in case you are wondering...

There seems to be a little bit of confusion, and this seems as good a place as any to straighten it out... just in case you are wondering...

I sent out a letter to you all and it included my personal e-mail address.  That's carlyinbrazil (at) gmail.com.  This has started off some discussions/confusion that I just wanted to clarify...

#1.  I am giving you my personal e-mail address not because my sulphurgrove.org one won't be working, but becuase I don't have reliable access to it.  Our church e-mail is hosted by a web site that is sometimes blocked on other computers, so I don't always have access.  Also, my church e-mail doesn't have a lot of storage and it gets full (and overflowing) a lot and the big red STORAGE WARNING at the top of the page gets me a little nervous... so I am using a web based e-mail with more storage space... that way if I don't check it every day, I won't have to panic that things are getting bounced back to you!

#2.  I am NOT moving to Brazil!!  At the current time I don't even have any plans to visit Brazil during my sabbatical, although that doesn't mean I won't.  I AM NOT MOVING TO BRAZIL!  or Costa Rica or the Dominican Republic or anywhere else (oddly everyone seems to be settling on warm destinations... I'm so predictable!).  I am NOT MOVING.

#3.  I have had the same e-mail address for years and years... since I actually WAS living in Brazil.  Back then it was carlyinbrazil (at) hotmail.com.  I've used it for AGES... and I have never changed it.  Mostly because I am too lazy to change it in all the places where I used it!  NOT BECAUSE I AM MOVING THERE!  I switched to carlyinbrazil (at) gmail.com because there is more reliable access to it (yep, I have troubles with hotmail too... see, predicatble!) so I do a lot of personal e-mailing from there.  I still use carlyinbrazil (at) whatever... because I just haven't changed it. 

#4.  I AM NOT MOVING TO BRAZIL.  Just to be clear.  =)  I love Brazil very much.  I love to visit.  Maybe someday I will move back there, if that is where God calls me to be, but for now, I'm here... its good.  =)

#5.  I will probably go somewhere during my time away.  Not sure where yet... lots of possibilities.. but I AM COMING BACK.  SERIOUSLY.  I'LL BE BACK JULY 1.  DON'T WORRY!!!

#6.  I will still love to hear from you, so if you send me e-mails, texts, or facebook me... I will be HAPPY!

#7... just to clarify all the other funny thoughts that have come my way... I am NOT having a baby, I am NOT getting married, I am NOT moving, I am NOT looking for another job, I am NOT having a mental breakdown, I am NOT stealing all the duck tape and hiding somewhere, I am NOT.. well, I could go on and on... yup the first 5 listed have all been mentioned.... none of the 5 are happening!  At least not right now.  =)

#8.  I AM coming back.  Just thought I would let you know!

I have a great group of friends that I do small group with (I know, crazy right?  You have small groups, I have small groups that I DON'T lead.  =)).  Anyway, when we finish and leave on Monday nights we always say, love ya, miss ya, bye.  I am not sure why... but we do... so... for you..

love ya, miss ya, bye!

OH and PS.  I write pretty much just like I talk... so I apologize if this seems really informal/abstract/rambling/makes no sense at times... my goal is to be honest with you all... and this is honestly me.  =)