Travel

Referrals Are Lifeblood

Posted on August 7, 2017 by The Healthy Habit Lady

Referrals are lifeblood and I need your help.  

I’m calling on all of my readers and followers to spread the word.

My family and I have been hosting high school foreign exchange students from around the world since 2003. Now two of them are married and one of them even has a baby. It’s so amazing that my kids have friends, we consider family, all over the globe. We are raising our children to embrace cultural diversity – and it begins at home. By the time they are out working in the real world they will have broken bread with, worshiped with and lived with people from all different races, religions, beliefs, traditions, cultures, etc. I honestly believe this is a beautiful thing. We’ve hosted while pregnant, moving, in college, etc. It’s a rewarding experience, and if you would like to find out more about how YOU might be involved or make a difference, message me. There are several students still waiting to be matched with a loving volunteer host family for this academic school year. Spread the word please. The picture is of Marie from Germany – one of our former students who has been back to visit us twice.

Can’t host right now? That’s okay, Refer a family to me who hosts and you will receive $100 referral fee. Can’t host the whole school year? That’s okay too – just host for 3-5 weeks so we can secure their place in the program and the school spot. Sharing is caring … please like, comment and share.

 

MarieDebStateLine

Marie from Germany and Debra

High school foreign exchange students come with their own spending money, their own health insurance and they speak English.  Each and every student has been personally interviewed by our non-profit organization and passed rigorous exams in order to be qualified to come on our program.  These are cream of the crop kids that you do not want to miss out on meeting.

Open your home and heart today to welcome a teenager from another country, help Share Your America and do your part to foster world peace and understanding. Appreciating cultural diversity starts at home, with us, with me, with you.

If you are interested in hosting a high school foreign exchange student, sending me referrals or just finding out more information, please email me at:  debra@facetheworld.org or call 210-510-8697.

As Always, Make Champion Choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady

 

Categories: Challenge, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The 17 State Sojourn

Posted on July 19, 2014 by The Healthy Habit Lady

So, I hauled me and my 3 boys and a girl from Spain across 17 states, one nation’s capitol and over 4,300 miles in the span of about two weeks.

At times I was convinced I was being secretly filmed for some new reality series I was unaware about, but honestly, it was a blast and I wouldn’t change a thing … except maybe the hotel in TN, yeah – that one left a bit to be desired. Among other things, there was no elevator, which was totally a foreign concept for my children, lol.

All I can say for sure is God Bless the DVD and Blu-ray players in my mini-van, as my kids watched a lot of Disney movies and such. The boys were watching the original Dumbo Disney movie and my 9 year old says it’s freaking him out because a bird is smoking a cigarette, an elephant is afraid of a mouse, a clown got them drunk and of course elephants apparently fly, lol

When we weren’t driving, we were visiting family, catching up with friends and exploring.  Highlights included the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Dallas, state border pictures in Texarkana, surprising cousins, visiting an Amish Cheese shop, swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, exploring Washington, D.C., downtown Atlanta and New Orleans.  We went fishing and enjoyed hotel pools. But not at the same time 🙂  I believe I took over 300 photos and created a public album for them on Facebook.  Click Here For Pics

Meanwhile, how do you know when you’ve been driving too much?  When your own hair scares you, Lol … So this is what happens when your poodle locks get wet from walking around downtown New Orleans in the rain and you just stick the strands on top of your head with a clip; and then drive 10 hours … yes, I was a lovely sight.

It is worthy to note that the casualties of this trip included my voice for starters (hard to sing and rock out while driving with a squeaky mouse voice), a pink nightgown and green turtle pillow in TN . Alas the nightgown was too big anyway, so no worries. We lost a bag of swim suits and swim shirts and brand new sunscreen in Alexandria. We’ve lost a brand new pair of sandals that belonged to Thomas – God only knows where they are, I’ve gutted the van and no luck. I lost my iPhone in Alabama but actually managed to find it in the trashcan at a gas station. I’m convinced someone tried to steal it and then tossed it when I kept pinging it with the ‘find my phone’ app on my iPad, lol. God Bless the LifeProof case because the phone was wet and yucky. Finally I temporarily lost my makeup bag – I was certain Louisiana had eaten it or something. No clue where it was. Perhaps that was a clue I did not really need it anyhow. However; it was later located in the bottomless pit that is my vehicle.

Birthday celebrations were abundant on this voyage, including my youngest son who turned six, but then kept exclaiming that he wanted his ‘5’ back.  He wanted pancakes and bacon for breakfast, and he indeed got his wish.

At any rate, I am glad to be home.  I missed my husband more than can be imagined and I was quite happy to sleep in my bed and his arms last night.  Our family also suffered a loss as Tom’s grandmother passed away while I was gone.  I’m not sure when my next sojourn will be, but be assured I will share my misadventures with the public for their comic relief needs.

As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady

July 19, 2014

 

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40 Toes Across 2 States

Posted on July 5, 2014 by The Healthy Habit Lady

So I left my house with a van full of stuff and sleepy children, at approximately 6:30 a.m.  I drove from San Antonio to Texarkana and we arrived at the hotel at about maybe 5pm.  That is good time, especially since we goofed off in downtown Dallas and had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe.  While we were there, I got brave and ordered an Oreo Cheesecake.  I have never had that in my life, and we all know how I am weird about trying new foods.  You know, that whole ‘SED’ thing. Well I tried it and I loved it.  I did not eat very much, as I did not want to bamboozle my waistline, so I shared with the kids. They loved it too.

Once we were at the hotel, we checked in and dropped off our stuff in the room, and then went downtown to the Courthouse where the state line between Texas and Arkansas goes right thru the middle of the building.  There is an awesome photo op there where you can have one foot in Texas and one foot in Arkansas.  We’ve been posing for pictures in this same spot for over 20 years.  It is kind of neat to take all the different foreign exchange students to see it, on our trips, and to take pictures.  So here is a shot of me and my boys, 40 toes across two states.
After the picture taking adventures, we went to eat at a Barbecue place called Big Jakes, where my cousin Michael works.  The kids were quite excited to try fried pies, well two of the kids were anyway.  I had never even heard of such a thing.  I did not try it, not after having some cheesecake just hours earlier for lunch.   I did however get very nervous about the French Fries.  You know I hate seasonings and spicy things.  I could not tell if the fries were seasoned or not.  My son Thomas said he thought they were okay and not spicy and that I should try them.  I could not let him down, so I did. This is very brave of me to try something new in a public place, totally new restaurant, especially with family around, lol.  So I did the deed and tried a fry.  They were actually seasoned – as I had feared – but it was okay.  I liked it.  Shocker.  I never eat a lot of fries anyway, not healthy or necessary, but I did eat about 3 or 4 I think.  I was proud of my French Fry moment.
After dinner, we headed back to the hotel to enjoy the indoor pool and hot tub (whirlpool spa).  I must say I was a bit disappointed in the pool and spa, as there was entirely too much chlorine, and the spa was not hot at all, more like luke warm, which just felt kind of weird.  I let the jets from the spa pulsate into my back, since I had driven all day, and it felt okay – but not quite what I had in mind. The boys of course, did love the pool and had no trouble jumping in and splashing around.  They made friends quickly with the other kids who were there.  Lucia, our student from Spain, who is traveling with us, enjoyed the gym and got in a workout.  She swam afterwards.  I was totally planning on doing the gym after the pool, but alas, that did not happen.  So I just did some stretching and called it a night.
Well my friends, that’s about it for now.  Gotta get some rest, as I drive out tomorrow with this crew and we head for Dyersburg, TN where I will get to see two nieces and a nephew.  I am very excited about this.  And if I am lucky, I’ll see an old high school friend on the way.  Stay tuned for that one.  Meanwhile, remember my mantra …
 
As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady
July 5, 2014
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On The Road Again

Posted on July 4, 2014 by The Healthy Habit Lady

So what better way to celebrate Independence Day and the birth of freedom .. than to embark on a 2 week road trip, free from schedules and deadlines.  Yes, I’m that crazy.

I am going on a vacation, leaving at o’dark thirty tomorrow.  I am driving from Texas to Arkansas to Tennessee then to Indiana, and then from Indiana to Ohio to West Virginia and Virginia … then heading back down thru North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and then back home to Texas. And yes I’m taking some of my own food, lol. I will exercise on the fly and do my best. I will be alone with 4 children, no husband. So pray for me, or light a candle or do whatever it is you do … so that I maintain my safety and sanity.
This will be another one of my many adventures.  I love to travel.  I love road trips.  I love visiting family and meeting friends.  I love just taking off and playing it by ear.  I also love coming home.  Not every day is an adventure, sometimes it is just keeping up.  Sometimes it is laundry and dishes and countdowns to bedtime.  Sometimes life is boring.  But it is what you make it.  So while I do maintain a household and enjoy my husband and family … I also love exploring and seeing where life takes me.   You never know what you will find unless you open your eyes and mind to the possibilities.
Now you know I’ll try to pop in and punch out a blog or two; but no promises.  I’m taking my laptop, but my circumstances and environments are not set in stone.  At any rate;  you all be good and keep focusing on those healthy habits.  Get out there and enjoy your own adventure.  I’d love to hear all about it.  You can email me anytime at healthyhabitgal@gmail.com, who knows maybe I’ll share your adventure on my blog.  Meanwhile, here is a little view of my Patriotic Boys and nearly grown teenage daughter.
3 Boys: Ages 10, 9 and nearly 6
1 Daughter: 3 months shy of being 18
As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady
July 4, 2014 at 6:01 p.m.
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Big World

Posted on September 7, 2010 by The Healthy Habit Lady

BIG World

By: Debra Sue Higginbotham
a.k.a. Healthy Habit Lady

The world is kind of big,

but it’s also kind of small …

yet it has too many places,

for us to name them all.

Perhaps within your mind,

are places that rhyme with Joe,

such as New Mexico,

or even San Francisco.

And, Now, can you think –

of states that end with S …

such as Las Vegas –

or Arkansas or Texas.

So, how about thinking,

of cities that start with B …

such as Birmingham,

or Idaho’s own Boise.

And, can you remember,

a place that sounds like saw …

like the canal in Panama,

or Nebraska’s Omaha.

Perhaps within your mind –

are cool places to explore,

such as Africa or Australia,

or Brazil – or Singapore!

And, Now, can you think,

of states that end in N,

such as Oregon or Michigan,

or perhaps Washington.

Regardless of direction,

North, South, East or West …

think about where you live,

and what about it – you like best!

As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady
All material is hereby copyrighted.
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