An ode to Canada and back to school

Long distance relationships are difficult, that is an understatement... cross-country long distance relationships are even harder. God has been doing miracle after miracle between Jonathan and I since we parted ways on July 30th, and even more so since he left for a one-month mission to Canada for his job.
We are restricted to internet and calling cards until the end of September. It is a challenge, but has helped us make good use of our time, and we sure do appreciate what we have so much more!

He is currently in Baker Lake, Nunavut in the Land of Canadia (yes I spelled it that way on purpose)--which is so far north that trees don't even grow out there. He has repeatedly made the statement that Baker Lake truly has "none-of-it" (nunavut). Not to pick on our canadian friends...
It's actually quite an interesting cultural view to me... kind of a mix between eskimos, native americans, and tribal people--most living on welfare and in very humble conditions.

Yes, that is a library.


Beautiful children!

Us cushy Americans would all do good to spend some time out there, appreciating how much God has truly blessed us and how filthy rich we really are, even when we complain about how little we seem to have. If you have running water and plumbing in your home--you would do well to praise God for even that.

Sidenote:
I think I am living vicariously through Jonathan right now because secretly (well, not so secretly) I wish I was not only there with him, but I am getting the itch for going on another mission trip, but I am definitely staying put in Tyler for at least the next five months. Argh!

And here I am, in good ole' East Texas, sweating away the summer as I continue training and preparing for the school year to come into full swing over the next week-- and no, I'm not in school myself-- but I'll be in schools taking pictures!

I've learned an incredible amount from the past three weeks working with Lifetouch Photography. I am impressed by my management and the company's ethics, and am proud to be working for a business I can trust. I have also felt privileged to be on the leading edge of technology when it comes to portrait photography--with all it's fancy computers, cameras, lighting, and equipment. I won't bore you with details. But I drool over this stuff. :)

Lifetouch

Please pray that I will have full confidence and skills to shove off on my own by this time next week in my job... entering the big scary world of public schools (yeah, homeschooling does me no good here. eek!)
...little Charisma wandering in looking like a deer caught in headlights, lugging around large piles of expensive studio equipment and hundreds of kids lining up to take pictures in very little windows of time! And they all turn to me and say, "you know what you're doing right? And you can do it fast, right???"

...Well, that is if they don't mistake me for a freshman and try to send me to the principal's office for not being in class and without a hall pass. You may laugh... but you KNOW that will probably happen!!!

Phew! What am I getting myself into?!