More about Pennsylvania

So, first of all, I didn't get the nanny job. But hey, I'm not torn up about it! I am not giving up... yet. I ended up going back to Somerset and turning in quite a few applications to hotels in the area. To work at the front desk of course! And I also applied to work at the Starbucks there, but no call back yet. I'm still trucking on. I am just waiting on someone to call back, and if not, then I'll just keep applying everywhere else! Meanwhile, I'll just have fun!

So, I haven't told you much about the town or church out here. I will begin now. The town... Normalville, Pennsylvania. It's up in the mountains, (although nothing like the California mountains), the elevation... totally varies but it's around 2,350ish. The population?? 2,500! The scenery is gorgeous!!! Everyone seems to know everyone! That in itself is great to me. This town is right out of a book. Even down to Resh's general store! It's wonderful!

So, the church runs about 40 people on average, and if everyone would be there it's about 50. The Pastor's family, the Millers, are a neat family. Bro Ralph Miller and his wife Susan have been so hospitable to me. I love them already. I also love their kids Josh (he will be marrying my friend Kristen later this month, but I am missing the wedding due to my dear friend Bekki's wedding that I wouldn't miss for the life of me) and of course Nicky. I don't know his oldest son Luke very well as they live in Texas, but I just met him and his wife Courtney, when they came down to preach the Youth Discovery Weekend.

What do I do, you ask? Well, during the week, other than looking for a job and hanging out with Nicky (and soon Kristen too)... I pretty much am useless! I play and sing for the church services, Sunday morning, and Wednesday evening, I teach Youth Class on Wednesdays, and will start this Sunday teaching the junior youth Sunday school! Outside of church we have weekly youth outings that I just started, as Josh works during the night and can't hang out with the young people. The other thing that we are trying to get started is weekly music practices, and Saturday evenings have been working well so far!

So yes I love it here, and it has already been a great experience for me! I know it's going to be a great summer!!

18 more days and I will be in California! Exciting!!

Memorial Weekend!

It has been a crazy weekend and a crazy beginning of the week! I haven't been home much it seems! Some of you might know Kristen Hammonds, soon to be Miller, if not, she is the fiance of Josh, the Pastor Miller's son . We met at IBC and of course became friends. She was down for the weekend and just left today. On Saturday we had her wedding shower, but even before the shower started, the day was eventful.

NIcky Miller (pastor's daughter), Kristen and I are looking for a good gym to start working out at, so we went to one early Saturday morning that is close to where Josh and Kristen will be living, it's about half an hour away, but that is close compared to most other places! So on our way home Nicky told me to take a different way to see if it was faster. An hour later, and none of us have any clue of where we are, other than the fact that we are possibly still in Pennsylvania. Come to find out we were about 15 minutes away from Maryland! So I turned, hoping that I was heading in the right direction. None of our phones had service, neither did the GPS! But we ended up finding two lakes, some beautiful scenery, random dirt roads, and also we found out that Kristen gets really carsick on mountain roads. Oops! Thankfully the GPS FINALLY found a signal, as we had been trying for awhile. I know this might sound like it was a stressful trip, but I have never laughed so much! Sadly I started laughing when Kristen got sick, and couldn't stop laughing about everything the rest of the day! What a great start to the weekend! Thankfully though we made it back with a few hours to spare before the wedding shower/picnic!

So after the wedding shower we all went down to the church for practice, then Sunday we had a Memorial Day/Children's service. The service was separated into two services, the first part was worship, preaching/Sunday School, and altar call, and the the second was a puppet show. Following the service was a picnic!! Surprisingly I didn't get a sunburn! PA sun likes me! Then later that night we met up with friends in Greensburg.

Memorial Day, I had a meeting with a family for a possible nanny job (I find out tonight if I get it or not). By the way, I got lost on the way there because the GPS I was using told me to turn down roads that DEFINITELY were not there. BUT anyway, I am hoping that I get the job, however if I don't, then it just wasn't God's will! Following the meeting, I went to my third picnic of the week! Then we spent the evening and all of yesterday cleaning out Josh and Kristen's new house. And Kristen and I did a GREAT job of putting the kitchen and the bathroom together!

Unfortunately helping Kristen move some of her stuff in, made me want to get my own place! BUT I couldn't afford it right now obviously! Oh well, one day!

I will keep you updated on the job! 20 days and I will be in California!

Bitterness thy name is Expedia.com!

I did not realize finding plane tickets was a challenge! I am going to be home for a week next month (YAY!) and had delegated the process of getting a great price for a flight to my mother. Well I waited a little longer than necessary, and... the prices went UP! How rude of all those ticket websites! Well I was searching today for EVER for a good price. And I didn't realize how sneaky those websites are! They are downright evil! They will trick you into clicking on a low price, and lo and behold they only did that to show you the only price they have is $60 more expensive!

So after finding a decent price, I went to see if anything else had a good price, and I went back to the former website... and the price had gone up $100! Now that is just uncalled for (heehee)!! Conniving! So I just showed Expedia who was boss and purchased one for a cheaper price!
So there!

Summer Plans!

So, hello deprived, neglected readers. It has been such a long time since I last posted. And I kept telling myself to get better. Go figure, I haven't kept up with it! BUT I HAVE kept up with the 365 blog that Bekki and I are doing! Go check out our Random blog!! It has been fun!

So... most of you are in the dark about the last two months of my life. I am going to give you a REALLY short story version!

Since the end of March, we had a successful IBC Music Festival, a grueling race to finals week, packing galore and then wonderful graduation banquet, and sadly Justin's graduation! It all happened so fast. I am so proud of him, and I am sure that those of you who know him, would have loved to see him perform in Music Festival and then again for his last time playing with IBC Choir at graduation. It was an emotional graduation (well not as much for me, as I was trying hard to help my friends keep it together! LOL) but we had an amazing speaker, and then had a wonderful time out with the family. To see some pictures you can go here!

The next day was sooo bittersweet for me, because I had to finish packing, and then after lunch (which I was surprisingly able to go to with the family) I left for.... Normalville, Pennsylvania.



This summer, I am interning here in Normalville! Exciting I know! The church is relatively a medium small church (can that even happen?!) but the pastor gave me an amazing opportunity that I couldn't refuse. I am going to be helping out with the music here this summer, as well as teaching Sunday School and teaching Youth class AND having youth outings and such. I am currently also looking for a part time job so I can bring in a little extra to put towards my school bill, because.... I am going back to IBC in the Fall and will be graduating in May!

I know most of you are probably saying to yourself, what happened to only going ONE year! Well... IBC happened! I have had some of the most amazing experiences there. And I just don't think I am done yet, and want just a few more experiences before I head out into the world and figure out what I am supposed to do for God!

Keep me in your prayers this summer, as it is a whole new world out here for me. I absolutely love it here though and I know that this is where I am supposed to be right now!

I will keep you up to date!

Today is Saturday!

Saturdays are wonderful! Especially if you have NOTHING to do, which ends up being rare here at IBC. So, I have some things that need to be done, I can procrastinate one more day, especially since it is beautiful out, and the nothingness of the day is summoning me!

Loved this poem when I was younger, and thought I may as well share it, so you can enjoy it too!

Sick
by Shel Silverstein
'I cannot go to school today, '
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
'I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I'm going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I've counted sixteen chicken pox
And there's one more-that's seventeen,
And don't you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut-my eyes are blue-
It might be Instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I'm sure that my left leg is broke-
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button's caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,
My 'pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb.
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is-what?
What's that? What's that you say?
You say today is...Saturday?
G'bye, I'm going out to play!

Vanishing Blogger is Back

Hello to any of those who still care about this blog!! It has been too long since I have posted anything. I have some drafts saved, but I never finished any of the posts, so I just gave it up for awhile. Then I realized, how much I missed it. How much it was a part of me to be able to write and to know that others were reading what was just me thinking out loud.

There has been so much going on, so I won't bore you with all the details, but I will say... God is good! I just got back from a wonderful road trip to California. Unfortunately I didn't get to see very many people while I was there (even my own church family!). I mainly spent time showing my friends from IBC around. I was NOT ready to leave, not just cuz I knew it was going to be a LOOOOONNG drive back, but because I forgot how much I missed everyone.

When I got back "home" (Indianapolis home) I began to realize how much I had to do, and that I should have used that free week to do it all! But too late, now I just have to focus a little more than I have been! We have about 3 weeks until Music Fest, so I will definitely be super busy with a lot of different things, including practices. Along with this I have some decisions that I really need to make concerning, WHAT I AM GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE! I never have been this confused on what is coming next, I have always known exactly what I am going to do... This is where the saying "If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans" comes in. I hear you laughing, Lord!

Needless to say, I became overwhelmed so fast. Then I started a slight moping session, and even called Mom to complain to her about ME. She is always encouraging :). But as soon as I hung up, I went to THE Encourager, and opened my bible, and found these verses
Psalm 18:30-33
30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places

Isn't that such a beautiful thing to know? That no matter what happens, God knows what He is doing, and He will strengthen and help, as long as you can trust Him enough to give it all to Him.

Just thought I would bring you up to date on me!! Until next time..

Welcome to 2010

Well, 2009 is over, there is no going back. We've come to a new year, with a fresh clean slate with no mistakes. Of course, there WILL be mistakes, we all know that, but hopefully the mistakes will be smaller than the previous ones.

I have been thinking about what resolutions to make. It really is harder that I originally thought. I feel like I have changed in so many ways, just from last year. So, I don't know what my resolutions are as of yet. I planned on making a list, but that didn't happen. So, I will just take it a step at a time.

“Here's to the bright New Year,and a fond farewell to the old; here's to the things that are yet to come, and to the memories that we hold.”

I'll keep you updated with how my resolutions are going (if I make any!
Until then, goodbye readers, and sorry for letting you down in 2009. ;)