Twisted McDonalds

So Luke and I wanted a McFlurry last night after supper, and before Wednesday night youth group, so we went to the Hamilton McDonalds--the one without the huge stand-up golden arches. It was on the way to church.

So, I ordered and was helped by a teenage girl. She seemed to be having some trouble ringing it up. She saw I had a credit card and she said, "OK, swipe it." I noticed she gave me no total, but I swiped the card anyway thinking I would look at the receipt later and make sure everything turned out OK.

The girl laid the receipt on the tray and we all waited as her co-worker made the ice cream. I watched her help another customer, and while the manager came to help her, she casually came over to my tray, picked up the receipt, crumpled it, and put it in her pocket. "What the what?"

The teenage boy got done with the ice cream and I asked for a receipt. He wasn't sure where it was so he got the manager. The manager looked up my order on the register, and after some confusion, we figured out that she had charged me for two Mcflurrys (we had a coupon for buy one get one free), and two drinks. Our total came to about $10. It should have been about $2.50. I told the manager he could find the original receipt in his worker's pocket.

Crazy!!

Wanna see some pictures?

Go here: http://picasaweb.google.com/debdemarest/EuropeTrip2009# to see some pictures of our trip!

Enjoy the weekend, friends!

So, I didn't upload the video the right way last night, and when I tried again it didn't work, so today I'll work on getting those pictures up!

There and back again

Here is a slideshow of pictures with a few explainations.

We had a great trip. It was so fun, also exhausting, hilarious, exciting, a little scary, inspiring, and so much more.
I found myself wishing on many occasions that there would be one of my really good friends there. Luke was in teacher mode many times, and it would have been really nice to have my own personal companion, but I would have probably had to give up other things if that were the case. I do think I would have been more silly and spontaneous, however. I defnitely would have taken more fun pictures. But things were exactly how they should have been. It was an experience I will never forget, and I'm so glad we were able to go. Luke's grandparents went with us to celebrate their 50th anniversary. I know they were glad to go, even though there were times that it was difficult to keep up. They sat a couple days out, but were happy to do that. I loved every place we went. I was a little grumpy at different times because of lack of sleep, but I know if I would have gone at a different time, apart from EF Tours, I would not have gotten to see so much, and I have to expect that I may never be there again.

One story I want to tell and a lesson to be learned: always take the warnings seriously when it comes to pick-pocketers!!
We had one man on our trip--he was a young 70 years old--get pick-pocketed twice on the Paris metro. And get this--all the pick-pocketing happened on the last day of our trip! Everything was going off without a hitch, well except for two passport scares from the other group. One girl took off her passport at a McDonalds and left it there. An hour later she realized it as our bus was pulling out of town. We turned around, she ran in with an adult, and found it underneath the table she was sitting at. Thank you Lord! She was from the group connected with ours the whole trip--from NC. The older man was from NC too. Anyway, there were young girls, about 12, on the metro with us and they walked to the doors like they were getting off at the next stop. All of a sudden a good samaritan on the metro started yelling in French. We caught, "be careful!" and "pocket". Apparently the young girls had put their hand in the man's jacket pocket and tried to get what was in there, but thankfully it was empty. We were all a little shook up. Later that day we were waiting for the next metro train. It arrived and the doors opened. There was a young girl acting like she was looking for something in her pockets and she was seriously standing still in the middle of the line of traffic. I was mad because we have to hurry. I said, "Why are we not moving?" Then I moved around her. Our leader told us to hurry on. The older man motioned for her to go ahead of her and in that instant she bumped his pants pocket and took out his wallet. He got on the metro and realized this. He jumped off the metro, grabbed the girl around the shoulders and she dropped the wallet on the ground. He was so mad! We were all panicing because now we're separated and we couldn't believe what just happened. He's a very capable man though, he got on the next metro and met us at our stop. He explained to us what happened, and as he was doing that the group leader of the other group came up discretely to the co-group leader and told him that she had been pick-pocketed. Are you serious?!? Apparently on that last metro ride someone had worked the zipper down on her purse and took out her white money purse that had all the tip money and emergency money for their group. It was a purse with about $800 Euros in it. It was so terrible. I know this would have ruined my day and I would have cried right there. She handled it as well as she could, and is hoping that her trip insurance will cover part of this. All of this activity really shook me up. It shook everybody up. I thank the Lord that He protected us from so many inconveniences and kept us safe. He is so good. Luke and I still don't have our baggage, however, but I know it will come soon, and it's ok.

I will post some pictures soon of the Eiffel Tower at night and our trip to the top.
My favorite parts: Saint Malo, seeing the Eiffel Tower, Tower of London, Lion King show...I'm sure there's more
Least favorite parts: lost baggage, exhaustion during the trip, the fact that Luke was in teacher mode many times, the hotel that smelled like camp and was so cold! Camp smell is good when it's at camp--not in a hotel room.

That's it for now. I'm off to bed. May I suggest playing some music in the background while you look at my pictures? I wanted to attach "As Time Goes By" to it, but gave up. Maybe you can look that one up while you watch. There's so much history in Europe. I was enthralled with that. It's great to take a trip and learn so much!

By the way, did you know that anyone can organize an EF Tour? It doesn't have to be through a school. Anybody up for it? Come on! Let's travel!

Moving right along!

Things are progressing!

I felt like I needed to make a new post saying that I'm not freaking out anymore. The post that was left up was not an accurate portrayal of current moods and happenings.

We're getting excited...we're getting laundry done, rooms cleaned for our house guest, bags packed, all school work wrapped up, and getting all the little things taken care of before our adventure.

You know I'll pass on pictures and stories in a little bit.

We're still praying...

Here's a picture of Normandy. I know we're going to see where D-Day happened, and maybe walk around this town. I wonder if I'll get to stand in this spot? I hope so.

Ahhhh!

Tonight I'm freaking out.

There's so much to do. Maybe I should just make a list right here for this weekend:

1. Prepare for the Iditarod race :) (There really are things I need to do to get ready for this)
2. Laundry
3. Check papers
4. Start packing
5. Make fruit salad
6. Spend Saturday with Luke's family, but bring papers to check in case there's down time
7. Get a lesson ready for the chapel I have to lead next week
8. Catch up on emails
9. Catch up on snail mail
10. Spend time with a friend on Sunday--this relationship needs to be invested in for the first time
11. Watch the Oscars (out of the corner of my eye)
12. Go to talent show at church? (This will be the first to go if things aren't getting done)

Anybody else a list maker?

This is not on my to do list

I have a to do list.

Posting on my blog has not been on the list for a while.

I got done with my "to do" for tonight so I decided to share some pictures with you, so you can see what has kept me so busy. There have been fun things, and many fun things coming up, so stay tuned.

Enjoy the pictures, and be in prayer. I will share some prayer requests with you along the way today...

Charity and Paul (Luke's sister) had their first baby on Super Bowl Sunday. They named him Nathan Wesley Peterson. He's so cute. We're having a shower for Charity this weekend. I'm excited to see Nathan again--it's been too long. I wonder if he'll be quiet or noisy? Pray for his health, for mom and dad's rest, and for Charity...she has a few weeks left with Nathan at home and then will have to return to work. I'm sure she would rather not, so pray for her.

P.S. Props to Charity for not punching me in the nose when I was insisting on pictures just one hour after delivery.

I was a small group leader for our church's annual at-home retreat. I got to spend the weekend with 6th/7th/8th grade girls. I had a great group. I have some regrets about not being "present" the whole weekend. I feel like I could have done better. But I thanked God Saturday night that He's not waiting for me to come around before He will move in their hearts. So, pray for them...some made signigicant decisions. I know my prayers are with them as they go back to their homes and schools. I think it is atrocious to think about all the nasty things kids are confronted with on a daily basis. I'll pray that the light of Christ will find its way into their lives daily.

This last weekend, Valentine's Day weekend, I went to stay with my twin sister in Marshalltown. She is 29 weeks pregnant and on bedrest. After a few weeks in the hospital, she was sent home to continue strict bedrest. She is able to sit up for meals, use the restroom, and take chair showers, but that's it. I got to "Liz-sit" while her husband was at a church meeting Saturday-Sunday. I was glad Andy didn't have to leave until Saturday because that meant I got to see him too. It was a quick visit; I got to see everyone; much too short; and Luke wasn't there, but what fun it was to play Mad Gab, Buzz Word (yes, we bought it after we played it with Miles, Holli, and Deb--secretly we're hoping for a repeat of the "balance" round--remember that? "Balance!!"), watch Project Runway, make dinner, get drive-thru, see the neices and nephews, get Liz her meds, and let Andy clean out my car--what a labor of love! That thing was hideous. I honestly don't know where that huge Chick-fil-A cup came from, Andy. Even more, I don't know why neither Luke or me have picked it up off the floor for the last three months. I had so much fun singing until my voice was hoarse all the way home. I came home and was instantly stressed out because I started to think about EVERYTHING that needs to be done before we leave for our trip to Europe. Also, Luke has been sick and complaining. I don't blame him...it's no fun to have an upset tummy. Mine has been icky for the last two weeks. It's a lingering bug, but me-thinks Luke may not be as patient as some. So, please pray for our health--it definitely needs to perk up before March 1. Also, pray for us concerning this trip. We are mega-excited, but there is A LOT to be done. I want to look forward to it, and not get stressed, so pray for wisdom in time management, finances, handling a group of 13, interacting with somewhat strangers. Also, safety in flights, in the streets of Paris and London. Responsibility on the part of the students and parents. Wisdom for Luke. Much of the responsibility falls on his shoulders. Also, on a personal note. Pray for Luke and my time together while we are over there...just pray that we would have time to relax and just be together. I know that since Luke, and me, will feel so responsible it might be tough for him, or me, to take it easy and carve out time to enjoy Europe as a couple. We'll have to do some chaperoning, but I'm praying that there will be time when we won't have to. Praise God for the chance to go, for the people who will be coming with us, for the things the Lord will teach us along the way. What an adventure! My prayer is that the students and adults will meet the Lord in a new way. Even though this is not a third world country with poverty and hardship, my prayer is that the Lord will still reveal Himself to us all by the way He can protect and provide, guide and instruct.

Isn't this a cute crib?? I can't wait to meet you little baby Smith! But, let's not get to know each other for another month, ok?