The World Race

Guess who is going on the World Race!?!?! ME!!!!! I leave in January for an eleven month mission trip to eleven countries.
theworldrace.org
^I'm going on route 2.
alisonfranklin.theworldrace.org
Check it out!

Akward events or really just one event.

Andrew and I went to the movies yesterday. After the movie Andrew had to take a dump so I was sitting outside the bathroom for a bit. This dude (probably around 25-30) was talking on the phone really loud and obnoxiously. I couldn't help but notice and listen in, plus he had a pretty intense 'stache that caught my attention. As he is talking he comes and stands right in front of me, literally two feet from me. I didn't know what to do so I just acted like I didn't even see him. I continued to mess around on my phone but he wasn't moving. I wish that you all could see this man, completely dorky and awkward. So he continues to stand right in front of me but I refuse to look up and make eye contact. I finally break and make eye contact. That was a mistake. He starts to blow me kisses while he's on the phone. "Where the heck is Andrew!?!" is whats going through my head. He continues to stare at me and starts to move forward a little. Andrew is still no where to be found so I hop up and run to the bathroom. The man turns around and acts like he is going to follow me in. I wait for a little while until Andrew calls me to see where I am. I come out of the bathroom and the man is just standing there, waiting for me so I grab Andrew's hand and we walk out while I am laughing hysterically. I explain everything to Andrew as we are walking to the car and we had a good laugh. Oh, awkward moments...how you make me feel alive!

The Pacific Northwest

I've just been enjoying life, up here in the Pacific Northwest aka Washington and Oregon before I head back home to a busy work load! Today Andrew and I went to the Lewis River. I brought a book called "A Walk Across America" by Peter Jenkins. My friend Ashley raved about it and its actually really good so far! The book is about a man (Peter Jenkins) who set out with his dog Cooper to walk across America. Lets just say that this book is making me crave adventure more than ever! I think adventure and exploration are in my bones, I think about them constantly. So I head back to Texas on the 21st. I am excited and sad. I miss my family and friends, for sure but I know that I'll miss Andrew just as much. I don't know. Its hard to have a boyfriend who lives on the other side of the country but I know God is in control. I'm excited to start school, I'm going to hit the ground running! I'm excited to see what God is going to do in my life and how he is going to use me. I'm just excited to be alive, really.
-Love in Christ

On the road againnn!

So we left Thursday the 5th, we being Andrew's family and I. I arrived to the Portland airport at around 1:00 p:m on Wednesday the 6th. I fell asleep at like 2:30 p:m and literally did not wake up until 7:00 a:m the next morning. I was one tired little lady!! So we packed up in the Navigator that Andrew's parents rented and it was a full vehicle with Andrew, Richard, Mavis, Pat, and I. And the road trip began! It is Wednesday today so we have been traveling almost a week and have been to seven states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Sheesh!! We arrived in Montana on Thursday night and the next day the Kent family reunion began! I met so many relatives, I honestly don't remember all their names but they were so sweet! I felt so welcome! On Saturday we went and floated the Madison River in Montana, I really enjoyed that! That night we had a pig roast, the pig weighted 125 pounds!!! I didn't eat any of the pig since I don't eat meat but I did enjoy some smores that night! Sunday we had breakfast with everyone and said our goodbyes, I was sad to say goodbye to everyone. I was the only person at the reunion from the south! Then we were on the road...again! I had never been to Yellowstone and I have always wanted to go my whole life so Andrew's parents decided to take me! It was AWESOME! I got to see Old Faithful which was so stinkin' cool! And we went and walked along some hot springs which were all different colors because of the mineral deposits. Andrew's parents are geologist so I learned a lotttt in Yellowstone. As we were leaving Yellowstone I started feeling very car sick so we had to pull over on the side of the road. That's right world, I threw up on the side of the road in Yellowstone...barefoot and all! It was pretty awful, especially since throw up came out my nose. I know that you all really wanted to know that. That night we got into this tiny town in Montana very late and there was no where to stay so we stayed in a little log cabin! I really enjoyed that, it was so cute. So we drove all day Tuesday, once again. We stayed in another hotel that night and then Wednesday we went and met Andrew's Dad's cousin Linda and her friend at this restaurant called the Iron Kettle. It was good! Its a little hometown restaurant. Chisholm, Minnesota is where this restaurant was. The town is a little mining town. Then we went to a mining museum which was so interesting! Turns out that Bob Dylan grew up in Hibbing, Minnesota which is right by Chisholm so Linda suggested that we go and see the house he grew up in! So we did! That was so awesome to see. I can't believe that the great Bob Dylan grew up in a little mining town! We drove around the town a bit and ate dinner at a Pizza Pub called Snickers. Yum! We played darts and pool. We ended up sleeping in a tent last night in Linda's friends yard. Her name is Joanne, she is a very sweet lady. I woke up this morning with bug bites all over my body! The great outdoors huh? This morning Joanne treated us to Potica which is this amazing little pastry with brown sugar in it. Its big in this area. Now we are about to head over to Dwayne's which is Andrew's Dad's second cousin. He lives along the lake so we are going to swim all day! Oh how I love traveling, but I do miss my family! God is good, all the time!
-Love in Christ