what is....

fresh air?? i ask this because i definitely have not smelled fresh air in a really long time. a few days ago, there was actual, no doubt about it fresh air here...for a couple days. it was really nice! it felt really weird, but it was still nice. it felt weird because out here in the middle of the desert we're used to constant dust/sand/windy/hotness...all day every day. it was definitely very nice to feel the random fresh air.
another thing that was really random...the other night when i was walking back to my room after work i heard birds singing/chirping. that was definitely very weird to hear out here in the middle of nowhere...but it was nice too!
so, anyway besides all the randomness...what else is going on in my wonderful life in afghanistan?? well, my best friend from boot camp is out here now, and i saw her for the 1st time since March the other day. it was so cool to see her again! it sucks that she's out here, but i'm glad i got to see her at least 1 time before i leave this wonderful place.
also, big news--just found out today! my cousin (kristi) and her husband (paul) recently returned from Ethiopia. they are currently in the process of adopting their daughter. they will return back to Ethiopia in about a week and return back to the states with her on August 23!! this means that when i come home, i will have a new cousin in the family! so exciting!!
i know that i may sound quite happy and upbeat in this post, but in reality i'm not really all that happy. other than my best friend being out here now, i have no one to talk to that i can actually trust. it's not good at all, because lately i've had quite a few not-so-good days and really needed someone to talk to. oh well. less than 2 months in this place and we're america bound! please keep the prayers a'comin though...they are definitely still needed. thanks for all that all of you have done already! it means so much!

love you.miss you.see you soon!
~stef