolest photos!

Under the statue were some shops that were very much so like the shops we went to the day prior.

While at the top I spotted a GIANT beetle – ahhh! Fellow traveler, Matty, was brave enough to pick it up and freak us all out with it!

Some of the group got together for a photo before heading out. How fun is this?!

It was such a pleasure working hard and playing hard with this group! Nobody else can say they experienced exactly what all of us did together and that is pretty darned special and will bind us together for life! Until next year, new friends!

Be Blessed + Be A Blessing

TIPS FOR VISITING PUERTO PLATA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
In late June, it’s hotter than hot! It was unlike any other heat I’ve experienced! Load up on the water and sunblock!

Like most other foreign countries, don’t drink the water! Always carry bottled water with you.

Zika Virus is pretty prevalent here, load up on DEET heavy bug spray. Prior to this trip, I hadn’t known that you can find 100% DEET sprays. I got mine at Dick’s Sporting Goods.

We had one meal off of the resort, and it was downright delicious! Can I highly suggest a visit to Las Palmas?! I had the lasagna and it was so on point! My roommate had a steak and dubbed it the best of her life! The prices were just as good to! The Address to this deliciousness is…Av. Luis Ginebra, Puerto Plata 57000, Dominican Republic

Currency in the Dominican Republic is the Peso…I found that the markets all took U.S. currency as well though.

The language in the Dominican Republic is either Spanish or Creole depending on if the person is Dominican or Haitian. There is some discontentment between Dominicans and Haitians that one should probably be aware of before visiting. I was not aware and found myself in an uncomfortable conversation not knowing what was acceptable to ask or say without offending. I had wished I’d read this article prior. Rule of thumb, darker skinned people are Haitian, while lighter skinned people are Dominican.

Some of my favorite Dominican Foods to try: Tostones (fried plantains), Yuka (I had it fried…this comes from the plant, which I happen to have in my back yard!) Rice Pudding (I had no clue this favorite of mine is considered a Dominican food!)

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#SensabaughMissionmoon With Soles4Souls

June 28, 2016

Something completely magical happens when you get a group of inspired, like-minded individuals together on a mission to do good in this world. 11 people gathered together in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic this past week to do just that! Only two of those people had a connection to each traveler, Dominique and Coty Sensabaugh. The Sensabaugh’s inspired each of us travelers enough to halt our own lives and jump on board their Missionmoon to help them give back and spread love through an organization called Soles4Souls, which provides shoes for those who can’t afford them. Now each of us is tied to each other in such a unique and special way that will last our entire life!

What is a Missionmoon?! It is a Honeymoon dedicated to Mission work! The selfless Sensabaugh’s created this trip to not only celebrate their love in union, but also to spread their love to those less fortunate. Dominique and Coty are spectacular individuals with generous spirits and humble hearts. The two combined make for one dynamic duo! I know they wouldn’t want me to make this post about them, but I can’t create this post without mentioning the inspiration they exude. God has BIG things in store for this couple and I am just thankful I get to play a small part in their impactful story!

Over the course of two days and four separate distributions, our group outfitted over 500 adults and children with new shoes! A Soles4Souls shoe distribution is made up of 4 integral roles.

Sizer – First to make contact with the children. Sizes the feet with the help of a footprint mat then writes the size needed on the child’s hand.
Washer – Washes and dries the feet of those receiving shoes, then puts the shoes upon the freshly cleaned feet.
Runner – Finds the size shoes needed and provides them for the washer.
Decorator – Helps the children to decorate their new shoes with metallic markers and sparkly stickers!

It is a total team effort at a shoe distribution, and no role is more important than the next!

Our first distribution was at an outdoor school program. The conditions were less than desirable to play in, let alone to play in with shoes that are broken or too small.

My role at this distribution spot was to wash the feet of the children. The water and towels turned brown quick which made the reality of this mission so real. Some children’s feet were so thickly covered in mud that it was a struggle to get all of the dirt off of them, but we did the best we could.

One of my favorite moments from this spot was washing the feet of a little girl who FINALLY had ticklish feet! Her laugh and smile was infectious and filled me with joy! You see, I tried to tickle a lot of those little feet, but most of the kids didn’t laugh. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because their feet were so calloused and broken that they had lost that sensitivity?

My low from this spot was washing the feet of a little boy who had sores all over his heels and toes. I wasn’t able to see that he had them until after his feet were washed because the sores were concealed under the dirt that covered his feet. Fear immediately filled my brain, but faith overpowered my heart. I knew God would keep me safe as I washed the feet of His children – sores and all.

After this shoe distribution, we played with the kids, and it was absolutely amazing to see the gratitude of a simple gift like a balloon or bubbles!

These shoes were left behind and I thought they made the most beautiful picture! I distinctly remember the boy wearing them. His heels were hanging out about 2-3 inches. I hadn’t realized the backs were flattened down until I saw them like this. How uncomfortable that must have been for him…clearly he was glad to get new shoes by leaving these old ones behind!

Our second shoe distribution was at a Haitian school. I was a sizer at this spot, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! As a mom, I know just how quickly a child’s foot can grow, but I am also sensitive to the importance of having shoes that fit. I became a little Mama Bear to these kids, making sure that they were going to get shoes that they could both grow into and play in at the same time!

I learned how to speak a little bit of Creole (the native tongue of Haiti) while at this station, asking the kids “ban m ‘men ou’” meaning “give me your hand” 🙂

We learned that the teacher of this school is so hands on with the kids that she makes each little green and pink school uniform! She inspired me in such a huge way! We can always be doing more to help – always!

Haiti neighbors the Dominican Republic, but I learned the two have some discontentment. A girl from the school drove with us to our nightly activity and shared with us the challenges of being a Haitian in the Dominican Republic. She is one of many Haitians who was born in the Dominican Republic…paperless because the two governments can’t agree upon nationality. This leaves her and many others to face restrictions in health care, education and employment. Restrictions aside, she is a victim of prejudice. Her darker skin is a tell-tail sign that she is Haitian, and she voiced that she is often told she is ugly, stupid and unimportant. As the members of our van told her differently she stood in agreement stating “I know I am beautiful, smart and powerful!” Her confidence was so admirable!

As we entered her neighborhood, pride exuded from her! She was so proud of the place she calls home! Kids and teens were playing soccer and dominos in a large field. The men on the trip stayed in this area to interact with the guys, while the women all headed up to a schoolroom for a Zumba and Yoga class!

The women were so much fun! They loved to dance, and there were some amazing dancers in the group!

Behind us, a group of little girls struggled to keep up with the dance moves, so I went back with them and directed them with simpler moves. The joy in just skipping around in a circle with these girls…I can’t even explain it!

Before we got there, I was TIRED, I was HOT, and I had a STOMACH ACHE! The excitement and energy of these women and children was contagious! Those struggles faded away fast as laughter and joy and bubbles filled the room 🙂

Our first day was simply put, amazing!

Day Two started bright and early as we headed out to another school for our third distribution. At this location I was a decorator 🙂 It was so much fun to craft with the kids! Together we chose stickers to go on their shoes, and drew things like hearts, flowers, stars and smiley faces on them 🙂

At this location I had an amazing conversation with our point of contact in the Dominican. His name is Brad, and he is an American who heads an organization called Until They Know. Brad is one spectacular example of faith in the Lord! The things he and his family have endured and continue to endure are out of this world amazing. I have some strong faith, but I think if I had been faced with some of the things he has seen, I’d have selfishly said “No, Lord” and went on home to my life of comfort and content.

As we were about to leave this location, the teacher showed us this pair of shoes that was left behind by one of the students outfitted with new ones.

The side was tied together with pieces of an old t-shirt. Myself and probably everyone I know would have just pitched these broken shoes in the trash, but this child didn’t have that luxury. How happy it made our group to see these left behind!

Our fourth and final shoe distribution was at a church. Immediately, little girls surrounded me with hugs and held both my hands! It was hard to let them go, but I knew there were feet that needed to be washed! When an older boy sat down at my wash station, I was filled with so much excitement to fit him with new shoes! Y’all, he was wearing FLOWERED sandals! They were so broken down in the back that the heal made an inward “C” shape.

As I waited for his new shoes to be delivered, I asked to take a photo of him holding his old shoes.

Pain, guilt and desperation set in when I was told there were no more shoes in his size. Dominique gave me two right feet stating that they would probably be more comfortable than what he had – which was probably true – but they were one size too big for him. I promised this boy we would find him a pair of shoes as he put on his old shoes. He sadly sat in the window of the church watching the other kids get fitted with shoes and I absolutely could not take it! I was about to break down in tears! As soon as there was a break in the line, I got up to search for shoes myself, praying so hard for the Lord to provide as he had provided so many other times during this trip!

As I frantically searched for shoes, something really beautiful happened…another little boy who had just been fit with shoes sat down in my seat and proceeded to wash the feet of another child. Talk about a purpose being attained! Through service, we set an example to these people in hopes that this service will be a trickle down effect. Though I missed this beautiful moment in my desperation to find shoes for the other boy, it was thankfully caught in a photo. How beautiful is this act of service?!

I truly believe everything happens for a reason! God orchestrated the lack of shoes and the pull of my heart to provide an empty chair for this to happen! I’m sure of it!

My prayer for provision was answered when Dominique’s mom, Sandra, took off her shoes and gave them to the boy we had none for! He was so happy and grateful! I was overjoyed that my prayer had been answered! I’ll never forget that moment for all my life!

Sandra told me that she was so happy to get the chance to give her shoes to the boy, because she had once heard a story of her new son-in-law, Coty, giving his shoes away. When she mentioned this in front of Coty, he shared that before he gave his shoes away, he had seen someone he had always admired give his shoes away, and had always hoped he’d get the chance to do the same. What a beautiful chain of love! Who would have known that a new prayer for me would be to get the opportunity to add another link in this chain?!

Inspiring stories aside, Mission Trips are tough, and they aren’t all filled with positive feelings. There are a plethora of emotions experienced. You’ll find yourself sad at the living conditions of these families, but then see the pride on the face of a child who boasts “that’s my house!” and feel happy that they can prevail. One minute you’ll see a child showing greed towards the generosity you’ve shown – but then you’ll turn around and see another kid sharing the toy you just gifted them with another child. You’ll experience the frustration from parents when you can’t provide them with more, yet their children will give you continuous love through hugs. Going on a Mission Trip, especially a short term one, isn’t going to fix the big picture in a country, however, it is a piece of the puzzle, and no puzzle is complete without all the pieces! I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be a piece of the puzzle in the Dominican Republic! I am forever touched and changed by all I experienced there, and I pray the Dominican Republic is forever touched and changed by the little piece of the puzzle I was able to provide 🙂

If you are interested in getting involved with Soles4Souls, please reach out to me and I will be sure to connect you! Working with them was an experience I will never forget! I look forward to working with them again in the future!

Be Blessed + Be A Blessing

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Day Trip To Budapest, Hungary

June 14, 2016

Budapest is one big ole beautiful spread out city that has so much to see and do! This being said, Patrick and I have unfinished business in Budapest! We took an early morning train there from Vienna and took the evening train back. It was 3 hours each way. We had about 9 hours to see and do it all in Budapest…in the rain…with two kiddos…which didn’t happen. Given this scenario though, we did see a lot! I mean we walked over 25 miles in Budapest!

It’s important to know and understand that Budapest was originally two separate cities…Buda and Pest. The Danube River splits the two sides of this city that are now connected by the famous Chain Bridge. Knowing this helps you to understand and appreciate why this city is so big and stretched out!

Our train came into the Keleti Station which is deep into the Pest side of the city. This was good because it allowed us to see and explore a lot of the Pest side, but once I saw the Buda side I had wished we had gotten to explore more of it! I guess everything happens for a reason though…Pest is relatively flat while all of the Buda sites are set into the rolling hills. We would have struggled with our stroller on the Buda side for sure!

Buda Side
It seems only natural to start sharing on the Buda side since it comes first in the name, but we actually visited there second.

I love the word “Serendipity” – a happy accident 🙂 We happened to be at the Elizabeth Bridge and decided to walk across it to the Pest Side instead of backtracking to the Chain Bridge. If we hadn’t we would have never experienced one of our most beautiful surprises in Budapest, the Saint Gellert Monument!

This was not even on my radar! I didn’t even know it existed! I don’t know how it wasn’t listed on all of the countless websites I researched? Maybe I bypassed it thinking “We don’t have time for another monument.”, but this isn’t just any monument! Wow! We were just walking across an unsuspecting bridge and as our eyes adjusted, we got to take in such beauty! If we ever make it back to Budapest without kids, or grown kids that can walk themselves, I am running to this place to take in that view from the top!! Well maybe not running…it would be a long run in Budapest, and who likes running anyhow 😉

Also in this area worth checking out are Gellert Hill and the Citidella.

As we walked along the Danube on the Buda side, we passed the Buda Castle…the below photo was taken from the Pest side though.

By this point in our trip I was thinking “I’ve seen enough castles, let’s skip this one.” But this castle was pretty darned beautiful and I wish we would have had time to really visit it! There is a funicular that takes you to the top, which is always fun and provides a beautiful view! Castle Hill is a UNESCO site. It always makes me sad to be so close to a UNESCO site and not get to see and experience it! Matthias Church is in this area and supposed to be really beautiful, so if visiting, be sure to check it out as well! Right next to the church is a place called Faust Wine Cellar that I read is also a must! Another place in this vicinity that I so badly wanted to see was Fisherman’s Baston, which are beautiful lookout towers. We did not make it there as the walk up the hill with the kids was too intimidating for us.

In the below photo, you can see Matthias Church with its colorful patterned roof and towers. Fisherman’s Baston is the long towered building in front of the church…just beautiful even if to just see from afar!

Next visit the beautiful Buda side will get much more of our attention!

Pest Side
So there is a lot to see and do on this side, but I think it is actually most appreciated from the Buda side as this is where you can get the best view of Budapest’s most impressive building, the Parliament Building.

There is a lot of beautiful architecture in Budapest, but this is something special! It’s MASSIVE! Patrick guesstimated it has to be about 3 football fields long! Side note: Only an Ex-NFLer would measure in football fields – am I right?!

My absolute favorite thing seen on the Pest side was the Shoes On The Danube Memorial. Never in my live have I ever been so moved by a monument. 60 pairs of rusted shoes in different styles and sizes line the Danube River in front of the Parliament building. Each signifies the men, women and children of Jewish dissent who were ordered to take off their shoes before being shot into the water. Reading about it prior to the trip moved me, but being there and seeing it with my own eyes, imagining the freight and terror brought out emotion I wasn’t expecting from a collection of sculptures. A definite must see if you are planning on visiting the area!

St. Stephen’s Basilica is one beautiful church from the outside! It’s allegedly beautiful on the inside and boasts a beautiful view from the top. It was named after the first King of Hungary and houses his supposed right hand. I can’t speak personally on the inside though because there was a fee to get in and I didn’t pay it. It didn’t appear to be very stroller friendly and to be honest, my kids were just at their wits end by this point of our venture. Outside of this beautiful building I experienced such joy watching my boy act like an attacking bear followed by big tackling bear hugs! Sometimes you just need to stop and have moments like this when traveling with kids! Though I’m sure beautiful from the inside, I can’t fathom a more beautiful view than my happy boy!

That happiness continued at Gelarto Rosa! A friend from college gave me the tip of this place and it is so beyond share worthy! Delicious gelato is formed into rose petals making the most beautiful cone I’ve ever seen!
This place, which is located right outside of St. Stephens Basilica, offers the most unique flavors! I went with basil and chocolate and my only regret is not getting a larger size! I will think of that place often, I’m sure of it!

Andrassy Avenue is one of the many UNESCO sites in this city. It is a unique boulevard lined with upscale shops and restaurants and some of the most beautiful mansions I’ve seen in all my life! When George Ezra sings of his “house in Budapest”, I imagine it has got to be located on Andrassy Avenue! FUN FACT: When George Ezra wrote the song “Budapest” he had actually never been there! He was supposed to go there but missed his train due to a hangover – ha! Who knew such beautiful lyrics could be penned about such a beautiful place never visited!!

City Park was such a happening place, especially for children! I’m convinced we could have happily spent the entire day there had it not been for the long list of must see’s and to-do’s I had in front of us! It is home to the UNESCO site of Heroes Square, which is a monument depicting the 7 tribes who founded Hungary…

Built to celebrate the 1,000th Anniversary of Hungary is the Vajdahunyad Castle. This 120 year old castle was unique because it boasts a moat! You always hear of castles having moats, yet of all the castles we saw this trip, only this one had a moat! It looks much older than it is, but that is because it was built to feature copies of several Hungarian landmarks at the time.
There was so much going on around this Castle! There was a lake with paddle boats, vendors selling uniquely crafted food and goods, fair grounds with rides and a permanent Circus…we had to get out of there before our kids trapped us in there all day long! We skipped over the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Gardens that also call this massive park home. However we did lustfully check out the Szechenyi Thermal Bathhouse! That sounds real creepy, but y’all, we were supposed to go here…!

We were supposed to spend the morning here splashing in the natural springs with our babies…but with my hubs torn up body from his bike accident, we could no longer safely do so 🙁 We both were so looking forward to this experience that we just had to check it out even if we didn’t get to experience it…

The last site I’ll mention is the Timewheel. It is located right outside of City Park. It is an hourglass for the year, and one of the largest hourglasses in the world! I found this concept to be so ridiculously cool, but the actual piece of art was a bit of a disappointment. For the life of me I could not see any sand falling down! One of the bottom windows was shattered on the inside so maybe this had something to do with it? I was so geeked to see this, but it was a little bit of a let down 🙁

That’s all for our day trip to Budapest! If you get the chance, definitely check out this big ole beautiful city!

Be Blessed + Be A Blessing

TIPS FOR VISITING BUDAPEST

Allow more than 1 day! This city is way too big to see in a day!

Most locals speak Hungarian, so the language will be a little different for Americans to understand.

The currency is the Hungarian Forint, however we didn’t need to exchange any money here as we found Euros or card to be accepted in all the places we visited. I believe most, but not all, do accept Euros.

Promoters really hustle tourists to buy into their Bus Tours…which can give you a negative feeling initially, but they actually are something to look into! We only spoke to them once we realized we would have to walk alllll the way back to the train station…the price was decent and the perks were worth it, but the times just didn’t work in our favor. Look into it early on to get your money’s worth!

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