Happy Halloween!

Today is Halloween...in case you haven't noticed yet ;) At our church, we did something new called Trunk or Treat, where the kids go from car to car instead of house to house. We had a really good turn out. I thought I'd share some pictures from the evening with you!





Libby-- Miss Smarty Pants!!!




















Puppet show about "Fear Not"
















2 gangstas and the girl they're fighting over...Hannah Montana!




















Gangsta Anna
Wat up....?


















Prom Queen Kaylyn
Isn't she beautiful?


















Cowgirls Grace and Melissa













Me

Yay!

I'm glad to say that my day was not boring today. I went to school from 8 until 1:30ish. Then I went straight to work from 2-6:30. And no disasters this time!!! From there I went to visit my friends! It was Kaylyn's birthday yesterday, so I brought her a gift. And I've never been able to just "quick" stop by as I told Jennifer I would (sorry Jen!), so I hung out there for a little over an hour. Anna, Kaylyn, and Libby never cease to keep me entertained. I think I'll take Jen's advice and just head over there when I get bored!!! :) Anyway, I hope you all had a good, and not boring day!!!

Boring...

I was thinking yesterday about how boring my life is! It's the same thing every day, school, homework, go to bed. And occasionally work and church are thrown in the mix. While most college students are out doing things Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights, I sit at home. On a typical Friday, if there's no home football game, I'm at home. On Saturday I went to authentic and I was home by 8:30, and on Sunday I was home all night. I need a social life!!! :)

Laundry Room Catastrophy!!!

I would dare say that today was the most interesting/exciting day I have had thus far at work. I was sitting in the back room, waiting for the load to come out of the washer so I could put it in the dryer. I heard a noise and I thought that doesn't sound like the washer usually does when it's rinsing. So I went to investigate...I opened the door leading into the main room, and was hit by a cloud of steam and water spraying everywhere! I quickly terminated the load, the washer stopped, but the water kept on coming. I couldn't turn off the water, because of course the valve was broken! Meanwhile, I'm getting soaked. So I run to the break room and call our maintenance man. He said he'd be there as fast as possible. I go back to the laundry room. Now the whole room is like a sauna. Water is spraying everywhere, and the steam was insanely thick. I opened a window and went to grab some bed pads. I used those to cover up the spray of water, so rather than spraying everywhere, it sprayed down, and almost directly into the drain. Larry got there soon afterwards, and finally was able to shut off the water flow. We discovered that the water hose had rusted straight thru and the force of the water running thru it caused it to explode. Larry ran out to the hardware store and bought a new hose. When he left I mopped up the floors and set up the fan to dry it more. Thankfully, the whole episode took just a little over 30 minutes, so I wasn't put behind schedule, but it sure made for an interesting afternoon!

Shopping...

I went shopping yesterday. I tend to do that a lot you know... :) I went to Family Christian Store. I was paying for my purchase and I had a nice coupon for 25% off any non-sale item, which saved me a substantial amount of money. The cashier told me I could get the family perks items for $5, but I passed on those. Then he told me about an offer I couldn't refuse. For just $5, you can purchase a (fairly large) teddy bear, and it will be donated to children through Barnabus ministries (I think that's the ministry, though I could be mistaken!). I couldn't resist, so I bought one. And I still ended up saving money, because my 25% off was more than $5!

October Awareness

Many of you already know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I received this link in an email from my cousin. Each day, you can go to this site and click where it says "click here to give-it's FREE". Then the sponsors count up the visits (number of clicks) and donate money towards mammograms for women who can't afford them. What a great way to help others! Here's the link...
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

Another site you might like to visit, that benefits you directly is http://isthatafreecandle.blogspot.com/ You just need to follow the directions to get in the running for a free candle!!!

A day of laughter!

Today was very full of laughter...
Every once in a while this "happens" to me. Something early in the day strikes me as funny and through-out the day, I'll just start laughing, whether something's funny or not, or even if I'm not even thinking of the previous funny thing.
Heather and Sarah and I were eating lunch today and they were teasing me about something. We stopped laughing, and I look up at Heather (who proceeds to give me an odd look), and the laughter starts again. From there on, it was all downhill.
Jason came to meet with us about authentic stuff. Well, I was still super hyper, and all Heather and I had to do was look at each other and we'd laugh uncontrollably. I think it was a side of me Jason's never seen before!!! :)
Then at youth group tonight, we were talking about Heaven, and how we'd have new bodies there. A girl from our group remarked "Great! Then my body will be HOT!!!" (And she made motions with her hands for a slim body)
Keep laughing!!! (it's the best medicine)

AMAZING Grace!!!

I don't know if any of you have watched the movie "Amazing Grace" yet, but if you haven't...go out and rent it...tonight!!! It's an amazing movie.
There's a new Chris Tomlin song out, that is just incredible. It's called "Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone". It's one of my favorite songs right now.
This video is of Chris Tomlin's song, and has clips from the movie in it as well. Enjoy!!

Back in middle school?!?!?

So...I really don't like my government professor. The main reason I don't like her is because she exercises her freedom of speech by swearing in class, but that's a whole 'nother story. The class is okay, and I like seeing my friend in that class, but my friend is the main reason I look forward to the class. We always get there about 20 or 25 minutes early and just sit and hang out. So today, we're having a grand ol' time talking and stuff before class starts. In walks the professor, late. Class begins as usual, we get our papers and exams back, take attendance, then do current events. Then comes the kicker. She numbers us off by 9. So there's 4 people per group, or so. She then proceeds to tell us that we are going to be getting assigned seats because there's too much chit-chat going on. So we are basically being treated like middle schoolers, being told where to sit and who to sit by. We have to sit in these seats for 2 weeks, and then we'll switch again. I thought in college we were supposed to be treated like adults (because we are)...is it just me, or is she treating us like middle schoolers?!?!?

Prayer

Our topic last night at cell group was prayer. As I was preparing the lesson, I came across these quotes on prayer and I'd like to share some of them with you...
"God does not delay to hear our prayers because He has no mind to give; but that, by enlarging our desires, He may give us the more largely." -Anselm of Canterbury

"Prayers do shape the future in ways different from what would have been the case had no prayers been uttered. And this is because of the kind of God to whom the prayers are spoken. .... God is open to taking new directions and changing courses in view of the interaction between God and people. Yet always in view will be God's salvific will for all." -Terence Fretheim

"Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees." -Victor Hugo

"Prayer puts us on the potter's wheel, reshaping us to be God's vessels. As we beg that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, we present ourselves to God to do it."

Romania...

As many of you know, my friend and fellow missionary to Romania, Gerri, has been in Romania for the past 23 days. She returned late this past Friday. Thankfully she was healthy through-out the entire trip and had an amazing time. Our friend, Claudia, had twin boys right before we went this June. They are now about 4 months old and doing great! They are not identical twins though,when they were born, they both had dark hair, but now Titus has dark hair and eyes, while Joel has blonde hair and blue eyes, they're opposites, like their parents. The pastor and his family are doing very well. Miriam, the pastor's youngest daughter, got married on September 29, so Gerri was able to attend her wedding. Her and her new husband Daniel, are doing well. Gerri talked with Peter, the man who runs Father's House, a children's orphanage/foster home organization there. Last June, I felt a strong call to get involved with this ministry. He said that there are many job openings in Medias, so there will be something for me to do, should I go there after I graduate college. My thoughts now are to hopefully take a team to Medias (Romania) for two weeks next July, and then I will probably stay there for another 3 weeks or so, to look into full time mission work there. Then I will return to Michigan where I will complete my associate's degree and graduate in the spring of 2009. That summer or fall, I will be moving to Romania as a full time missionary. In the meantime, I ask for your continued prayer as I seek where God wants me to go at this point in my life. Please join me in being a missionary right where you are...you can serve God in your home town, you don't have to travel overseas. If you feel God's call to go somewhere, that's awesome! follow Him, but we can all be missionaries right where we are today!!!

On a more exciting note...

If any of you are in need of some winter clothing...now is the time to go shopping!!! My mom and I went shopping yesterday afternoon. I needed to get some sweaters and long sleeved shirts and I invited her along (so she could pay of course!) So we went to Kohl's, because they always have good sales. I picked out a bunch of new sweaters and stuff, and then I asked my mom why she didn't have anything...so then we had to go into the women's section "just to look" :) We ended up leaving with 4 new shirts and a pair of jeans for her, and I got 7 shirts/sweaters! If nothing had been on sale (we wouldn't have bought it then...), we would have spent $280.89, but instead we got all that for only $105.21!!!!!

My Classes...

So...I got all the classes that I need...and I actually got them in a schedule that I like! I have classes only on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I'll be taking Business Communications, Computer Applications, Personal Defense, Organizational Behaviors, and a Management course. They all sound pretty interesting to me, and they're all required for my degree...so I did well (Actually I guess you could say God did well, because He ultimately provided open classes for me!!!!)

The day that decides my future...

...tonight's the night...that determines the rest of my life...Ok, maybe it isn't all that serious, but it is pretty important. Today, well, actually Friday at 12:01 AM, sign-up for winter classes begins. So while most of you are nice and cozy and dreaming sweet dreams, I will be at my computer signing up for classes. I say it determines the rest of my life because...if I don't get the classes that I need, I could end up spending an extra semester at GRCC, instead of graduating in 2 years! So I'm really hoping and praying that the classes I need to take are open for next semester!

God is always in control!!!

Ok...wow! My third and final post of the day...the conclusion to my exam cheat sheet saga :) My exam went well, for those of you who asked me today. I feel pretty good about it. I was talking to Diane tonight, and she said something pretty cool. God is always in control... Jason was supposed to come out for coffee 2 weeks ago. However, that was the week that Pastor Steve was in the hospital, so thing were too hectic and we postponed coffee to today. God knew I was going to forget my paper and he provided someone (Jason) to help me out! Even in the little things like this, God took care of me and provided what I needed...How cool is that!?!?!

Thank you Jason!!!!!!

So...Jason just about gave me a heartattack today when he came to school. I asked him if my mom had gotten a hold of him about my paper. And he says "no...was she supposed to?" I said "yeah, but oh well, I guess I'll just have to drive all the way home and get it" Then he laughed and said "no, I have it for you". So, I'm ever grateful to you, Jason, for saving me from driving home, or from failing my exam!!!!

I'm so dumb!!!

So...last night I scanned my wonderful cheat sheet to show ya'll. This morning...as I'm halfway to school, I realized that I left it...on my scanner!!!!!!! ARG!!!!!! So I called my mom, woke her up (sorry mom!!!), and asked her to look and see if it was on my scanner. It was.... Thankfully Jason is meeting me for coffee on campus this morning, so mom was going to try to get ahold of him and give him the paper...If that doesn't happen, I guess i'm going to be driving back home after lunch to get that paper!!! I feel so dumb!!!

The life of a college student...

Unfortunately, today I actually had to work on school stuff...no messing around with impossible quizzes for me!!! Though I love how those of you who tried it are actually trying it....I shall continue my quest soon. Back to my homework. I thought I would show you what I have spent the last...I don't know how long...working on. I have a Government test tomorrow, and the professor allows us to use one page of notes. So here is my page....

Looks like fun huh? Let me tell you...the tests for this class are NOT fun, or easy. I'm so grateful to have this cheat sheet!!! Well...I think I'm going to go try my luck at the impossible quiz...my homework is done and my brain is fried.... :)

Totally bored and totally procrastinating

Well....I should be doing a number of things: finishing my stats homework (the last 3 problems are going to have to wait, my brain is fried), writing out my cheat sheet for my goverment exam (boring!!! and my hand hurts from stats homework), reviewing for my spanish exam tomorrow (done that, no more I can do)...but instead here I am on blogger. Go figure :) Anyway, I came across a quiz, that if you have a few minutes to sit down and mess with, and aren't easily annoyed...you should give it a try. Jen, I was thinking this would be great for Kaylyn with all her random questions :) Anyway....go to http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/365143 and click on "Play this game". It takes a few minutes to load but I promise you...it will keep you entertained!! My highest is level 26, let me know how far you make it! Have fun.....

Monkeyin' Around...

I went to the zoo yesterday!!!! I took Kaylyn and Libby to John Ball and we had a blast!!! Here's some pictures...




The penguins.... we did see real penguins too! :) They were really funny to watch.















We were some of the last people to pet the pygmy goats before they closed up for the season!













The goats really liked us :) Kaylyn asked if one was pregnant because it was so fat, but the guy said that the ideal pygmy is as wide as it is tall!











The tiger was picky and didn't want it's picture taken, but we finally got a few good shots!















These gorillas were so fun to watch! Kaylyn put her hand up to the glass and the gorilla mimicked her and followed her hand with his. She took out a mirror but when he saw his reflection, he ran away!!!










I don't remember exactly what this guy is called, but he stuck his tongue out right when Kaylyn took the picture!














They got to pet a bearded dragon...and Libby touched a corn snake too!









The mountain lion didn't want Kaylyn to take his picture, but she was very patient and finally after a lot of calling (from her) and pacing (from him), he came right up to her!











The leopard is resting now, but seconds before, it lept across the rocks (in 2 leaps) to get to the other leopard and they had a fight!











"Yep, I'm king, and I know it, and don't you forget it!!"












We had to rest for a minute...and it was the perfect photo spot!























The pelicans. As we were leaving, we stopped to watch the flamingos (I forgot to take a picture). And Libby said "Isn't it cool how God made the flamingos to be able to stand on one leg?" Yes Libby, God is cool!!!

My recommendation to you....

If you haven't seen this movie yet, I highly recommend it to you. Even if you don't have kids in the house, be a kid for the night, or if you do have kids, they'll love it. It's a great story, and if you haven't read the book, I recommend that to you too! Enjoy!!!!

"I can see clearly now, the rain is gone..."

I'm so happy! After 2 days of cloudly gloominess, the "curse" has lifted and we are blessed again with sunshine and blue skies!!!!










































I had all these plans for today...clean my room, clean my bathroom, do my homework (Spanish, Goverment, Stats and Marketing!!!!).
Instead I slept in...way too late, read my book (it was really good, I had to finish it!!!), made applesauce, I did actually clean my room, did laundry,but then I went online to begin my homework, and guess what?!?! I was distracted by facebook...and blogger... I guess I should start, because I know I won't have time tomorrow..... I'm a horrible procrastinator :P

I didn't think I had anything to blog about today... but something happened yesterday that I can't get off my mind. We were discussing prayer in our small group. As an example of why we should talk to God everyday, I asked my girls to think about what it would be like if we didn't talk to our parents for a day. I tried to liken that to not talking to God for a day. One of the girls commented that she would love that. I figured she's like most of us, who might like an occasional break from our parents, so I suggested that she lengthen that time to a week. She replied that she wouldn't mind that, because she doesn't love her mom! I was taken aback. Yes, I've heard people say they don't like their parents, but not that they don't love their parents. I wasn't sure how to respond, so I said something about, are you sure you don't love her, don't you mean you just don't like her sometimes? She was pretty adament about not loving her mother. I wasn't sure how to respond to her, or what to say, and so our conversation continued along the line of prayer again. It's hard for me to imagine saying that I don't love my parents...I don't know her whole story, but please keep her in your prayers, and pray that I will know how best to minister to her and show her the love she so obviously needs to feel.

A "God-thing"....

I just received this in an email from Dayspring Cards. I'm calling it a "God-thing" because it's exactly what I needed to hear today. Many of you already know I'm struggling to determine God's will for my life in the near future...but that's a whole 'nother post... I hope that this will touch you the way it did me...

"God has called each of us to serve Him in the place He has us. In His eyes we all have a ministry. Many serve Him in a local church through a variety of ministries, such as music, teaching, youth work, or by being a part of the church staff. Others serve on the mission field, on the job, at school, or at home.

God knows you and He knows your heart desires to serve Him. You are someone that He will use to make a difference, to share His love, and to touch the hearts of others. What has qualified you for this high priviledge of being used by Him? Is it your talents, your personality, your education, your influence, or your resume? It is none of these; rather, it is the response of your heart toward Him. God is always searching for those whose hearts are yielded to Him so that He can work mightily through them.

Sometimes we can be led to think that God's work is dependent upon us, upon what we do, upon what we know. The truth is that God wants us to be totally dependent upon Him. He is the treasure, we are the vessels; He is the vine, we are the branches; He is the living water, we are the channels through which He flows.

The apostle Paul was someone who needed to learn this important truth. Jesus taught him the futility of trying to get results through his own efforts by allowing him, an expert fisherman, to labor all night and come up empty. Afterward, when he followed Jesus' word to cast out into the deep, Peter pulled in a catch that was beyond his dreams.

As His servant, remember that your ministry is His idea and not yours. He is the One who knows you, who has called you, and who has equipped you to serve Him. Remain true, remain faithful, remain restful, and remain totally dependent upon Him.

God is not looking for those who are clever, but for those in whom He can be wise; He is not looking for those who are talented, but for those to whom He can be all sufficient; He is not looking for those who are powerful, but for those through whom He can be almighty."
-Roy Lessin (Co-founder DaySpring Cards)