A Trip To The Zoo

This week was our church's annual mission conference/celebration. We had 4 different families serving in various countries (Ireland, Trinidad, Tanzania, Bolivia) come and present their work and hang out with us for 5 days. It's been interesting. On Saturday they had special things planned for the families: spa for the wives, shopping for the teens, zoo for the little kids, and golfing for the men. They asked me if I would help with the kids at the zoo. I'd never been to our local zoo, and kids are mostly fun so I agreed. I ended up with 4 kids in my car. Our zoo here is small, but the kids loved it! I think that they all agreed that the giraffes and zebras were the best part. Tonight we ended with a harvest party, and I really enjoyed the time I spent talking around a campfire with one of missionaries (who is also a nurse) about how they got to be where they are. Andy and I are excited to see how God will use us wherever we are!

It Grows...

On October 4th I had this bright idea that I would go back to the girl that had cut my hair earlier in the year. The shop has appointment availability but also walkins. Last time I walked in and it turned out great, so this time I was ready with a picture and away I went. When I got there I found that the girl who had cut my hair before no longer worked there and was living in Illinois. I was a little disappointed, but thought "I have a picture"... It didn't turn out anything like what I'd wanted. The lady literally chopped off my hair "because it's so thick" and because "it'll be easier to work with." Well, it was disappointing but everyone around me seems to think it's okay. In the last couple of weeks it has grown at least 1/2 an inch, and I like it a lot better... That's the redeeming thing about a bad hair cut...at least it grows, and thankfully my grows quickly.

p.s. if anybody has a great idea about how I might cut my hair, send me a picture and I might give it a try :)

And not a picture to prove it...

Well, Andy and I had the opportunity to attend yet another Rowden Reunion. I feel like every year there are fewer and fewer people that I know - not that I knew a lot of people to begin with, but my small group of acquaintances is dwindling, it seems. So, mostly the anticipation of a roadtrip adventure is what makes the reunion so exciting for me. That, and Ted Drewes. This year I believe was the first year that we attended and left without a picture to prove our presence. I keep saying that Andy and I should move to St. Louis. It seems like a fun town, and they have penguins I can see for free. (In the zoo, of course.) I doubt that we'll actually make any crazy move like that without more motivation than "it would be fun", but it would be slightly closer to Jonathan and Kristine, only 30 more minutes to Anderson, and perhaps an overall more exciting place to live. Who knows where God will send us, or if He prefers us to remain in Evansville to make an impact.

Our jobs are jobs. Nothing wonderful, nothing horrid. Our schedules still don't match up...but if I'm honest, I have to say that I prefer this schedule. I get all my free time with Andy on Monday and Tuesday, and a couple of alone hours each evening before he comes home the rest of the week. The only downside is Saturday. When he works all day long, it leaves me scrambling to plan things so I'm not bored, and I'm sometimes wishing he was off so we could do something together (movies, dinner, plays, geocaching, etc.) Perhaps if I had Mondays off, it would be fantastic :)

So, that's a little update -a little late, too...but an update nonetheless.

Something to Blog about

I'm sure that there is something that I should blog about. I feel like I've been really kind of busy, but I'm not sure what's been going on. A random list I created of my activities to inform you that I indeed do live.

-drove to Anderson for the surprise anniversary party
-drove home in a storm
-came home to no electricity
-had no power from Sunday- Friday night
-visited the library several times
-ate out every night since there was no power
-watched Amazing Grace on the laptop
-attempted to play tennis
-i can barely walk...(due to the tennis attempt)
-have my first theology test tuesday
-awana parent night this wednesday
-work is work...not great, but not terrible.
-updated church clerk spreadsheets
-reading desiring God

maybe some other stuff too...this weekend, the rowden reunion.

When Life's Not Fair - Don't forget to pray

For as long as I can remember my dad has been telling me that life's not fair. It was a common phrase in our home. The other thing that he really emphasized is that God is in control and prayer to the Almighty is both important and helpful. To be honest, I think that my prayer life was more...alive, perhaps, when I was working at the hospital. I would always take a nap before my shift, wake up, read my Bible, and then I would quite literally beg God to help me make it through the next 8-12 hours. This usually invovled tears. Recently I was thinking of how the time I set aside to spcifically pray to God seems to have dwindled quite a lot since He has blessed me with a better job. So, I've been trying really hard to make sure I pray - not just through the day, but on purpose pray about everything I can think of. This week we found out they were changing Andy's schedule. He had been working Monday-Friday 8-5. Normal people hours. His new hours are Wednesday-Saturday 8-8. Eugh. I have to say I was quite disappointed about not having Saturdays together -and since we have some things already scheduled (An Awana conference, Rowden Reunion) I was a bit disheartened. I remember though on Thursday night I said the prayer before we ate supper...and I prayed that God would do what He wanted and work things out the way He wanted. I have to say that for the first time in a while, I felt that I could completely trust God and that I would perhaps be disappointed but quite alright with whatever happened. I wish I was more eloquent in writing so you could understand the peace, but it was a great feeling to know I was putting my concerns in God's hands...and to just trust. Andy has since worked things out - by that I don't mean he gets Saturdays off. He is going to have to work some 12 hour night shifts, but we do get our Saturdays together for the month of September. I am thankful for that, and I hope that God keeps growing in me this ability trust Him more.

Mad Day 2008 - The Windy City

Well, we're back. A trip to the big city of Chicago was pretty fun. I think we were all happy to be together and a little sad to leave. We've all been friends since 2002 - it all started with a nursing home clinical, ideas to carpool, and a papa john's pizza in the park. It's interesting to see each year how things have changed, how life has taken us in many different directions. Doris is going back to school to obtain her master's degree -debt free. Mary has taken more medical mission trips than I can count. Somehow no matter how much has changed we are easily able to revert back to living together and talking about whatever is on our heart. I hope we stay friends forever and love each other always.

MAD Day

It's time to celebrate the 5th annual MAD day! (This is the closest we've ever come to meeting on the actual MAD day.) I'm excited to see what my girls have been up to and have some time to just get away from the mundane routine that I get stuck in. I'll let you know later what fun and exciting things we do!