Fear

Isn't it amazing how you can be so scared of nothing? I had talked to someone recently and we had discussed some things that were important, and that were not settled, and very soon afterwords they had invited me over for dinner. When they did, I thought that it was to talk about what was still unsettled, and began to think of all of the things that I had not done and maybe should have. Every time I thought of going over there for dinner my heart would race, and I had no idea what to do abut it. I prayed and asked God to give me peace, but I was still worried.
Yesterday the day finally came, I was nervous, but I decided that it probably wasn't a big deal, and that they really were nice people, and you know what...I was rite. I had a good time, we ate dinner and just connected with each other. We talked about what was going on in life, and how things were changing, and getting ready for the next year. I plan on being more connected in the future, and avoiding a week like that in the future. So you see, fear, is really just a lack of trust in God, and usually only comes by what we have created in our own minds, and rarely reflects the truth.

Good Times

I had a really good weekend that was very different than expected. I went home to see my friend Stephanie, but on she was busy on Friday, and I ended up hanging out and having rather interesting discussions with my family. Then on Saturday I was maybe going to see her, but she was yet again busy, so I had a relaxing morning and sat with my mom and talked and watched cartoons (bugs bunny) and my dad made pancakes. Then it was time to get ready to go to a wedding that my dad was performing.
We spent most of the day there, we got there about 3:30 and we did not get home until 10:30, a lot of the problem was that they wedding party was delayed in getting to the reception, but it was also fairly disorganized. In spite of all of that I still had a really good time there.
By Sunday I had all but given up on seeing Steph because they were going to Boise to visit her brother and they were not coming back through on their way home. So, after much discussion and a few tears I decided to have a good day anyway, and began to enjoy myself. I watched a movie with my parents and a tv show with my sister, and then we got a call that they actually were coming back (thank you to Jesus) and they were going to stop and eat so I was able to go and see them even if it was just for a little while. I so enjoyed seeing them, it was really nice, I miss them. He is so perfect for her, and they are going to have a baby, and it was just a really happy time for me. So what I have to say after my weekend is that God is good...

Friends

Last night was really good. I was a little bit nervous at first because I had no idea how it was going to go...I have been having trouble lately adjusting from an electric stove to a gas stove, and I was cooking dinner. However, dinner came out quite well, and we had a really good time. They had not yet seen my new house, and they really liked it. We sat and talked about what God is doing in our lives, and the ins and outs of it all, we looked at magazines, and Rachel did my dishes, which was very sweet of her.
After a while we ended up at Barns and Noble, and we had fun drinking coffee and looking at books and magazines, Rachel will be engaged pretty soon (it is in the air and getting stronger according to the man in her life rite now) and we enjoyed talking about weddings and looking at dresses an planning books. I had three friends get married last year, I have one getting married next month (which I have mentioned) and it looks like there will soon be another one. I was really blessed because she told me that she wants me to be in the wedding, and to help her plan. That is exciting because although I have already been in two, and was the Maid of Honor in one, they were far away and I was unable to help in any of it.
Anyway, I am glad that they came, and that I was able to connect with them. God is good to me, and I am blessed.

Busy Busy

The rest of this month is going to be BUSY! I am going home again this weekend, (as I did last weekend) because my friend Stephanie is here visiting from California. I am sssssoooooooo excited to see her, the last time I saw her was last September when she got married...I dont go to San Diego very often, so I rarely see her. The week after that I have two options, I can either fly to Dallas to see my friend Aaron get married, or I can stay home and see my friend Amber who is coming through after a two year absence...decisions decisions...
I also have a friend coming over tonight for dinner and to see my new place, and I am going over to my Professors house for dinner with his family on monday night. Isnt it funny that people think that I could get bored?! Sigh, on life goes.

This Week

I think I am going to have a busier week than I thought...My friend Stephanie and her husband Trubee are here for the week (I thought that they could not make it) and my friend Amber who I have not seen in like 2 1/2 years will be here on Monday! Now, fortunately, I am not going to Texas next weekend which I thought that I was, or I would have to miss them. Since I am not going, I can work on Thursday and Friday next week, and maybe take Monday off and be at home. We will just have to see. The only problem with taking a day off is that it takes money out of my paycheck.....

Friends

I had a wonderful weekend! It is Monday morning and I am still happy... I went home on Friday night just in time to share some home made strawberry short cake with my family for my moms birthday. I then played a game of scrabble coming in second to the b-day girl, and then we watched a movie.
Saturday I got up early and took a 2 mile walk, and then we cleaned up the house (and I finished packing my room) and got ready to have company. We talked and visited and had a good time, and then everyone came. It was the people that I was with in Africa, and it was SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOO good to see them. They are always so encouraging. We visited for a long time, and I was really blessed. We watched one of my favorite movies, and went to Walmart where there was air conditioning, and then went to bed...after laughing with my sister for a few minutes. I got up at 5 this morning, and now here I am, at work...

Goin Home

I am really excited, I get to go home today and visit my mother on her birthday! I love going home, people keep telling me that I should stay here and make friends and do things here. I understand their point, and I know why they are making it, but I just love my family and my home. You see we as a family are very close knit, and we enjoy fellowship together. We have always been close, we were all home schooled, and dad worked from home, so there were years where we were all home all day, and we would all eat together at the table three meals a day. I am the first one to leave.
God meant us to be close to people, He designed us for that, and what I have with my family is more than what most people have even in the best of friends. Even so, I am enjoying living alone, for the first time in my life I have the space to do what it is that I would like to do, no one interrupts me, and I can decide how and when things are to be done. I feel like I am living life, and waiting on God, and growing and learning, and everything else that there is. I wore a dress to work today, which was a big step for me, and I don't know, I am just really content to be me, and to live my life.

Just Another Day

Well it is back to just regular days now, no more stars sneaking around. Today will be more about paying bills and picking up groceries than about getting autographs and asking questions. Although, if I did not have days like this, then the ones like that would not be nearly as exciting or memorable.
One thing that has happened though is that I am getting the itch to travel again. I must warn you that once you visit other countries, there is no turning back, and you will get it into your blood. My trip to Uganda was not glamorous or dangerous, or anything like what Hollywood would have you believe, (though I could tell you that it was exotic and exciting). This time I would like to either visit the East Coast of America (where I have never been) or Europe, or Israel...

Awsome Day

I had an amazing day yesterday! I came to work just like any other Monday and got started on all of my stuff. I worked for a few hours, and then around 11:45 some of the people that I work with started talking about Adam West coming here to record at noon! If you don't know who that is, he was the Original Bat Man! I waited until about 12:30 and then decided to go take my lunch anyway and if I missed him, I would have one of my co-workers get me an autograph.
When I got back from lunch he still was not here, so I went back to trying to get my work done, but not 5 minutes later he came! I could hear his distinct voice down the hall, and I started to get really excited. He came by and I was briefly introduced, but then left him to his work....aka we went into the other room and turned on the speakers to the studio and listened to him record. (One of them even recorded his recording onto their phone.)
After a while the people that he was working with had to change studios, so he took a break and we got to sit and talk to him. He signed autographs, and talked to us about how he got started and what he is doing now.
He is really nice, and really tall...his license plates says "number 1 bat".
There is one line in his movie that has always made me laugh, it is one of the riddles..."What is yellow and writes?" and the answer is "A ballpoint banana." So, I asked him, I said "I have a question." he looked at me, "Whats yellow and writes?" At that he started laughing and said, "Was that one of my lines?!" he didn't remember the answer, so I told him, and he started laughing again and said that it was funny.
So, that is my story for the day, and I happen to think that it is a pretty good one!

Busy Weekend

Hi everyone, how was y'all s weekend? Mine was really good! My aunt came down from Boise and we went to a movie, we went shopping (where she bought me a lot of stuff) and then we painted an accent wall in my apartment. We had a lot of fun spending time together. After all the hard work of painting ;) we went and got pedicures and dinner. I then went home and packed up my room so that we can put our house on the market. We had a special speaker at Church, and she was really good. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Unfortunately I only got like 3 hours of sleep last night, but I now have the rest of my stuff for my apartment. :)

Provision

I was thinking today about how blessed I am, God is so good. I have all that I need, He always provides; even when I do something stupid, He takes care of me. I am learning from my mistakes, but it is no longer something scary that I am dreading. I now have enough faith to realize that even when I do something that I should not have done, I am able to learn from it, and that the consequences though hard are for my good. The other day I spent a little bit too much money, something that I should not have done, and now I dont have what I wanted to have because of it, but I now know that I am ok, and that He will provide, and that I should be more careful. I had to take the time (which I had been avoiding) to make a budget for myself so that it does not happen again. I was a little bit worried, because my aunt is comming to spend the weekend with me, and though I had stuff for breakfast and dinner, I had nothing for lunch, but then Jesus reminded me that I had bought some food the other day on a whim and I had what I needed. He was providing for me before I knew that I needed it.
At the same time, I am loving having so little and being house poor (only for another month :) ) because I have a house, and I am content. I would rather have to be on a budget and forgo some things that I want and be content then buy everything that I want and still think that I need more. I know that this house is going to be a challenge, but I am excited to meet it, I am excited to learn from it, and I am excited to see what He will do through me, and what I can do for Him.

I dont know what to write about today, I will just have to come back later I guess......

Hinds Feet on High Places

I am reading the book Hinds Feet on High Places, one which I have been meaning to do for a while, but my siblings kept on taking it and reading it so I never had it. I now do, and I am really enjoying it! I love the simplicity and the beauty that is portrayed in this story. I write, and I was always afraid to write an allegory for fear that it would not be perfect, but reading this book makes the idea seem not only OK, but good. It has also inspired me to use actual scripture in my book. I think that it would add something that can be got no other way. There is just something about the Scripture that is in no other book, that is what is so amazing about it. There is so much beauty and power and truth, there is justice and mercy, and their is a God who is unlike anything else in this world, and He speaks to us through this book, and that makes it the best book you could ever read.

4th of July

I dont know about the rest of you, but I had an amazing holiday weekend! It was so much fun. Friday my mom and sisters picked me up and dropped a bunch of stuff off at my new apartment, and then we set off for Boise. We did not get there until late, but we still enjoyed the trip, we talked to my aunt for a little while, and then went to bed.
The next morning we got up, got ready, and headed up the mountain to McCall. The trip was beautiful as always, but we got stuck in traffic in Cascade for an hour. We finally got there, and the first thing that we did was go down to the lake. After spending due time sitting in the sun, swimming around and hanging on the dock we all went up and had some dinner before heading into town to see the fire works. They were beautiful! I have not seen fireworks for the past few years and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. After that we went back to the camp and lit off a few of our own. We then stayed up late watching my cousins Richy, Eli, and Tyler play monopoly...which I have to say was not only ummm interesting, but also very entertaining! I went to bed around 3.
On Sunday I got up and had some breakfast and then headed down to the lake to take a ride on the jet ski. It was so much fun. My first ride I let my little sister Hannah drive and I was scared for my life from the minute I got on until the minute I got off. Then I swam and enjoyed my time with my cousin Grace, and my aunt Judy. My grandmother brought some snorkeling gear, so I got to do that for the first time. Even though it was just a lake it was really fun!
I went up and took a shower, and then came back where my sister Abby insisted that I get on the jet ski again and let her take me out on the lake. I did, and had a blast doing so. We ran into some of my cousins who were out in a boat (small boat) and the motor over heated so we pulled them in...in the rain.
After that, my cousin Tyler flipped the golf cart with some of his friends in it, and one of them scraped up her leg pretty good, so there was much drama. (Man I had a busy weekend) Then I went and watched a movie with Grace and Hannah, and finally it was time for the bonfire and smores. I also got to spend time playing with a group of really cute kittens. After the smores it was time for me to say goodbye, and I went down the mountain with two of my aunts. I got to Boise around 1:30am, and then yesterday I got up at 5 to come back to work.
I will always have fond memories of that trip...

Goings on

Well, yesterday was my first official day in my new home! I came home and was able to enjoy the quiet time while I made myself dinner and put more things away. About 8 I finished putting everything in place, and just enjoyed a quiet evening. I found out that I can get the internet (which is a blessing) and that I have to install a different media player on my pc to play movies on Netflix instant player.
I think that I am going to really enjoy this whole being alone thing, although it is going to take some getting used to. I am going up to McCall for the 4th, so I should get my fill of people.
You know, when a holiday comes around I really like to think about what it is that we are celebrating, and on the Forth of July, we are not just celebrating our freedom, but we are celebrating the men and women who were not afraid to stand up for injustice. They (through reading the Bible, and people like John Locke) knew what was rite and true and good, they knew that what was happening was not what needed to be happening. They were willing not just to die, but to loose everything, to be tortured if it came to it, to be banished from everything that they held dear.
These men who stood on faith alone, against terrible odds, who could see only a gimps of light, and they went after that light with everything they had, and they brought it to the rest of the world. Because of their bravery, and honor, and willingness, we have what we do today.
There are actually 4 verses of the Star Spangled Banner, and the last one ends by saying,

And the Star Spangled Banner
in triumph shall wave or the land of the free
and the home of the brave.

New Apartment

Well I have officially moved into my own place! I am so excited, and very happy. I went to the office at lunch and signed the lease, and then after work I went over to the apartment and unloaded my car. (At this point I am glad that it is not upstairs) I was on my way to get my second load from the house that I was in when my dad called me and informed me that he was in town, and that he came just to help me. I love him! I was so blessed, I was tickled pink from my nose, up and around my head and all the way to my toes. Not only did he come and help me, but he brought me two chairs, and my beautiful desk (that I really wanted but didn't think I would get) and a bunch of other little things that were needed.
After we had transferred all of my things, which it was a good thing that he came, because I would not have been able to fit my mattresses in my car, we went to the store to pick up a few things. It is amazing what things you don't think about, things like sponges to wash dishes, and nails for hanging pictures. I still don't have a table in my kitchen, but there is one that I will be able to use at "home". There are still things that I am going to need eventually that I don't need yet (butter dish?) and things that I am going to need quickly, salt and pepper; I was able to go to the store and look at kitchen things for a reason yesterday, and that is also a good feeling.
I know that I am rambling a bit, but I am just so happy. I know that it may ware off, but I enjoy paying my bills, I like being able to provide for myself, AND giving to and blessing others. I bought my dad a toothbrush, and though it is small, I thoroughly enjoyed doing it. God is so good to me, I could not ask for more, but He still gives more, He is astounding, and gracious, and He even allows us to help Him. I cannot even begin to describe what an awesome God I work for and am in love with.

Challenges

I get my apartment today!!!! I am sooooooooo excited! I sign the lease and get the key at lunch, and then after work it is time to move in. It is not glamorous, or large, in fact it is small, and kind of old, there is something in me that is just so like..."I did it." I have moved out of my parents house, I got a job, I pay my bills, and I work enough to get myself a place to live. At the same time, all of the credit must in fact go to God. He is the one who compelled me to go to school, He is the one that brought me to this job, and he is the one that opened the door to this apartment. My aunt even had all of her stuff, and just gave it to me, and today my boss even brought me some pots and pans.
I am excited, but at the same time it is a mixed bag, I am getting ready to have a lot more responsibility. This is going to be a challenge, one that (at times) I am ready to face head on, but at the same time, it will (at times) be very difficult. I know that I must always remember that God is my provider in this. I am also going to start school in the fall, which will have its own difficulties, so then I will be working full time and going to school, and trying to get everything else done. (I may have to cut back on my trips home) But that is still a ways away.