The Latest In My Life

The latest is always exciting, isn't it?  Okay, maybe not so much.  But here's my latest:
School is done for the semester.  I'm relieved.  After Thanksgiving, once I got back from Mexico, I had no motivation.  Not even for Spanish, though you would think that after being down there I would come back and really want to dig in.  But at that point I was just ready to be done.  I survived, but didn't get the "A" I set out to get in Anatomy.  The higher my grade, the more points I get on my OTA application.  But since I have mixed feelings about being in school for another 2 1/2 years, maybe the lower grade and lower points is for the better?  I did however, get an A in Spanish.  I'm really not sure how.  I know my language skills are not on an A level.  But hey, I'll take it.
As soon as my finals were over I started training for my new job.  It's the job that Heather (on my bloglist) has been doing.  I'm excited about it but also a little nervous.  I think mostly because it's new and unfamiliar.  Today will be my first day in the house that I will normally be in.  Until this point I've been sitting there and listening to everything about OSHA and HIPPA and stuff like that.  I'll still be working one day a week at Caleri's.  I wasn't ready to give that up completely. 
I've been really missing Alabama lately.  I'm anxious to go down for a visit but I don't know for sure when that will be.  I have vowed that the very first weekend in 2011 that I have free I'll be taking a roadtrip.  I'm excited to see people from church again and I'm excited to be in the south.  I really loved living in the south.  I miss my kids.  I don't really miss teaching so much.  What I miss, is the kids who I was really bonded with.  The ones where I felt like I really had a taste of what a mother's love feels like.  There were some kids that it was just a teacher/student relationship.  I loved them all, but there were some that I really bonded with.  That's what I miss.
Well there's my update.  I need to get going on some errands now.  I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...... Elementary School

Now that the Christmas season is here, most people put up their pretty decorations to enjoy.  The decorations at our house? 

I made this wreath back in first grade I believe.  Which I think would have been either '87 or '88.  When I was younger I would try to hide it from my mom so she wouldn't hang it up for all to see.  But 22 years later I've just come to accept that it's going to be on the wall whether I like it or not, so I just get it out for her when I help get the rest of the decorations out.  The paper is completely faded and almost to the point to being moldy but each year it finds its place right in the front foyer area of the house.  Maybe if mom and dad ever retire from the ole farm house and move into town it will somehow get "lost in transition".  Then again, something tells me it'll be one of those things that won't ever be lost even if one tries to lose it.  Deck the halls!

Good Times On The Bus

To some, this post may seem a little childish.  But for those of us who were over tired, cooped up on a bus for two days and maybe just a little slap happy, it's a great memory. 

During the bus ride, there were a few of us girls who were smashed into a bus seat, talking in hushed voices behind a pillow in an attempt to talk privately.  Things were going just fine until a few boys who were bored and looking for some entertainment tried sticking their nose into things.  When they got shooed out by the girls, they decided that "Fine, we can just have our own private conversation!"  So they grabbed a blanket and attempted to make a tent.

I believe there were four boys cooped up underneath that blanket.  The tent came complete with a sign informing the rest of the public who was welcome and who was not.

We figured there were some rather strong "feelings and emotions" toward the girls but were unsure of what they might be.  So we decided to send them a message.

After much time had lapsed and many whispers and giggles had been heard, the note came back with a single Bible reference written on it.  Proverbs 21:9.  So we looked it up and found the following:

"It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than with a brawling woman in a wide house."

Funny funny times on that bus!

The next morning involved a contest that stemmed from yet more boredom.  Who can get their gum to stretch out the longest without using their hands?

Confession:  I was terrible at this game and used my hands for the picture.  Oh what fun:)

Speaking of fun, I'm loving the snow we're getting.  I haven't seen this much snow in a long time so I was pretty excited about it!  It makes me wish I had my kiddos up here to play in it.  8 inches is a lot more fun than a light dusting that melts by 10 in the morning! 

Last Week's World Travels

Last week I was able to go on a work team to Magdalena.  I went over Thanksgiving with this group a couple years ago and loved it.  The group was really neat and the huge Thanksgiving dinner was a lot of fun to help prepare and of course, eat!  I have been able to keep in touch with several of the people in that group and knew that I wanted to go on that team again.  I wasn't able to go last year but this year I was.  I don't have a lot of pictures of the work we got done, but you can probably just assume it's the same as it is on every work team.  Concrete, organizing, cleaning, fixing things.... all the basics.  So rather I think I'll just highlight some of my friends and favorite memories of the trip.  There was a group of us 20-something girls that spent a lot of time together.  I knew all of them before but this week definitely solidified our friendship.  There were lots of laughs and lots of good talks between us and I was lifted up and encouraged by spending time with them.

It was so good to see Kristi again too.  It was fun seeing her and Joel's house.  Even though she's posted pictures online it's still hard to really envision everything.  And Beni is just as stinking cute as she says he is!  I was bummed that I didn't get a picture of all their boys together but I guess that just gives me an excuse to go back, right?  The picture of me and her is a self portrait which never really turns out really well but at least we got one together!

It was also a lot of fun to be with my cousins, Jared and Seth.  These two are the youngest of the family and for so many years that's how I defined them- my little cousins.  But both of them are all grown up now and making their own lives.  It's fun watching them be in the position I was in just a few years ago.  It's also neat to see them step up and take on leadership roles.  Plus, they're just a lot of fun.  They make me laugh. 

I also got to spend a lot of time with Tyler and Whit.  I miss being with them.  Moving to Colorado and Illinois puts a little damper on being able to see them very often.  So having a week together was great.

 I didn't get any good pictures of the Thanksgiving dinner but that was definitely a highlight.  Someone said that between the CVE family, the work team and people from the community there were around 400 there.  I had the privilege of being in the serving line and loved seeing all the people come through.  And by the end of the night I could say "Do you want potatoes?" and "Do you want this?" (pointing to the stuffing) fluently in Spanish!  Slow and steady, I guess.  Maybe next year I'll pick up on another important and frequently used phrase:)

Friday there was some cement work and brush clearing that needed to be finished up.  While most of the group went and did that a few of us stayed back to pack up and start cleaning the dorms.  We got as much clean as we could but there were a few things we couldn't do until everyone else was packed up.  So when the dirty crews came back to clean up we came to a good stopping point and then borrowed someone's car, drove into town and got us some fish tacos and ice cream!  My opinion?  They weren't as good as some people make them out to be and I would probably rather have regular ole beef tacos, but they were good and we had a lot of fun going!

We left around 3:00 on Friday afternoon and by 6:00 we were loaded back onto the charter bus in Nogales, ready to go.  But not before having a picnic of Little Ceasar's pizza in the Safeway parking lot!

Sleeping on a charter bus two nights in a row makes for much creaking, groaning and cramping of the bones and muscles.  But is it all worth it?  Oh yes.  I rolled into my driveway around 5:30 Sunday morning, cleaned up and slept a couple more hours before getting up for church.  It was a great week! 

Coming soon: "When You're Bored On A Bus..."

Reflecting Back

November 17.  Not a terribly significant day to most people.  Not even to me really.  But every year when November 17 rolls around I get a little reflective of the past.  Today would have been my brother Jake's 23rd birthday.  This is not something that consumes my life.  But I do think about it some, especially on his birthday and the day he died.  He actually was my second brother to die, after Brian, which is a whole different story that I don't know if I'll ever post about.  Mostly because I don't want people to think I'm trying to draw attention to myself.  Anyways, after Brian died, my mom was unable to have any more babies and so they decided to try adopting.  Me and my brother knew nothing of it until we were on the way to the hospital that day.  My parents asked us while we were in the car what we would name a little brother if we ever had one.  I was five and Nate was three.  We really couldn't come up with any names except for the names of boys we knew well from church.  My dad said "Well, how about Jake?"  We both thought that was a pretty good idea.  I remember sitting in a small room in the hospital, still not really aware of what was going on.  Then a doctor walked in carrying a box.  Yes, a box.  Like, one of those filing boxes with a lid on it, not one with flaps.  The lid was off, don't worry!  There's was a little tiny baby in that box and he was ours to keep.  I can only imagine the questions that we asked mom and dad on the way home.  For eight months he was the pride and joy of our house.  We loved having him around.  One night in July though- July 9- he fell between the mattress and the bars of his crib with his face towards the mattress and suffocated.  I won't go into what all I remember from that night becuase I really don't want this to be a post about a horrible night. 
When I think about him, I no longer think of how it's so sad and how much we miss him.  I mostly just wonder what he would be like.  Would he like to farm with dad and Nate? Would he be close to Jared, my cousin who's only one month younger?  Would he be converted?  Would he, unlike the rest of the family, be athletic and agile?  I think my parents said once that he was 1/2 Pakistanian.  Which also makes me wonder sometimes if he would be the victim of prejudice and ridicule, to an extent at least.  Also, in the more recent years, I find myself wondering more and more about his birth mom.  I feel like along with giving your baby up comes a hope of maybe being reunited with them later on in life.  Maybe not, but it seems like that would be true.  I don't know anything about her story.  I don't know if she was a young teenage girl who knew she was too young to take care of her baby.  I don't know if she was in and out of prison and the state gave her no choice but to give her baby away.  I don't know if she just didn't want to have a baby.  At one point, there was a little blue flower that would show up on his grave every year around his birthday and we have wondered in the past if maybe somehow she knew and found his grave.  I feel for her though.  The grief she must have felt giving him away combined with the grief of knowing what happened must have been almost too much to bear.  Sometimes I wish that I could meet her and talk to her.  Probably like most people who lose children, time has healed her wounds and she has been able to move on.  But I'm sure there are so many questions and I would love to just sit down with her.  I would love to hug her and if anything, say thanks for allowing us to love him while we could. 


Well, on a completely different and much lighter note, I'm leaving for Magdalena on Friday morning.  I'm so excited!!  I probably won't post between now and then (not that I post that often anyway) but that's where I'll be.  Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Turns Out I'm A Wimp

So, I always have this idea of how if I ever get around to moving out of my parents house I'd like to live alone.  I've lived with quite the array of girls and while for the most part it was great, I'm kinda ready to be done with girls.  I either want to get married or live by myself.  I almost didn't mention the "m" word because I don't want people to thing that a) I hate being single or b) well, I can't remember what b was.  But let's face it.  I'm 28.  Most of my friends have all moved onto the next stage of life.  Another one of the aforementioned roommates just got engaged a few days ago.  Same with most of my cousins.  Now, there are many a benefit of being single and there are times when I love to reap those benefits.  But there are also plenty of times where the battle to lay my desire for that "m" word at the feet of Jesus is much harder than others. 
I didn't really mean to get on that tangent.  I meant to tell you why it turns out I'm a wimp.  My parents are gone this weekend and I have the house to myself.  Let's just say I'm AWFULLY thankful to know that Jesus is staying here too.  I was just a little leery walking in here all by myself with no neighbors around and no dad to make me feel safe.  So that whole living alone thing?  I may want to rethink it.


Since moving back to Illinois I've definitely struggled with who I am and where I fit in.  Shortly after I moved, before reality really sunk in, we had a great sermon at church about finding our identity in Christ.  I call it the identity crisis sermon.  When I heard it, I hadn't really started struggling with all this yet, but I knew that I probably would soon so I tucked it away in my heart to be used for a later date.  Sure enough, I've had to remind myself of that quite a bit here lately.  I also am learning to recognized Satan in this new way that he's been getting to me.  He's been making me think that I'm just kind of in a dumb spot in my life.  Like I said before, I'm 28.  I came from a great job with not a huge income, but enough.  The last eight years of my life I've been on my own, taking care of the different apartments I've lived in, buying all my own groceries and so on and so forth.  Now, I'm living at home, going to school part time, working part time, not making enough to be as independent as I like and trying to remind myself that that's all okay.  But Satan is there, trying to make me feel bad about where I'm at in my life and who I am.  It doesn't help that the gray hairs are coming in at a much more rapid pace than I ever hoped for and the other day I noticed I'm getting fine lines on my
forehead.  I must raise my eyebrows a lot because all the lines are in the same spot as the creases in my forehead when I raise my eyebrows.  Anyway, I have to remember that when I moved back, I took the path that I felt God was leading me towards.  And I have to remember that there's really nothing wrong with where I'm at, it's just different than what I'm used to.


I'm not sure even why I even wrote all that.  Oh!  I remember the b from earlier.  It goes for the second part of the post too.  I don't want people to feel sorry for me.  That's not at all what the goal is here.  Sometimes it's just theraputic to get it all out in "writing".


So anyways, that's what has been going on in my life and heart lately.  Not really a deep valley or anything, but not a mountaintop either.  Just trying to adjust and level out to this new place.  Oh, and another reason I'm a wimp?  It's so cold up here!!!  There's a whole nother adjustment to deal with...

The Long Awaited Update

I'm sure you all (okay, all four of you) have just been dying for me to update. Because I know this blog is SO exciting and I have so many wonderful things to share that you just can't hardly wait to read about! So, for the sake of those on the edge of their seats and for those who I'm just sure check daily to see if there's an update, here it is:
Let's see... I went to Alabama a few weeks ago. It was a grand ole time but it was not without it's downsides.

I knew something was up with my car when I left. It just didn't sound right. But what's a girl to do? While I was driving I was thinking about how gracious God has been all this time about letting me travel back and forth without any problems. Well, except for the occasional, friendly warning to quit speeding:) But really though, I drove back and forth a LOT over the last four years and every time he kept me from any troubles. I just knew though. I could feel it, that this would be the time I would be put to the test. Sure enough, about ten miles into Tennessee my seat turned into a massage chair from all the vibrating the car was doing. After pulling off and assessing the problem I was pretty sure I just needed to get my spare tire on and be on my way. Unfortunately, I don't have AAA and I wasn't sure what number to call for roadside service with my insurance. So I called 911. I felt dumb but I didn't know what else to do. 20 minutes later the nice lady cop pulls up behind me. I was pretty sure all cops knew how to change a tire (yes, I know I should learn to do it myself). She said she didn't know how to help me though and gave me some numbers to call for a tow service. While I waited on the truck to show up I had a nice long chat with the friendly cop. It was during that time that we realized there had been a miscommunication. She thought I also had mechanical problems which is why she couldn't help me. Once she realized I only needed my tire changed she got to work. She finished up just as the tow truck was pulling up. I felt bad for them but I was really thankful because her getting it done save me $75. The rest of the weekend was spent with my kiddos, catching up with friends, going to Devin's football game and buying a couple new tires. Friday night Cass and me went over to Mark and Bekah's for a euchre night. It was so good to be together with us four again. We spent a lot of time at their house while I lived there and I miss it.

This past weekend a few of us old Queenwood roommates were able to get together.  Sure signs we're getting older?

1.) We met at 10:30

2.) We met at Busy Corner.

It was still fun though.  I just love people who are still comfortable not matter how much time passes.  We missed having Meika, Julia, Kristi, Bethany and Mandy.

Oh, and I have another new place of employment.  I'm working at my cousins restaurant through the holidays at least and then we'll see after that.

Oh, and yesterday?

I love to vote.  I feel so patriotic. 

Tasty Fall Treats?

Last night I left work around 8:00 and headed over to a friends house about 1/2 hour away.  The gathering she had was well underway by the time I got there but it was still going strong.  I had called her right when I left to let her know when I would be there and she proceeded to tell me about the caramel apples they were making.  Gooey caramel with lots of different toppings and extras to chose from.  I had just eaten supper not too long before and wasn't too hungry when I walked in her house but she shoved an apple into my hands and said she made me a caramel apple and wanted to take a picture of some of us taking huge bites out of our apples.  So I willingly obliged, for the sake of the picture of course.  On the count of three we all took huge bites and after about .004 seconds I realized I had not bitten into an apple.  They had made me a caramel onion!  It was so so nasty.  I about hurled right there.  I didn't even swallow anything but the juice was strong enought that even this morning I still had the onion flavor in my mouth.  So disgusting!!!

Been Awhile, Huh?

I wish I had more to blog about but my life has become very routine in that I go to school and work and by the time I get home there's not a whole lot to do except go to bed.  Thrilling, I know. 


Okay, I know there's a lot more people that read this blog than just the people that comment.  I don't know who all does but maybe there's someone reading this who is struggling with the idea of maybe moving to Athens?  Maybe not.  But if you are, and if you know God is leading you there, to at least look into it, would you please obey Him?  The preschool is nearing the point of desperation in their need for two more teachers to go.  I know it's hard to think about leaving family, friends and comfort zones.  Boy do I know.  If any of you know my story of how I ended up down south, you know it was a huge struggle and that even while I was driving there with my car loaded up with all my stuff, I was praying that maybe God could change His mind and send me right back to central Illinois.  But also if you know my story, you might know that Alabama became home to me.  It has become just as much a part of me as central Illinois has.  You might also know that when I started feeling let to move back to Roanoke, it was just as much of a struggle as it was to move down there in the first place.  I know it's different.  I know it might be scary.  I know it's far away.  But it's so, so worth it. 


With that being said, most of you if not all of you reading this are not the right ones to go.  You are not being called from where you are.  But would you please offer up a prayer that the ones God wants to go would go.  That He would please fill the need at the preschool?  Thanks, and have a blessed day.

?????????

Funny story of the day.  There is a old man who is ninety something that still hauls in grain to the elevator I'm working at.  Today he came in at the end of the day and I saw him get out of his truck to come inside for something.  He had a can of beer in his hand which I thought was unusual.  He comes in, sits down and starts talking, opens his can of beer, then a little while later walks out- beer in hand- and drives away!  Now, I know he wasn't drunk at all.  But seriously.  Did he not realize what he was doing was completely illegal?!?!?!

Day Of Labor

This is my 400th post.  I feel like I should be doing something special for it but....... maybe we'll wait till 450 or 500, huh?

The weekend started out with happy birthday to me!  Friday was number 28 for me.  I'm not old enough yet that I care about my age.  For the most part anyway.  After next year I might start caring.  I can't say it was my favorite birthday in the world.  In fact, I think it ranks in the top three bad ones.  Right after the one where I was sick as a dog and had a cherry popsicle for my birthday supper and the one where I begrudingly moved eight hours away from home.  It wasn't bad, per se, it just wasn't spectacular.  Maybe I'm supposed to be all grown up and mature by now but I still like to have my birthday be a special day.  But my mom was working all day, my dad was in the field, my closest cousins left for a mini vacation and all of my friends already had plans.  I can't complain though.  We did manage to squeeze in a lunch at Caleri's where I was served a birthday cupcake in a very special way:)

Not just anyone gets that serving platter, folks!  I also got to see my aunt and uncle that were up from Phoenix for the weekend.  Friday night a few of the family got together to spend some time with them and then I went into town and hung out with Jamie and Haley until Nate got home from the field.  That was the best part of my day.

That's the Phoenix family- Joe and Sue. 

Saturday I headed out to Bluffton.  Cassie came up with a couple vanloads of Athens people so I grabbed LeaAnn and we headed out there to spend the weekend with them.  And what a great weekend it was!  It was somewhat action packed but I only got a few pictures.  Us girls after we climbed the freakishly tall fire tower and me and LeaAnn on the swing that went a little too high for my comfort level.  Fun, though.

It was fun staying at Cassie's house and seeing more of her home life.  But then came the part of splitting ways, as we headed west and they headed south.  After seeing them I've been more homesick for Alabama.  Today in class I had the first near freak out moment of "What in the world am I doing???"  The teacher used a toy as an example for something and it was a toy we had at the preschool.  It just kind of drove home the reality of the fact that I'm no longer doing the only thing I've really known, which is child care.  I started to question whether or not I was really ready to step out of that comfort zone.  I know though, that this is right and I'm where I supposed to be.  So in that case, yes- I'm ready to step out. 
Anyways, great weekend with plenty of memories made. 

The Mundane Life

Well not a whole lot has happened since last Monday but I see it's been a week now since I posted.  All that is about to change though.  Harvest started already.  It's still not quite going full force yet but most of the guys are in the field some.  Which means my job is about to start!  I went in a couple times last week and am going in tomorrow all day.  Next week I'll start full time.  Then until harvest is over my life will consist of purely school and the elevator.  Except for maybe Friday nights.  I don't think I'll be working Friday nights.  Well, and Sundays of course.  I really don't mind though.  It's a pretty fun job. 
So far so good with school, too.  I think both classes I will enjoy somewhat but both are going to take a lot of work.  Especially this week in Anatomy when we're doing basic chemistry stuff.  I've never had a chem class in my life.  It's only one chapter thank goodness.  I'm not too fond of it.  I'm excited to actually get into the differnt systems of the body.  That I'm interested in.
I think I'll like my Spanish class too.  Last week after the first one I left feeling completely overwhelmed and thinking it was hardly worth it.  This week I'm feeling a lot better and more excited about it.  I've already made a couple friends in there too.  One whose wife is an OT and is more than willing to help me in getting my observation hours done and one who is from Cullman, AL of all places!  Cullman is about 45 minutes south of Athens so we were pretty excited to make that connection.

*Sidenote:  Right now we have a guy from Haiti living with us.  He first came eight or so years ago through the Haitian Hearts program.  You may or may not have heard of it.  Basically we were his host family while he came to the states for heart surgery.  About a month ago he finally got a visa (after numerous other tries) and is here to stay for a few months.  His name is Steve.  Actually his name is Mike Steevens Domonique but we'll just go with Steve.  So if you read something about Steve, that's who you're reading about.

*Another sidenote:  Since being here he has really taken to the black culture that we have in the states and tries so hard to be like that.  He loves hip hop and always tries to dress like a rapper.  Problem is, all he can find around our house is old seedcorn hats and even older electronics to do the job.  Today he is sporting a seedcorn hat while jamming to songs on someone's reealllly old walkman!  I love him!

The Rock That Was Starved

I had the privilege of spending today with my two dear friends, Erin and Lisa.  We went to Starved Rock and Mattheisen (sp?) State Parks.  Lots of stairs were climbed.  Our first destination was Lovers Leap.  It was awfully romantic but we quickly tired of that destination and proceeded to Eagle Cliff.  There, we rebelliously climbed over the wooden walkway.  Yeah- we really know how to push limits and break rules:)  We tried taking a picture where we were jumping in the air.  It was a failed attempt but I actaully think it's my favorite one out of all that we took.

It was a really fun day.  I would say it was relaxing, but all those stairs kinda threw a wrench into the whole "relaxation" thing.  But fun nevertheless. 

I was supposed to start my classes tonight but got a phone call saying it was cancelled.  I was really bummed. I'm excited to get started with this whole school thing so hopefully my class tomorrow morning will still be in session! 

My Going Away Party

Sunday night was my going away party.  It was fun, sad, sappy......

A few of the ladies from church.  Louise, Kat, Corrine and Granny Barnes.  Granny is the oldest in church.  She is Louise and Miss Barbara's mother.  She looks like she could keel over any minute but she's actually pretty spry and active still.

JR and Louise ended up sitting here together at this little table for two and Kerwin decided they needed a candle!  JR is a jokester.  Between his accent and lack of teeth he can be hard to understand, especially when he's laughing hysterically at his own jokes.  But if he's laughing, we just laugh along with him even if we have no clue what he's saying:)

The whole Athens crew.  There were a couple missing that couldn't make it but for the most part this has been my church and my family the last four years.  I do love them!

Whenever everyone is at the Edelman house for something (such as a going away party) a very hard core, very competetive game of basketball ensues.  No, they did not get in a water fight when they were finished playing ball.  That is pure sweat.  Disgusting!!!

Cassie snapped this one of the kids flocking me when I went over to the preschool Monday morning quick before I left.  I just thought it was kinda cute:)

This week has been spent mostly trying to get everything organized and unpacked.  A lot of my stuff is in my grandparents basement right now.  Like my bed and kitchen stuff that I don't need while living at my parents.  But even so, it's hard to condense what I have here into one small bedroom.  Especially when, over the last four years, my bedroom and the rest of the upstairs has been converted into storage for my parents.  ("Oh, we don't use this too often, let's just toss it in Sarah's closet."  or "I have so many cookbooks in this kitchen, maybe I'll put some of the overflow into Sarah's room.")  Things like that.  But it's working out.

I have a job!  For now anyways.  Once harvest starts I'll be working at the grain elevator weighing trucks and testing moisture on the grain.  I worked there my freshman year of college and loved it so I'm pretty excited to do it again.  After harvest is over I'm not sure what I'll be doing but at least I have something for now. 

Yesterday I went down to ICC and got my books.  Besides shelling out all this money for tuition and books, I'm pretty excited about starting a couple classes.  Ask me again in the middle of the semester and I might not feel that same way.  But for now I'm excited. 

Welp, That's All Folks

It's been a good run.

Tickling My Funny Bone

I don't know how many of you have read the lastest Reader's Digest, but last night I just really got a kick out of one of the jokes. 


On his way to perform at a graveside service, the bagpiper gets lost.  After many wrong turns, he finally arrives, but the minister and mourners have already gone.  Only the grave diggers remain, and they're eating lunch.  Not knowing what else to do, the bagpiper begins to play.  The workers put down their lunches and weep as the man plays "Amazing Grace".  When he finishes, he packs up his bagpipes and heads for his car.  As he opens the door, he hears one of the workers say, "I've never seen anything like that before, and I've been putting in septic tanks for 20 years!"


I laughed out loud!

A Pull Tractor, Kentucky, A New Baby and A Roommate

The last week has been pretty busy.  While the Rockville group was still here we had a couple volunteers come down for the next week.  The day they left we had another friend come visit the preschool and stay for the weekend.  While she was here we went to a tractor pull.  Or a pull tractor as one of my kids called it.  Whatever you call it, it was pretty boring.  And really loud.  Like plug your ears unless you want to go deaf loud.  We were there for about four hours and only about 10 minutes of those four hours were close to exciting.  But, it was an experience I guess.

I left Sunday right after church to go up to Kentucky Lake for a couple days.  For several years, all the Hodel's went but as families grew it died out all too quickly.  My aunt and uncle still go faithfully though and I was able to crash in their cabin.  I got to see Kristi for the first time since I visited Magdalena last September.  I didn't realize how much I missed her until I had a little time with her.  Two gold stars to the first member of the Hodel family to tell me where this picture was taken:)

Tuesday night I drove home, stopping for gas in Athens before I went the last mile to my apartment.  Tuesday unfortunately ended in a late night rescue by Cassie.  Good thing she was around!!

Wednesday was the first day since the middle of July that was normal in a sense that we didn't have anyone around to entertain and keep company.  It was bliss.  Thursday we got the long awaited phone call that Mark and Bekah had their baby.  We had been planning to swing by their house after work and take a present to Bekah cause it was her birthday.  Instead we took two birthday presents to the hospital- one for her and one for sweet little Natalie Rebekah:)

After seeing them, me and Cassie had one last roomie party.  She'll be gone all this week and won't get back until late next Saturday.  Sunday is my going away party so last night was really our last night of living together and hanging out in the evening.  Our roommate party was complete with pizza, a movie, chinese checkers and mancala.  One this is certain, I will miss living with Miss Cassie Bertsch.

Two Completely Different Topics....

For starters, here's the "after" preschool pictures.  You can see in the last post how everything was all off white except for the office which was pale blue and pastel yellow.  Now, we have

The Purple Room

The Orange Room

The Yellow Room

And the Beautiful Green Office!

Every time I walk in I just have to stand there and take it all in for awhile.  We love it!!

And now for a completely different topic.  I had my class reunion this weekend.  Ten years.  It doesn't seem possible.  I know that anyone reading this who is older than me is laughing because they probably think I have no clue how fast time really flies.  But for real- sometimes I really do feel like I was JUST graduating high school yesterday.  Here we are though.  A lot are married, some have kids, some are working on PhD's, some are trying to make it big and yet some are no different than they were ten years ago. 

I'll be moving three weeks from today.  There's another thing that hardly seems possible.  I guess right now I'm feeling pretty reflective.  A little down, a little frustrated over the fact that I still don't know for sure what I'll be doing once I move back.  I still am peaceful that moving back is the right decision but every time I think I know what I'm going to do I either second guess or another option seems to come up.  I think I'm trying to figure out how much I need to wait until I feel God speak and say "this is the direction I'm taking you" versus how much do I just need to pick one of the options and step out in faith, trusting that God will lead along the way.

I'm to the point now where yes, I'm still very sad to be leaving Athens but I'm ready to just have it done and over with.  I'm dreading packing.  I got my fill of that getting ready for the preschool to get done.  We just got everything over there unpacked and I hardly have a chance to organize my thoughts before I dive into packing my own stuff. 

Well I'm just rambling now.  Sometimes it helps to sort things out on here so sometimes you get all the jumbled up thoughts I have in my brain.  I'm impressed if you've made it all the way to the end:)

Preschool Before

Well like I said earlier, there's a group here from Rockville, CT that has come to completely redo the preschool.  Oh my word, these people are so great!  Not only are they about the nicest people you'll ever meet, but they have gone above and beyond the extra mile.  They have no idea how much their work is appreciated!

So, there's not much to show for the before pictures.  It's all one color.  All three classrooms and both the bathrooms are all off white.  So I won't bore you with five pictures that look nearly the same.  Just one.

Now, the office does have some color.  But whooo wheee!  Is it ever time for an update on those colors!

You can see the lovely pale blue and pastel yellow combination here!  Ain't it purdy!  Also, you can't tell in the pictures but the ceiling is falling down and being held up by many a makeshift solution.  Every time the ceiling would start to fall in a new place, someone would come in and nail it back up "just good enough for now".  The carpet is really gross too.  It doesn't help that over the years we've gotten lots of flooding in there.  We have new gutters now, though and haven't had flooding problems since.  Yay!  I watched them tear up the carpet and the pad underneath.  The bottom of the carpet pad was stuck to the cement and they had to scrape it all off.  Gross!  And, as you can see in the office picture, the floorboards are falling apart and many of them are being held on by duct tape. 

Well, that's that for the before pictures.  The after pictures will be a little more drastic.  It's looking good in there and we are so excited!!

Birthday Celebrations

Devin's birthday was last Saturday.  I was invited to go to Chuck E. Cheese but I was gone for VBS.  We decided to celebrate Monday night instead.  He said he wanted to go do putt-putt.  I took him there a couple months ago and he loved it and has wanted to go back ever since.  So after we ate we headed to the putt-putt place but it was closed:(  Monday night ended with a trip to Wal*Mart to pick out a birthday present.  We made plans to try again tonight and for awhile it looked like we were going to get rained out but it passed over just in time and we were able to go.  Last time he actually beat me by a few points, fair and square.  This time I whooped his tail.  I'm gonna miss him so much.  I love that kid!

We both looked washed out in this picture and his hair is getting pretty shaggy but it has to be good enough.

This weekend a group from Rockville, CT is coming down and all next week they're going to work on the preschool.  They're redoing everything from floor to ceiling.  I'll have to show some before and after pictures next week.  It's going to be a really busy and kind of inconvenient week but we're so excited to get it done!

A Most Blessed Weekend:)

Before I start sharing my most blessed weekend, the answer to the trivia question in the last post is marijuana.  I know, awesome, right? 


Okay, now for the weekend.  Which, if you haven't gathered by now was most blessed:)  Fourty something of us from Athens and Atlanta met up again for our second VBS weekend together.  We headed down to Talladega, AL to a place called Shocco Springs where they can house over 1000 people who come there at any given time for their church camps, retreats and such.  Friday after work we had pouring down rain right when we were ready to leave.  In their haste to get into the car and out of the driving rain, Cassie and LeaAnn both ended up in my backseat and rather than getting back out of the car they decided to both stay back there.  I had made some mini cupcakes for the weekend and they looked so pretty.  But between running through the rain, the humidity and whatever else, the frosting fell off and a lot of them fell over.  I wasn't going to share with anyone until we got down there but since they were already dilapitated, we decided to break them out right away since we were already hungry.  I was concentrating on driving and so they took it upon themselves to reach into the front seat for the cupcakes.  It started our weekend out on a good and fun note:)

Once we got there, we spent Friday evening getting settled and rekindling some of the friendships we made from last years VBS.  Saturday morning after a way too early breakfast, we successfully took a group picture.  Fun fact:  the man in the back row in the middle with his head kind of cocked backwards grew up with and was good friends with Alan Jackson.  Somehow through association that pretty much makes me famous, doesn't it?

Saturday morning we had our seperate VBS classes.  The adults on one side of the room and us with the kiddos on the other side.  Most of the kids we had were from Atlanta and they were a great group of kids.  Super cute, sweet and smart.  After lunch we were able to go to the lake.  The very fun lake with two trampolines, a ginormous slide two moonwalk/plank things, a blob and two floating iceberg things.  We had to reserve a time and they only give each group an hour so the fun was shortlived but it was great.

Then we played some fierce games of volleyball before cleaning up, having our afternoon talk and eating supper.

After supper we had our evening program.  We had the kids act out our story during class (the theme was the Good Samaratin) then taught them a song.  We did those two things for everyone and there was another skit put on by some of the older kids before we all split up into groups to do a quick skit.  All having something to do with the theme.  Here's us and our kiddos that we had. 

We finished off our evening with games and fellowship.  I spent my time at the euchre table.  Including one of the funnest games of euchre I've ever played.  Me and Cassie vs. two high school guys from Atlanta.  I won't even try to explain the funniness of it all.  When it was getting late and everyone was tired but not wanting the night to end yet, Cassie decided we should have a bubble blowing contest.  I nearly barfed before I got my gum chewed up but it was worth it in the end becuase I didn't do too bad in the contest:)

Sunday after church we had some time to kill so we played some mini golf,

played on this fun contraption at the playground,

and played a couple rounds of knockout.

After lunch we all just hung around, not really wanting to say our goodbye's, not really wanting to leave the friends we rarely see.  Now I'm exhausted but it was well worth it.  The whole weekend was- you guessed it- most blessed:)  A great reminder of what it means to be a good neighbor in our daily lives, awesome fellowship and lots of just plain fun!