From D to W

27 New Uses For Old Things...

2012-01-02T14:40:00.000-08:00

Not sure how everyone else's new year has started, but the refreshing idea of newness and starting over always is a reassuring feeling for me. I like to start with a clean house, rested, and with my head in the right place. I am doing a new yearly fast this year, so hopefully that's gonna make me feel better.

I am an avid REAL SIMPLE reader also, and I always love the "New Uses for Old Things." So here is a list that I came up with of things that I use, and some that i don't.... and some that are just plain awesome that are ingenious!

Coffee Filter- Clean your windows with these to avoid the leftovers from a paper towel. (Newspaper also works as well.)
Sand Paper- Can be used to clean the pills off a sweater. This can also be used to show wear on jeans. Also, scuff up the bottom of shoes so they're not so slippery.
Clear Nail Polish- There is SO MANY uses for this!

Put a dot on to stop runs in tights
Put it over screws on your glasses and they're less likely to fall out.
Seals envelopes
Put it on the bottom of your shaving cream to avoid those gross rust marks in the tub or on the counter.

Old Wine Bottles- Stick these in your boots to keep the shape.
Pencil erasers- Have you lost an earring back? Just snip of the end of a pencil eraser and stick it on.
Toilet Paper/Paper Towel Rolls- Another, multiple use item...

I have cut them up and decorated with them
Can be used in the bathroom of little girls to keep all their hairbands in one place.
Paper towel rolls can be used to roll up scarves so they don't wrinkle.
Shove plastic bags inside fore a compact way to store bags when you get home from the store. Any that don't fit get recycled.

The Lone sock- From hair curler to decorator to organizer

Long sock- cut the end out of it and use it to create curls overnight. Video Here
Long sock- string all your wires through it behind the TV or computer to keep all your wires untangled and out of the way
Short socks- use as foot protectors on your furniure with legs when your moving stuff around a lot. This will help not scuff up your floors (esp. wood!)

Empty veggie/fruit can- need a biscuit cutter? Just cut the other end out and use it as a biscuit cutter...Not to mention, covering it with fabric or modge podging something on it for a pencil holder (or holder of anything really...)
Golf Tees- Having a bunch of different kinds of breakfast muffins? Use different color golf tees to tell which is which...
Ziplock Bag- Another Million use item..

Don't have a piping bag to decorate a cake or cupcakes? Cut the corner off your ziplock bag and squeeze.
Amazing at the beach. Keep the items you need to keep sand free in a ziplock.
Funnel for filling salt and pepper in shakers.
Put your graham crackers or oreos in a ziplock to crumble for your crusts.
Blow up large bags with air and use them as package padding when mailing stuff.

Shower curtain rings- use them on a pan hanger and sting your scarves though them.
Paper Clip- for when a zipper breaks!
Hair straightener- Much more convenient to straighten ribbon and to touch up small spots on a shirt.
Empty 2-Liter- This can also be used to stick in boots to keep the shape.
Ceramic Tiles- Redone your kitchen or bathroom floors and have a spare ceramic tile? These work great as pot trivets!
Dental Floss (unflavored)- This is sooo valuable in the kitchen! With brittle cheeses like goat and feta, use dental floss to cut it. Also use dental floss for leveling cakes. And because most of us don't whole chickens or turkeys every week, use it as bakers twine for Christmas and thanksgiving.
Old gift boxes- These are great for delivering a cupcakes. Cut about 8 "x" in the top that will fit your cupcakes. I have used this one multiple times...
Muffin Tin-

In the kitchen, these work great as turned over to set hot pans on, to portion things, or to
For crafts, use these to separate paints, beads, really anything that you need contained.
For garage sales, we use these as our change holder inside a Tupperware container for our change box.
Before a party, scoop out ice cream into each spot and stick them in the freezer. Then, you don't have to battle the ice cream scoop in front of guests.

Wine Glasses- Turn them over to place candles on top. I have also seen wedding tables used these turned over with flowers under the glass and candles on top. Pretty cute.
iPod/iPhone/MP3 Speakers- Just place it in a bowl! Creates an easy amplifier.
Plate holders for a picnic- FRISBEES!
Silly Bandz- Can be the perfect wine glass tag.
Straw- strand one side of your necklace in it to travel! Helps avoid tangles.
Sheet bags with zippers- GREAT for storing kid's coloring books and crayons, you can also store fabric and ribbons in for those crafters out there.
Empty picture frame- put a pretty peice of scrapbook paper in there and use it as a dry erase board!
Counter Paper towel holder- Stack your ribbon up! Pretty looking too!
Potato bag closers- Ya know those plastic things to hold bags closed? Use them to determine which plug is what on a powerstrip. Just write what it is on the tag and clip it on.

I Want to Be YOU Christmas Tree

2011-12-12T15:45:00.000-08:00

...Your soul purpose is to sit in my window adorned with great and beautiful memories and sparkles for others to smile when they see you. You get to see our sunrises every morning and the evening glow when the sun sets behind you. Although that annoying cat who keeps scratching her face on your lower branches... yea... that's gotta bite.

I am well aware that the next Christmas is always busier than the last...but Im not excited about that right now. I think some Christmas very soon, I commit to NOTHING except parties, gift buying, and family gatherings. And the decorating. Those are hands down my favorite parts of Christmas. We took our family picture yesterday. My goal was to have both the dogs, Forrest and one chicken. Needless to say, I'm glad the chicken wasn't involved. Moose would try to eat it the whole time, Hummer would try to pee on it, and there would be a continuous hiss from ForFor.

So to you Christmas 2011. Jesus is the ultimate here, so busy-ness...be well aware you're on the back seat. I am determined to enjoy this from here on out!

Meet Hummer...

2011-10-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

There's a new man in my life. He's dark and handsome. He has beautiful brown eyes, great shiny black hair. He's kinda thin, not my type, but nothing a few hardy meals cant handle. He loves long walks and and back rubs. And Nathan even likes him too!!

Isn't he sooo cute?!??! I went and picked him up in a small town outside of springfield. When I pulled up, the lady, Patty, who I adopted him from, runs a shelter and he was her 30ish dog she's helped. She had a great story. We split a couple slim jims and drove home...he snored alot... I'll take that as he was comfortable. :) It took a good day, but Hummer & Moose are like kibbles and bits! They sleep together, they play together, they just love being by each other. He is the sweetest dog too. He doesnt jump too much, he loves feet. He'll lay at your feet until you pet his belly and then he'll just lay there content... Moose doesnt understand that concept yet. These two are more like Labra-dude and Labra-dork, but I believe this is the start of so many stories to come.

Wild Ginger Print Design

2011-09-12T08:32:00.001-07:00

I have begun something....

Am I in over my head? Maybe.

Am I excited? DEF!

Am I gonna try to make this work? With every oz. of my being.

BRING IT ON!

email me if you are interested!

lindsay@wildginger.biz

http://www.wildginger.biz

Ode to my Mac...

2011-08-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

Today is a hard HARD day... Nathan and I were having a great night. Peaceful, restful... Sunday nite football started last night, and me, being the avid football fan that I am decided to go chill with the dogs. We chilled in the garage and watched the sunset. I drank a coke and split my last pack of caramel rice cakes between the three of us.

Nathan came out and we fed the chickens and then Mac and Moose, kissed them goodnite (well, I did, not nathan) and we headed in. Come about 9:20p we were going around to lock up and go to bed a little early, when nathan noticed someone in the driveway. A man had hit a dog, and long story short it was my Mac-y. :(

I haven't had a dry eye for longer than 5 min. You never really learn about your love for an animal until they're gone. I've still never seen nathan cry, but we made a special bed for Moose next to our last night and the two of us cried ourselves to sleep.

I tried work today, but in the hour that I was there, I spent more time in the bathroom cleaning up my face and the tear spots on my dress, that i was better off at home. Moose and I walked our route that we all three used to walk and he froliced down the road while i just kept wiping my face. Then, when we got back home I just spread out a blanket in the backyard and we just laid there.

I'm pretty sure Moose is ok, he's just lonely. We're planning on a play date with the dogs at Nathan's parent's house tonight. I think I'm so broken, because I didnt see it coming at all and I was having such a good weekend and then.... boom.

Ok, I'll stop. Here is my little photo memory of Mac...
I'll be fine tomorrow, just let me mope the rest of today....

When God builds my house in heaven, I know you'll be sitting on my front porch.

Love you Mac.

Mama always says, "Finish what you started..."

2011-07-22T18:02:00.000-07:00

So I did! YAY!!
I saw a post on this blog that i follow called The Pleated Poppy. (Two reasons i love her: 1. She has the job I only dream of. 2. Her name is lindsey) She did this really awesome painting that was kind of abstract but really colorful and somewhat cheap! Likey Likey!
And, although it took me FOREVER to finish it, I finally did TONIGHT! My figures couldnt type fast enough! I was ready to blog about finishing it when i was buying the paint!

Ok so here is her painting....

And here is mine....
Close Up...
I loved that I could mess up and it was ok, b/c its art and it doesnt have to be perfect. AND, it was an easy way to make all my miss matched colors in my shamble of a living room go together!

Now i just need to figure out where to put it... Oh... I'm so excited!

I am a NEW woman!

2011-07-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

We have finally gotten internet at home about a week ago and Nathan hooked up our dryer on Saturday. We have traveled forward in time about 6 years or so...now, all that's left to move into the 21st Century is a dishwasher, cable, and a microwave. Well, not so much the microwave... that's kind of by choice...I just wanted to see if I could do it. I kind of prefer not having it. I don't think Nathan feels the same way.

We are continually making progress on the house. Nathan has gotten closet organizers in all of the closets, our washer and dryer have made in the same room and are hooked up! I have three things hung on the wall. Our name has made it on the mailbox (as enforced by the US Post office :/). Nathan was kind of surprised it fit. I've got skill...

And finally!!! WE FINISHED PHASE II of our Chicken Coop!

Yay! Let me introduce you to the crew...

Eugeine starts at the top. Stumpy is behind the water jug. Ruby (because of a baby and the color of her feathers), Caesar next (I was thinking salad), then Hollandaise is the next white one, and then Beefy... b/c she's the biggest!

Now all we have left to do is create a fenced in walking area for them. Nathan is also thinking about starting to build a deck on the back of the house this week. I think his goal is to sit outside on his deck by the end of summer. I can handle that.

What's next for this NEW country wife...

10 Things I Love in my Kitchen

2011-06-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

1. Nut Grinder

Because my mother and my grandmother used one. Pish Posh to the bags that are already chopped. I have my own thank you very much!

2. French Press

Because my husband HATES coffee. When my one cup is all it takes for a great Saturday morning.

3. Colorful Mixing Bowls

Because they’re just so pretty to mix in! When I moved into my new kitchen with the glass paned cabinet, I would not rest until those colorful bowls were behind that glass.

4. My Frog

Because I never realized there would be a time where O would actually wash my own dishes in a sink with a sponge. He has become very useful and not just a cute sink ornament.

5. My Stove

Because we are a poor married couple. I smile when I look at our stove. It came out of a garage Nathan cleaned. Oh, rusty stove…just when I thought I had an iron deficiency after weaning myself off of Peoria water…

6. Toaster Oven

Because Nathan and I are not getting a microwave…more like I won’t let us…I want to see if we can live without one and because toaster oven pizza is AWESOME in the summer so you don’t have to warm up the whole house with the rusty stove.

7. Ants

Because the remind me that even the perfect kitchen isn’t perfect. It also reminds me to do the dishes, put the lid on the sugar, and how AMAZING I am at towel snapping!

8. Grandma's Dishes

Because sometimes it’s not just Gma’s cooking that makes her cheesy potatoes SO good. I have eaten out of these dishes every thanksgiving I have ever been able to eat solid food.

9. Wooden Spoons

Because plastic melts and doesn’t keep the water from overflowing in my noodle water. My go-to kitchen utencial for baking in the kitchen and licking afer cookies!

10. KitchenAid Mixer

Because it’s timeless, it’s multifunctional, it’s durable, its RED, and it just plan makes me feel cool! Sometimes I just pull it out because it reminds me that I can cook.

First Day on the Job...Documented for Humbling Purposes

2011-05-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

Things I did that keep me humble today...
- Called someone a brother when he wasn't...
- Made the coffee too strong.
- Pepsi break and it's only 10:30am
- Have already clicked "Still Listening" on Pandora 3 times...
- Tongue twisted phone calls
- Hitting yourself for interupting someone on the phone...(im pretty sure i look like an idiot walking down the hallway hitting myself)
- I fought with the massive, larger than life printer outside two of the ladies offices... "Are you ok out there?"
Awesome.

But, 4:30pm. Oh how different that feels from 7:00pm. Thank you Jesus!!!

The Great Mother Red Hen

2011-04-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

So Nathan told me last week that he had the best birthday present for me and I just needed to let him know when a good time was to go pick it out. Here are the hints that i gathered from what he told me...
- "You need to pick out what color you want."
- "Now, you won't be able to use it until we move out to the Route 40 house, but we can keep it in storage until we move.
- "I think they open and close at 7pm"

So that was the end of that conversation, and then we talked about it and figured out that we could go on Saturday morning before work. So I begged and pleaded for a few more hints... I finally resorted to letters.

"Tell me a letter that's in the word..."
"a."
"That's not a letter! That's a vowel!"
"Ok....*pause*...r."
"Babe, I DO NOT WANT A LAWN MOWER!"
"I'm not saying yes or no anymore!"
"There's no 'r' in Mac."
"Ha... yah."
"YOU'RE GETTING ME A GREAT DANE!!!!"
"Yeah right!"
" Recliner....Craftsmen? Babe, i don't need tools... Cuiesenart...."
"Go to bed!"
SIGH

So we woke up at 6am and got dressed for work. We jumped into the car and headed downtown... toward builders warehouse....UFS...*recliner-that i didnt want*.... and then we turned into the tractor supplies.
Passed the cowboy boots....no red ones btw... and HERE IS WHAT HE GOT ME.....

I basically have the best husband ever! They are the coolest... they smell... but they are cool! They will be out in the garage soon...but for now they are chillin' in the basement. Forrest is really not very happy about this...but she is handling it like any pompous, selfish, "i am better than the world" cat.

Then to day in an ode to Easter, I tried dying egg with neckties. It kind of worked... they looked pretty cool...

Here's hoping we'll be at our new house in about two weeks... but who knows... I'll post updated pictures soon.

2011-04-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

I am going to type down things that are coming to my head right now...slightly for entertainment purposes and also, b.c i need to blog and i got a lot on the brain...

- I miss my dog. (There's one barking annoyingly outside)
- Can they please call me back.
- It's awesome outside.
- I really love Salt and Vinigar chips EXCEPT they make me sweat and they make my lips swell
- Nathan is so handsome. (just glanced at a picture)
- I need to get in a better mood.
- Oh to be off work by 5pm again.. what would that feel like?
- Can we get a dance crew together of the thousands and dance in a field to a random song?
- I miss my dog.
- I hope im a good aunt.
- What's for dinner?
- I need to finish a craft project...Im having a feeling that im one of those people who start something really cool and never finish it.
- I wonder what the date is when i get all my debts paid off?
- I wish i could get paid to blog.
- Can i get a job doing something that i already do?

I am trying to decide to change my blog, but i still want to keep this one because im one of those people who when they're bored, look back at some of their old posts and re-read them and remember how long it took me to write that one, how dumb it was or how many typos there were. But im officially a W and its slightly obvious that i thrive off of change.

Must do something different now.

End of Senegal

2011-03-25T06:49:00.000-07:00

It is not my intention to make this post long, but if it happens im sorry. I have two big spiritual toad stools to sit on and mull over for a while so we'll see.

The end of the trip ended very well. Our second OCC distribution was at the secondary school of about 130 kids, Mr. Lo's part of the school. To start, the english classes had an english trivia contest, then they wrestled, and then they danced. It was funny to see the faces of Ash and Nathan, and Josh. Ashley was get flustered that they were only in what looked like diapers. That made me laugh b/c I know the men she lives/used to live with and they wear much less.

The distribution was a little harder than others, b/c about 400 people came to watch the wrestling match so when there was word of us giving away something, they all crowded around asking if they could have one too. But the high schoolers that did receive one were very happy and we just kept smiling and saying, sorry I don't understand...even though....well yeah...

The last couple days at the house were really fun for me. During the day it really wasn't anything special except for helping Kim and Mary Nowell (sp) do house stuff. All of us were snacking on fruit the whole time, and the last couple of days we went into town and bought no less then 10 lb of fruit (apples, bananas, clementines, and oranges)

As we prayed and headed into Dakar, the truck squeeked alittle more than usual but we smiled, b.c as soon as we were to get there, Kim was getting a new one. When we got there, we headed down the the statue that is kind of like their Statue of Liberty that was just finished about a year ago and took some pictures. There we found out that the demonstrations had already started and so we laid low for the evening. We headed to a great restaurant on the Atlantic ocean (THAT WAS REALLY COLD!) and went back and played cards.

Saturday was really just a calm day at the market, cards, and dinner out again. A good relaxing end to the trip. Kim had a really good conversation with us right before we headed to the airport that's kept me thinking still about different things. Home felt good, but now that im here i feel pretty worthless. Back to the routine and to being too busy for what im supposed to be doing. There's a pull that I keep facing... I could be doing so much more for God if i were to change directions in life from what im doing right now, vs. God has put me in this place right now to use me. But i have been praying and trying to figure out which it is or if it both. Feelings: Right now I feel like I'm sacrificing happiness for life and trying to maintain a joy for God when what I really want is for my happiness in life to fuel the joy that i have for God.

I'll talk about my other toad stool later... have you ever written/typed something out and then thought, "OMG! That's what im feeling!" That's kind of happening right now.

A Night in the Village

2011-03-16T13:19:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. I know that Ashley has written a few, but still no excuse.

On Sunday we had a meeting in the evening with a group of believers. They were planning our mini revival out in the village of Sange. There was a media group, a group that coordinated where people would walk and talk to the people, security for the evening sessions and our group, the toubabs, were the intersesary team. We were to continuously pray for everyone. Our plan was to show the Jesus video Monday night when we got there, and then the next day, walk around hut to hut and talk to the people about Jesus and then invite them to the program we were having that night. So the party begins....

Monday afternoon we started loading everything up. We packed sandwiches, chips, and granola bars for breakfast that Margaret and I made, grabbed some Tampicos (basically Tang in a Capri Sun bag), and drove out to the village. Nathan, Josh, and Travis stayed to finish the cart and wait for the horse to come. As soon as we arrived, we went to the house of a catholic family with lots of space and rooms. They cleaned out a spare room for us six toubab girls (including Pastor Cole and Paul killing a geko and us killing about 12 spiders the size of 1/2 dollars) and laid out our mats.

We headed up to the center of town, (HUGE baybob tree where many gathered tor shade) and listened to people singing and speaking asking all the people of the village to come and see what all this comossion was around. We started around 5:00.. about 8:30 we started the Jesus film and around 10pm we had to stop b/c the kids that were watching needed to make to school on time. It was a big night of worshipping, speaking, and children singing.

We then ate dinner and headed to bed. Now, when i say bed, i already was preparing myself for not sleeping more than usual. I was in for an adveture and please understand that i didnt mind not getting too much sleep but i was more looking forward to the experience... and MAN did I get one. As soon as I got used to the loud goat outside the window, Margaret popped up and said, "O snap, a mouse just ran over my feet." From then on, there were squeeks eatting left over rice the men ate for dinner. Then once i verified in my mind, "They wont come to my side b/c there's no food..." a baby goat got lost and proceeded to bleet for his mother who responded for about 30 min. As I cacoons into my sheets, i smiled and said, ok God, experience had!

We woke up the next morning, and after a great granola bar, and a wonderful prayer meeting with pastor Cole and the others, we split into groups. about 4 of us began to prayer walk around the village and we soon realized that the man of the house send his son, Marcel, to guide us. As we headed towards the school to pray over the students, Marcel asked if we would like to go inside. Through a process of God moments, Marcel led us to meet the head master of the secondary school (high school) who knew english, pray with them and with their emom (sp...their muslim intercesor), the head master of the primary school, then head to the hospital and prayer for the patients. (side story: The head master of the secondary school who spoke english stopped by the hospital to check on a student and helped us b/c the doctor and nurse spoke no french or english. He helped us interperate our prayers. Total God thing.)

It was awesome! We then ate lunch, took afternoon naps, and then headed back to the center of town for the evenings presentation. It started about 4:30pm and we decided to leave around 8:30pm b/c we were all whooped and we still had to get ready for the OCC distribution today.
We had the best time in Sange. It was really evident that God had big plans for this visit. Even Mary and Maragret got a new contact at the school and will be heading there soon to help teach with the english teachers.

Today was the OCC distribution at the primary school of about 500 students in Poultock where Mr Lo is the principal at the secondary school. The children were soooo happy to see us and i know that many awesome pictures were taken. Tomorrow is the secondary school which is three class... around 130 students. It will be awesome...im sure and i always feel i connect a little better with the older kids.

A few prayer reqests:
- There is some civil unrest and there are plans of a bg riot in Dakar on Saturday. We were planning to go to Goree island saturday, but we have to rearrange so that we're safe. Pray that it doesnt get big enough to close the airport and generally pray for our safety.
- Pray for Sange, the city where we witnessed. I can safely say that 100s of people heard about Jesus and were willing to listen to what we had to say.
- Pray for our distribution again tomorrow as we go back to Poultock.
- Pray for Mr. Lo who continually interpets for us and has shared the gospel through his interpetation but is a Muslium. Also, he is building a house in Dakar with his son Jr. who is about 7. Pray for money so he can keep building and for his relationship with the forsyths and the teams.

Ok love you all. Off I go to bed. It's about 9:30pm and we have had a long day in the sun with another one yet to come.
Poultock
Sange

My Lovely Dirty Toes

2011-03-11T10:26:00.000-08:00

I was cleaning my feet yesterday with a smile on my face b/c i was just sooo excited they were covered in the African dirt... *sigh*

Our flights were awesome... There was really nothing to complain about beside the ususal.. small seats and sketch food. Kimberly and Mallory met us at about 7ish and picked us up. We went to the guest house where we ate breakfast, met the rest of the team, packed up the groceries that they purchased the day before.

We started driving home and stopped at Dakar Academy to drop off some clothes for gloria. Then we headed to Mbor for fruit, and Mallory got a new facet. It was so awesome to see nathan and ashley and josh's face as they were experncing things for the first time. It's like things that have been in my heart that ive just been waiting to see.

We got home, ate thiebougen, and did everything possible to stay awake. We planned the schedule (tentively,of course) and then assesed the bench making process. Finally, travis got the local pharmacist to come and sort out medical supplies and what would be beneficial in certain places.

Today was AWESOME!!! We got up (learned of the earthquake, and got really sad) ate breakfast, and then got ready for a great day! Margaret and Mary came over to plan english club for tomorrow which is understanding everyone needs to be rescued. Then after we were done, we headed out to help the boys work on benches. They are going to be building a stage and benches.

We ate lunch, worked a little more and then headed over to the hospital. We got a mini tour of the facilities and then we went to meet the leaders and hand out the mattresses and medical supplies. It was really awesome. They were so appreciative and met many different people from many departments. Pastor Cole then took us to meet with a man that was recording parts for the radio station. We took the lady in charge of maternity and the administrative assistant and they talked about what had happened. Then I chatted for a sec about what we brought and why we were here. It was pretty awesome.

Then we came home and starting making the Friday nite pizzas Nathan and Josh headed off to play soccer with Nathaniel and the other boys out in a field behind the house and we all cooked to get ready for movie night. We ate pizza chatted for a long time, the boys came home and ate, and then we watched the Kings Speech. I then fell asleep and became a party pooper and headed to bed early.

Here is what our schedule looks like for the rest of the week:

Saturday: English Club this afternoon

We start fasting at 7pm for the work the team is doing

Sunday: Church in the Morning

Meeting with Victor and Pastor Cole about plans for Monday and Tuesday in the villiages

Monday: In the PM head to the village to set up and watch Jesus film and Chat with the people. This is the night that we are staying the night

Tuesday: Go hut 2 hut talking to people about why we are there.

Wednesday: Our first distribution of OCC boxes to Mr Lo's school

Thursday: Second OCC box distribution

Friday: Heading to Dakar

Saturday: Goree Island

Sunday: Flying home.

Bill, we talked to Halifa (sp is way off) and he was happy to hear of your greeting. They kids really miss everyone. Ethan loved the picture he got of him and tricia. They miss Liz and everytime they see a picture they say, Oh, I miss Miss Liz."

It feels crazy wonderful to be here! I'll write more from the heart later i just wanted to get out there what we are doing every day.

Love you mom. Love you Dad. Love you Brittany.

2010-12-26T22:22:00.001-08:00

I know, I know... it sounds all ooshy gooshy... but it's so true. The last thing Cathy told me at work before I want home Christmas Eve afternoon was, "Cherish this Christmas! You will miss it and the two of you will have so much fun."

So I did my best.. and even if it wasnt my best, I was GREAT!

When I got home, Nathan was out plowing the absolutely gorgeous 6 in of snow we got that day, getting all the church parking lots ready for their Christmas Eve services. I got to church early for HOPE practice and slowly others filled in. Nathan had to sing in the choir (which is so sweet) so i oogled at him while we sang the first little bit. After the choir was done with "What a tiny Little Baby?," he came down and sat by me. Now for each, his own, i understand, but I know i feel the holy spirit when i get all chocked up randomly...and at that moment when he settled in, I had that chocked up moment where I realized I was surrounded by people I love. The Bakers with little Andrew 4 year old with his bow tie on, the McGarrahs right behind us, Steve with his arm around Pam in front of us...it was just a Christmas moment where God just proved his blessings... Then Dad read Joel's message (b/c joel was really sick). I'm sorry to say that i dont remember all of it :), but there was one point where Dad had something in his throat and I thought he was crying. As a daughter of a man who rarely cries, tears started coming. Then he cleared his throat and I wiped my eyes pathetically.

We had soup at the Yates Christmas eve with family and after, Nathan and Josh needed to plow one more church that had an 11pm service. So I GOT TO EXPERIENCE MY FIRST PLOW! It was terribly frightening bc they fly, the memory was fun.

As we were driving from one job to another over on the south side, I said something totally profound...don't know where it came from, but i said, "Even the worst of Peoria look better under a blanket of snow." Then of course I got all weepy again and remembered how grateful I was for Nathan and our family and Jesus.

And then the last weepy part... after Christmas Brunch with Mom and Dad Christmas Morning, I made Nathan take me up to fondulac drive to the view point where you can see all of peoria. It was snowy and clear and just beautiful. All I could think about was...Home. And there it was right in front of me.

We got wonderful gifts and ate wonderful food, but the best part of the whole weekend, was taking in the memory of my first christmas with my husband.

God is also beginning to reveal out Africa adventure. I have a new graph! It's EXTREMELY promising and encouraging.

I MUST sleep, but i wanted to get those memories down. I know most will find them bored and possibly feel ill by the end, but i selfishly need the memory...so just hit the "X." :)

New Cupcake, Senegal or Bust, and Jacob's Letters...

2010-11-16T08:36:00.000-08:00

I made a new cupcake...

Lemon Lavender Cupcake with Vanilla Bean Butter Cream Frosting...

Also,
We have a new number for Senegal funds. God's got us! We are moving in the right direction!
We also heard from Jake Wineinger this week. Pam typed out his letters so I'm going to post them here.

1st letter:
So I'm writing this in a hurry because I'm standing fire watch at 3:00 in the morning. Everything is going fine. It is definitely different. Everything is so fast paced. They count down for everything. I have to shower, shave and brush my teeth in 400 seconds that are counted fast. The food sucks, but I am so hungry it doesn't matter. Remember how I said I needed to lose weight? Well, that was the truth. They put me on a diet. So I get half of the crappy food, and I am always hungry. I have already lost 8 pounds in the last week. We are doing PT and martial arts already. Then we go to class and study a bunch of crap. The nice thing is the days go fast, and when we aren't in class or PT or martial arts, we drill. Which is simply marching. There is so much information to take in. That's all I have for now.
Love you, Jake

2nd letter:
So its Monday. Today was a mix of good and bad. Good because we did the confidence course, which was fun. And bad because I got in trouble at chow. I was talking in line and someone said something funny, so I smiled. Big mistake. I could have lived with one of the DI's seeing it, but the Chief drill instructor saw me, and took me to my senior drill instructor who was pissed. So a good day turned south fast. But it's a lesson learned.

I don't know if I've told you about the glasses yet. I can't wear contacts so they issued me these stupid glasses. And you know how much I wore my contacts. Well I wear these glasses less, only in class or when I'm reading a letter or the bible or something small.

There is a laundry mat at the end of our barracks that all of Lima Company uses. Well at night you can leave your laundry on your footlocker and firewatch does it. Well, me being trusting person, did that, and all my laundry was lost. And I told the guide who told the DI's and they said tough crap. So I have to buy more clothes. They have this cool little store where you can buy everything you are issued. And you pay with this debit card that draws out of the account you get paid into. The worst part about the clothing is this tighty whiteys. So uncomfortable!

Well that's all I have time for now. Thanks for the prayer.
-Jake
P.S. I weigh 180, that's 12 pounds down.

3rd letter:
So it's Sunday! This is the day I look forward to everyday of the week. Church here is amazing. We sing and they have guest speakers. This week we did communion. Its great. It is a recharge for the week. There is a lot of guys I go with from my platoon. It's amazing how I can feel Jesus help me everyday. Especially Sundays. I get chills sometimes. The days are going by fast. Everyday starts at 0500 and gets going 100 mph until lights out at 2100. I'm receiving lots of mail from everyone which is great. I look forward to mail call every night. Today is a field day which basically means we clean the squad bay all day, then go drill. But a bunch of the guys got our stuff done early and we were just sitting around so I read that devotional for everyone. It was cool. I've lost 12 pounds and I'm still on this stupid diet. I mean I guess it's working, but I'm hungry all the time. All I can think of is food!

You were asking about the graduation date. It is January 14 as long as everything goes all right, no injuries, and I don't fail any tests or anything like that. So you can start looking into those tickets if you want. If you do come up the day before, that is visitor's Thursday. I can't leave base, but I get two hours of family time. That Thursday morning we do a moto run which is the first time I can see you. I can't spend time until little bit later in the day. But I will have more details about that later. Then after the 2 hours of time together, we have to get on a bus and go to some stupid basketball game where they show us off. And I don't think you can come. So the next time I can see you is the next day after graduation and that's when we get to leave, I think its around 11:30.

I can tell you right now the first thing we are going to do is get some fast food. I'm craving food! I want moose tracks ice cream and all you can eat chinese food. But that's just the diet making me hungry. I ordered my pictures already and a DVD thing. Which is interesting. They are having us do this stuff so early in training.

We have two more weeks left here at MCRD, then first phase is over. These two weeks are going to be fun, but challenging. The first week is the confidence course and some log stuff. And the second week, which is probably more important because you have to qualify, then they give you a ranking of how good you are. But because of my MOS of Recon, I need to do very well. So pray for warm weather, strength, stamina, breath, and that I excel far above everyone.

Then after these next two weeks we go to Camp Pendleton which is 3 hours north of San Diego. That is where 2nd phase starts. We get to shoot our rifles. We do team building and scenarios. We are up there for 4 weeks, which is different. Everyone else is only there for 3 weeks, but because we are the last platoon in our company, we have to stay an extra week. Let's hope it is for something good.

We didn't do anything for Halloween. I didn't realize it was here til it was gone. The next holiday is the Marine Corps birthday on November 10. So that day we will probably do something special.

There is this thing here that they call the recruit crud. Scotty (Wilcoxen) talked about it. And its true. Since you have so many people from all over together in one place. Everyone is sick, including me. But that just adds to the fun I guess.

Oh, you asked about how long leave is. It is 7-10 days. But its going to be longer because of the waiting list to get into SOI, which is School of Infantry, the next step of training for me. So my leave is going to be like 18 days maybe. But I have to do what is called recruiters assistance, which is to help Sgt Edwards with his recruiting (in Peoria). I don't know how that works yet. I wrote him a letter, so I'll know more later. But I know I got at least 7-10 days.

Ash asked wht to send me. Right now just letters. You can send food, but like I said, I have to eat it all fast, then get in trouble for it. So unless I write asking for food, please don't send anything but letters.

I got letters from Grandma and Pop and Nan and Gramps. Please tell them the graduation date. I know they said they might want to come. And if you would once a week, send one of those devotionals so if we get the chance to do that every week, I can share that.

I'm running out of stuff to tell you. So here are some questions. Has it snowed? Have you seen any geese around the house? How's everyone doing? Has anything big happened in the news? How are the cows? Did you get your truck ready to plow yet? Did Josh get that Mustang?

Well that's all for now. Thanks for prayer and support. It makes what I'm doing worth it that much more.

Love, Jake

...i'm not doing so hot...

2010-11-09T23:23:00.000-08:00

On the cupcake challenge that is...

I think im gonna keep the website though and when i finally get 200 cupcakes done (ten years from now) it will be complete.

I got a new story right now though on my blood pumping organ. Nathan and I have committed to going to Senegal...again for me, for the first time for him. And I know God is at work in this situation. I don't know how and what for, but Im getting anxious and excited to see how He's gonna work. I got an incling of how he was going to work though tonight as I was putting together a budget of what we've got to do between now and January 23 to make this happen.

No something that i have felt very passionate about for a long time, you can ask my mother... we fought about this when i was in the youth group and wanted to do everything...that $$ has no hold when it comes to mission work and where God wants his Children. If he wants you somewhere he's going to provide a way.

So i did the math tonight and discovered that Nathan and I need to save $52 a day to make it to Africa. Get ready folks! God's shedding his light and Nathan and I have to trust in what He has planned.

Now im not saying, "Ok, God! Here's the challenge! It's time for me to step back and let you get to work!" No. I'm saying, "God, when March comes, I'm gonna be content in you whether I'm on the couch or on a plane. May I faithfully travel on the journey that you put me on to get there."
Some parts of that statement i say with gritted teeth, but do i say it truthfully...i think for the first time in a while, i think i really do...

So... as I hit the transfer button on my bank account...

Nathan and I are 1.4% on our way to Senegal.

New Directions...

2010-08-10T21:30:00.000-07:00

And no, im not talking about Glee, this time anyway...

I HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS! Please check out my new blog!

That's right! I am going to attempt to bake 200 cupcakes in 365 days! And i want everyone to join me in my adventure! This blog explained about my life but the only time when i really got comments was when i was being funny, so i got board with posting. So I love cupcakes! And my dog! and this NEW BLOG! Click the logo to connect and add to your favorites. I am posting my newest cupcake first thing in the morning!!!

Mrs. Lindsay Wineinger

2010-06-18T07:16:00.001-07:00

I have not posted in oh so long and so much has changed... especially my last name...
Let me introduce myself... Hello, my name is Lindsay Wineinger.*woow*

My wedding was such a beautiful day! I couldn't have asked for a more smooth flowing day with few kinks and LOADS of love and laughter and amazing celebration of God and of Nathan and me. What turned out to be a busy weekend ended up being so fun and full of family and friends...i dont think i would have had it any other way. Both nathan and i said that when all our wedding party got together on friday night it was one big family like we had all known each other for years and we were ready to have a great reunion weekend. I really didnt cry much that weekend, but the one time i did cry was on the way out the rehersal dinner/yates family reunion when i realized how much i love the people that were surrounding me at that moment and how much it meant they were all there to share the weekend with me. I was overwhelmed with so much JOY!

My ladies threw me a bachlorette party where i was joined by my lovely Shannon and Megan Block! I got tons of things that nathan thought were great *cough* and a fantastic book, The Joy of Sex. Oh the faces and stories... recommended by many. I still have yet to crack open the book and not giggle a little or cock my head to the side with a bewildered look... lol.

We had fun saturday morning getting our hair done, drinking starbucks and heading over to the church to start the day. Nathan and i had a special time where we met at the light poll where he asked me out and proposed to me to see me for the first time. We had our moment and then we headed downtown to get our pictures taken and just have fun with each other. The boys slightly toasted b/c of their suits but all was well and we had fun.
The wedding was perfect filled with wonderful people. We got to hug most of them and anyone we didn't we did at the reception hall. I got advice by many people to just stop at some point and just take it all in and i really feel like the day was just so relaxed that i took it all in all day long. I never really felt stressed and I knew no matter what by the end of the day i would be married.
The next day after the wedding was another family filled day. We had presents at the house with my Grandma Carol and some davises and Aunt Ann and Bill who I dont get to see very often and we were VERY blessed by all the presents. Then we headed to the Wineinger Twins HS graduation, which was AWESOME! with Dakota, Blake, Kim, and Todd as new additions to the wineinger family. Then we went to the 50th anniversary party for Nan and Gramps Wineinger and then we wee teed and ate culver's and just had a blast. We finally ended the evening, went home, and packed for Florida where we spent tons of time just basking on the beach and enjoying the sun and LOVING the peace and quiet!

We are doing quite well here at home. We are already in a kind of routine and we have already discovered that we need to slow down our schedule a little. But being together after being apart for so long is just refreshing and just plain fun. I will definitely put more pictures up when i get the professional ones back but these were just some of my favorites..

20 Things that I have always wanted to blog...

2010-04-09T22:06:00.001-07:00

These are some helpful tips that i have learned over...well..my life. I would now like to share them with you and see if you have any similar advice to give.

When the tag bugs you on the edge of a pillow, pull the pillow out of the case and put it in the opposite way.
When you cat/dog/child eats the butter sitting on the counter, put it away. (If it's an animal, it's probably best to throw it away.)
When your animals whine, bark, meow loudly, look at you and then cock their head to the side, this is equal to a small child saying, "Please mommy. I promise I won't make you mad if you let me..." DO NOT give in! I repeat, DO NOT give in.
A clean bed is similar to that of a clean car. It will rain very shortly there after. It is best to find mud, rub your animal/child's paw in it, dip in water, and then place in a focal area of the bedspread. This will avoid the anger that comes when finding it unexpected.
Plastic bags need to be obliterated. Yes, they are detrimental to the environment. Just as important, you ALWAYS seem to bump into, hear when your cat steps on, or need to get into one at a time when you are trying to be quiet.
The forecast will always be sunnier on the days when you have the most work to do.
In the state of IL, we should allow for space in our wardrobe for both summer and winter clothes. This will avoid the conundrum of putting your winter clothes away too early in the spring and putting your summer clothes away too early in the fall.
The laundry is never done. You just gotta be ok with that.
Never say you don't want to do something...God's a REALLY good listener.
I have found that writing lists on my hands is very helpful, but it also shows others how behind I am. Try a notebook.
Salute to the fellow females with blond eye lashes...others, please don't mock us when we put mascara on to go to the grocery store, roof a house, or play in sporting events. We just gotta do it.
My backspace button is hit three times as much as the keys on the keyboard. a. because i am a bad speller. b. because my i key is missing and words look really funny without their i's. c. i think before i type about just as well as i think before i speak... that's not all that great.
You can get a zit ANYWHERE on your body! Anywhere...
When your grandmother asks your if it was tramp day at school, she is not referring to what is in your head right now...think of this word, "tramp," as a comical hobo. Generation gap...that's all that is...
No matter how hard Wrigley may try, juicy fruit gum looses it's flavor the fastest.
Dogs are a perfect example of unconditional love. I am in awe of my Jesus because of my dog. Now cats... different...
Crystal door handles can make ANYTHING look cool.
You are not a loser if it's Friday and all you have done is eat a bowl of ice cream and watched an L&O: SVU marathon. There is nothing wrong with that.
Jesus >MAC >Chacos >bed >artichoke > a vaction...
God's timing will come on your watch....so take it off and stomp on it. It's getting in His way...

That's all for now kids...I need to sleep, bad.

Our Last Days in Fatik...

2010-03-11T15:29:00.000-08:00

So yesterday and today were our last days in Fatik.

Yesterday was our last distribution day. The morning started by visiting the High school. We split into teams and visited each english class so they could ask us questions and learn more from real english speakers. It was so interesting to see how their school system worked. They asked about President Kennedy and how we felt about his election. I answered that it had alot to do with his looks and that he was from a famous family, and i dont think that is what they wanted to hear. :)

Then, we went to a school here in town where another school traveled to recieve the boxes as well. Someone mentioned it took them two hours to walk and these were kids aging from 4 to around 15. It's a crazy whole new way of life here. We played games in the heat of day which was about 107 degrees. Us toubaes (pronounced to-bobs- their name for white people)took shifts on who had to stand out in the sun for what game.

All in all it ended up being GREAT! It was just so thrilling to see those kids walk away with all their friends with their boxes on their heads and huge smiles on their face.

Today was more of a relaxing day. We met for prayer walking and devotion in the morning, had Chicken and Dumplings for lunch and then headed home for a restful afternoon. Here in Fatik the city controls the electricity so at any moment the power can go out for up to 5 hours. They mostly choose to do that when most people use power so in the middle of the afternoon when it's hottest and fans and ACs and tvs during afternoon naps are playing, they flip the switch.

Some of us napped, tricia visited a friend, liz and i played a card game, and then around 4:30p we went to visit tricia's french teacher. We were ushered into her cement hut, and watched tv and chatted with 12 other ladies. Some of the girls were from the high school and english club that tricia and liz do.

Then we went over to the Forsyths this evening to show a bible film to a yard full of kids and some adults. The kids stayed through the entire thing, but most of the adults left as soon as Jesus entered the scene. I tried to pray extra hard for them as they walked out of the gate.

Tomorrow we head to Dakar. I will be posting all these pictures on facebook. Im sure there will be many more once i get into Dakar. Ok i have to go pack now. and I'm on facebook with my mom. :)

True test of Faith!

2010-03-09T13:44:00.000-08:00

So yesterday was a great day and as I blogged yesterday, I was soooo tired, that i posted what i did and then went to bed. Tricia soon came to bed after and likewise, everyone went to sleep.

Then at about 1:30a there was this HORRIFYING sound. I said quite frantically to Tricia, "Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" BOOOOOM!!!! The sound was like if you were to set a washer on top of a dryer and then push it off. It was SOOO LOUD! Tricia and i clingged to each other smilier to Scooby-doo if you know what i mean. Mary came in behind us b/c she heard it as well and we called to liz.

Liz being half asleep but also not hearing the sound at all, when to the window, shined the light out and determined there was no one there. But after that, Tricia and I couldn't sleep. We were analyzing every sound we heard! This morning we were talking about our prayers that we were praying...

or poke us with a big stick.

- God, please protect us. If you really want me to go to prison now, i will, but i will ball like a baby!

- God tell the Devil to leave this place! He's not welcome here.

- Don't let them shoot us.

- God my faith is small but you are large! Save us please!

We proceeded to tell everyone in the bible study this morning and i don't think anyone really understood the fear that was racing though us!

Amidst it all, Tricia accidently stepped on my glasses so I am wearing them scotch taped together. I look kinda funny.

We did another distribution today and it was in a village outside of Fatik. We got to watch wrestling and dancing of children from all ages. Then we handed the boxes out and watched them all run home to share them with their family. Today, little girls got most excited about hair bands and the little boys loved the clothes they received.

I think now, after giving these boxes out, i understand what the children NEED! And i have no doubt in my mind that each church could easily do 100! Some of this stuff in there is soooo inexpensive and these children will use those pens and pencils and paper for at least two years. Truely amazing!

I am off to bed. We have our last distribution tomorrow and it's going to be beautiful. We have one village walking a few miles to get to another village for the distribution.

J'appelle Nilaan Sene!

2010-03-07T15:19:00.000-08:00

So look at Tricia's blog for all the details. Im really tired tonight and all i want to do is sleep! But the best part was when Victor game me my Senegalize name! Nilaan Sene pronounced Neelan Se(long e)n.

New tatoo idea! don't tell mom! :)

2/3 The way to AWESOME!

2010-03-06T18:20:00.000-08:00

Today was a GREAT day despite our job incomplete. We woke up and headed to the Forsyths a little latter in the morning in hopes to sleep an extra hour to get rid of our jet lag (which i might say we all handles VERY well!) We needed to wait to hear when the trucks were getting in, so we did things in the mean time. We had a morning devotion about being peaceful, learned about prayer walking, some when to the catholic church to clean out the rooms where the boxes are going, while the rest of us headed to market to buy elements of games we are playing during the process of handing out the boxes. Oh and by the way, when we heard about the general time out truck was coming in, we found out we were getting about 7,000 more boxes then we planned. AWESOME.. .so Travis needed to come up with more storage space...

We then came back from market and went to go meet some of tricia's friends, but they weren't home, so we went back, had dinner, and FOUND OUT THE TRUCK WAS HERE! Don't tell my mom but we piled a ton of us in the car and tricia, liz, and i rode on the luggage rack on top :) unloaded about 8,000 boxes and then headed home to wait for the next two trucks...

After a wonderful game a Fishbowl and a triumphant game of Spades (all played to keep us awake and alert for the next trucks), we got word around 1:30a that the trucks were stopping for the night and wouldn't be in until EARLY the next morning. So we just got back to the house.

We have TONS of pictures, but i didn't bring anything to import them, so please be patient with me.

Things to be praying for...

- Because of the extra boxes, it's going to cost more for guards, storage, and workers to unload. Pray that our funds stretched.

- Pray that the schedule changes at the schools work to our advantage.

- Pray for the people of Fatik, HIGH muslim population, but WONDERFUL WONDERFUL people.

Ok my battery is dying and i need to sleep! GOODNIGHT!!!

26 hours later...

2010-03-05T04:37:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gents!

We are in Senegal!

I met up with the rest of the team Thursday morning at O'Hare and took a flight to Dullas at 1:10p. Arrived a little after three with the time change and thought we had a little layover until slightly after 5p. Well, we were all sitting down to a carry over meal until we were served a dinner on the plane. Bill and I split a piece of pizza, then I headed to the Kiosk for a magazine. Mom called and we chatted for a little while and when I got off the phone, i headed to the ladies room... My pants were just unzipped when i heard over the loud speaker, second call for guest flying Flight ### headed to Dakar, Senegal, Crider two, Davis, Dingus, some other names in between, and Smith. Please check in at gate A16. I ran! Zipped up on the way out and frantically called them to run to the gate. As soon as we got there, I asked if they started loading early and they said, Yes! Yes?!!?! So I frantically called nathan, told him i loved him, and we jumped on the plane to Dakar.

It was about a 6 hr flight and we arrived in Dakar at 5:40a on Friday Morning (today). So needless to say, many of us haven't slept for about 24 hours...me 26 because of Sharathon.

We got off the plane, kindly said no to any man that offered to help us to avoid any kind of fee or tip, and waited (since we got in early) for Kim to pick us up. Very shortly after, we went to the missionary house in Dakar, ate breakfast, picked up Kim's daughter, Gloria. Then all 13 of us headed to Fatik. After a crazy bumpy 4 hr ride home, we got to where we were staying and heard that out Operation Christmas Child Boxes aren't coming until tomorrow afternoon. I think that changed so plans but we just go with the flow.

Some of the ladies experienced their 1st squatty potty! Holy Cow. And Donna had quite a time at the bathroom at the airport.

I am actually getting ready to head to the shower. I promise, I'll write more as we do more.

Crunch time!

2010-02-25T21:25:00.000-08:00

4 days until 91.5 WCIC Sharathon 2010
6 days until I leave for Dakar, Senegal. HOLY COW!
46 days until the season premier of Glee
49 days until 91.5 WCIC's Opening Act (I'm the main coordinator)
64 days until I turn 24
92 days until I'm Mrs. Wineinger.

I have come to understand that i can usually tell the validity of my task when i type into google, "Checklist for (FILL IN TASK HERE)" so I was feeling really good and slightly less overwhelmed when I specifically found a checklist for packing for Senegal. Granted it was another blog, but shoot! I'll take what I can get. I officially leave in less than a week. This time next week I will be in the air to Dakar, Senegal in Northwest Africa (Take note that when I get there it will actually be 5am of Friday)

My laundry is still sitting in a pile in my room. My two suitcases that I'm going to bring are down stairs waiting to be brought up. I have rolls of wrapping paper that I plan on unrolling and folding up to bring. I still need to shop for extra things and finalize all my bills so that everything get paid for while i'm gone.

I feel soo behind. I'm still finishing up Sharathon (our station fundraiser) stuff, making sure my interns, who are very awesome i might add, are fully trained for starting Opening Act without me. God has taught me something truly valuable right now! I cannot do ANYTHING on my own. And right now, I am pretty ok with that. I just got to relay on the one Man who's had my back even before I was born, and not sure why i can't fully do that.

I just listened to a really great sermon by Mark Driscoll about planning... we all know that im the most type A as they come... NOT! so listening to him and how he helped his wife manage over time was really helpful. Only thing is...I need someone to keep me accountable and up to date with my planning... and all i have is...

I say, anyone who wants to all over the state of il from Pearl City to Anna, we meet once a month for an accountability group... ha. It's worth a try.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't get me wrong. There are two highlight this spring and one is Senegal and the other is my wedding. I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THIS TRIP! Once I have the chance to think of packing it will get done very well... but i got to allow for time.

We are the World

2010-02-17T10:29:00.000-08:00

I know some people that really dislike this video but I don't care how famous they are, I still get a knot in my throat when I watch it... some of my co-workers were watching and it prompted me to watch it...

Sometimes I get genuinely concerned that we forget too fast. Sigh... this is a little bit of history.

# of Days until Significant Events in my Life:

2010-01-21T15:32:00.000-08:00

5 days until my last round of immunizations for Africa
37 days until 91.5 WCIC Sharathon 2010
39 days until I leave for Dakar, Senegal.
79 days until the season premier of Glee
82 days until 91.5 WCIC's Opening Act (I'm the main coordinator)
97 days until I turn 24
125 days until I'm Mrs. Wineinger.

To write all of that out is kind of intimidating, but always good to see on paper. I am mentally prepared for about 1/2 of that. I have no doubt that I will survive. I have a huge fan club behind me, but how intact I will be after that is completely different.

My sister got married on new years eve. That was an awesome day! Moments happened that day that could never be replaced. What an experience. And I got a new brother; his name's Andy, and a niece and nephew, Maddie and Austin!

My wedding planning is going well. I attach some of the pictures that I am using as ideas. I think it's going to be fun. We are stumbling over a few little ideas but nothing detrimental. Nathan had his last first day at SIUC this week CRAZY!

I'm truly kicking myself right now because it has taken me almost four days to write this blog. I have some really great thoughts about what I want to write about and then I get home and get too tired to write about them, or Mac chews something and I get distracted. This is also a very similar story for my house. I start to clean it and then I get totally down or distracted and then I change my mind and sleep another night with a really tall pile of clothes at the foot of my bed.

I think my dear fish, Phish, is on his last leg. I have been doing my best to make sure he has all the water he needs even though the cats think this is their personal drinking bowl. He's floating slightly cockeyed around the tank at an nth of a pace. If i put food in there, it tends to sink to the bottom before he catches it... sad day. He's that animal that really makes me think about where i've been these past years. I got him when I lived in carbondale before I had Forrest...when we relinquished the fish tank in the living room...he came home for two summers, and three christmases, he moved to nashville with me, and then he moved back home and then here with me. Forrest chased him often at the apt in cdale and frisko chases him around the bowl now. He's lived a full fish life...and of course he's still alive so I shouldn't be talking like this.

Man...I created this blog to kind of allow myself to grow up on virtual paper, and I feel like i'm failing a little. I'm on paper yes, but still chatting about childish worries i seem to never grow out of. Something else I was thinking about today was a spot i heard on the radio about moms with kids understanding that their house doesn't have to be clean all the time...and I was thinking what about single women with no kids.... is it ok then too?

Anyone want to start a small group...im desperate. im drinking coffee right now so i feel about as sparatic as these last three paragraphs. Ok...i think this about as good as I'm gonna get for a while. I'm feeling like the next post will be a picture montage... i havent done one in a while.

A Little Change

2009-11-02T19:51:00.000-08:00

This may be short and sweet. But i just realized something that might be monumental in my brain. If i think that there is no change in my life, or that my life may be really boring right now, wouldn't that be a change from the previous.... my life is always a change, even when i can't see change, its a change from the last time...

yeah... it's one of those days, when i have to reach into my inner most thoughts to think of something that can fuel me for tomorrow. God always give me fuel by His blessings, particularly a 240 lb. hunk of handsome teddy bear like blessing that will soon be a big change in my life, but if im constantly looking in the distance for change, i miss what's right in front of me that is constant.

the only thing that needs changing right now is my good old twisted heart. I'm praying for that right now...

Jamie vs. Linz

2009-09-10T08:43:00.001-07:00

At work today, Jill from Doing Life with the Traceys, compared me to Jamie Jamgochian. I laughed about it but then we started looking at Facebook Pictures and it was funny.... I think I have decided that, yes we look similar... but I look like her about 5-7 years prior...

Jill has some other pictures on the Doing Life with the Traceys page... we are facebook twins.... :)

10:22pm

2009-09-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

The night was one of those great nights when nathan comes home... We meet out at his house nothing fancy at all. Dinner had come and gone and everyone was showering only to slide their cut offs, comfy t-shirts and sandals back on to head out to a movie.

I talked to the boys about their football game, and chit chatted with Pam and Steve and the Webers while nathan was still finishing his (always) incredibly long shower. Then we piled into the van and my car and headed to Willow to watch a movie...

Gamer was tonight's movie and i had never heard of it so i had no idea what i was in for...i was rudely introduced by more blood than saving private ryan, top-less women, and enough f-bombs to blow up a small village... i felt like a complete sissy, and very terrible, but i told nathan i was so sorry but i couldn't stay so i gathered my things and left. Feeling terrible that i did, i moped over to Kohl's and then over to Bergner's and the book store thinking the whole time, Im so sorry. I should have stuck it out... I soon got a call saying the movie was over and they were heading over to Culver's.

I felt way better when i got there b/c everyone said it was a terrible movie and a sad excuse for excessive violence and nudity. Ash said she would have walked out with me had she known i left. But we laughed and talked about funny people, funny times, made fun of each other, and enjoyed our Culver's like we always do... needless to say i had spilled pepsi on me earlier so i got some grief.

Then we left and nathan and i went to chill for a while and he wanted to waste some time on the way home *1st inkling* and so we stopped by the church and sat in the parking lot where he asked a me out a few years back *2nd inkling* We talked for a little while and he was sad that we couldn't watch the stars, but he then preceded to say, Well, as you know we have been together 4 years and 2 mo. and you may know what's coming next but, uhh..." as he is pulling the ring box out of his sweatshirt, "Will you marry me?"

I didn't even look at the ring, i didn't care at all! I grabbed him around the neck as we sat in my car and giggled and said yes and yes again and kissed his cheek and hugged him and just was so stinking happy!

Then i looked at the ring and it was ABSOLUTELY perfect! Our simple flawless love wrapped up in a tiny little band that was EVERYTHING i asked for. We walked around the church building for a while thinking about the importance of what that place meant to us... where we met, where we served together, where we fell in love, where he asked me out, now, where he proposed to me, soon where he will marry me, and where we will serve together again.

I know i will say it now...and it might not feel this way in the future... but i don't care what comes next because i have got the best partner and leader and Father who love me and will never leave my side.

I LOVE YOU NATHANIEL STEVEN! I CAN'T WAIT to grow old with you by my side. And i will probably still have pepsi stains on my shirt then, too...

yours very truly,

the future Mrs. Wineinger

Have Mercy for Mercy Me HAHA!

2009-08-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

Katie at work introduced me to the "Cover Tune Grab Bag" that Mercy Me did and man some of them are really good, and others are just hysterical!

What Do I know of Holy

2009-07-28T18:16:00.000-07:00

Working at a radio station, it come very difficult to me to find a favorite song by a christian artist thats I like and still like after about 2 days. It eventually gets played to much and it gets old and I'm done. But I think I have found one that can stick around for a while and I will still like it tomorrow. Mostly because there are so many meaningful words to chew on that i get caught on one saying.... i think about it... and then the next time I hear it, I think about the next verse. Addison Road is the artist and the song is called, "What Do I Know of Holy."

"I tried to hear from heaven, but I talked to whole time." I don't give time to sit and listen or to open my bible and listen. Sometimes you finally hear the words that you have been trying to come up with and you're like.. duh..

The chorus makes total sense to me. What do I really understand of what holy is, when all i really know is what a couple stories are? Have I enternalized his mercy and grace...

His vastness

...He who gave life "its" name and we feel we have all the control of it...to abuse it, to take credit for it, to take it away even... what do I really understand of Holy...

Here are the words....

I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

(CHORUS)

(CHORUS 2)
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life "its" name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?

(CHORUS)

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?

10 things I should have Brought with me...

2009-06-20T21:57:00.000-07:00

So I thought I would start a list of 5 things I should have brought with me to TN...

1. Baking essentials like, eggs, butter, sugar

2. How to book on Riding Horses

3. Lost

4. Razor

5. Bug Spray

What I should have brought back with me... only 1...

1. Nathan.

It was good to see him working for Jesus and enjoying himself a ton. It was good to see the mountains and see Gods handy work. And all the extra fresh air made me jump start my next week. ALERT THE MEDIA** I MOWED MY OWN LAWN!** I more like chewed it up. details... ALSO A few months ago I got internet scammed out of my saxophone and this week they found it somewhere in atlanta! SCORE! I have been cleaning up my house and today I got an A/C. It's in the living room, so it doesnt really make a dent on any other part of the house, but it feels great in the living room! Ok off to bed.

2009-06-13T20:45:00.000-07:00

I wish I could put into words what I am seeing around here, but nothing would work for the beauty that surrounds us. We are at this place in the hills of the Smoky Mountains and from out deck, all we see is mountains and sky. On our second deck, upstairs, we can sit in our hot tub, and gaze at the stars... Shooting stars are a reoccurrence. My friends, Katie, Valerie and I are enjoying some great time with each other, with Jesus and with nature. I also am enjoying some time with the love of my life.

Jefferson City, where nathan is working for the sum

mer is about an hour away so I got to spend last night and today with him. We enjoyed each others company of course and I got to see where he worked and held hands long enough to make up for the 7 weeks he has left until he comes home. As much as I miss him, I am glad to be back in the mountains looking out over the wonderful mountains, see God's breath-taking creation.

As you look in some of these pictures I posted, these are actually from the website but they are not far off at all! They are BEAUTIFUL cabins! And those mount

ain views are no joke. Amazing... im tellin ya. Valerie has this crazy thing about her, that where ever she goes, wild life tends to follow. So far, we have seen a DEAD baby scorpion, a mountain lion, a momma duck and her ducklings, a baby rabbit and the turkey... oh and a snake. Katie the uncanny connection to nature. She has seen shooting stars, rainbows and random shinny things the earth has created. It has been a great weekend.

The girls are staying in the one bedroom of the cabin and I am staying in this awesome loft that's on the second floor. I am typing in the living room right now. There is a journal sitting on the coffee table in front of the TV and in it are entries of all the people that came here before us. It is really sweet how some are honeymooners, some are family reunions, and some are just some marriage renewal stuff. God's handy work is unmistakably inspiring here. I hope that everyone feels closer to Him, event if they don't realize it is him. They feel changed at least. I need to go to bed now. It is twelve and we are planning on a morning with Jesus, some horse back riding, and some soaking up the glory time. And of course... hot tub and suntan. Oh the joys of vacation. Goodnite all.

Tug of War

2009-06-02T21:09:00.000-07:00

Man, I am struggling with keeping this up to date. SBT...

I got on FB yesterday and I was just crushed. I saw the World Changers/PowerPlant pictures and my heart was just broken. All I wanted to do was be there. (Ok here is where I might start writing things that someone at work might see and get offended, but I want you to know that I don't NOT appreciate the job, I am just speaking truthfully from my heart) I miss working for people. I miss direct service. I miss youth. I miss my freedoms. I miss it when I would work and not focus on the time.

My heart is just telling me that I am not giving at my capcity and I miss that so much. I haven't roofed a house in years. I haven't gone on a mission trip in over three years. I moved into this house and I can't utalize it, because I don't have free time. I am finding myself at a place in life where I dont have the faith in God's power like I used to, because I don't NEED it. I don't like that feeling. I have a 9 to 5, and a roof over my head, and 401K (503B actually) and a paycheck. I hate that I am blending in to the workforce I think. I am at the stage of life where I wanted to be doing what I could before I got married, and now, I am in a routine...the exact opposite.

My heart hurts right now and to fix it would be irresponsible and not for the greater good. It would be self pleasing and finacially dumb.

God's got me. He always does. I just hope that I'm gripping with a tight enough grasp to feel the tug.

On a slightly lighter note...

Mac is doing well. He graduated from Puppy class last friday. He got first place in the tale wagging compotition and 3rd in Sit stay and down stay. We have a few little spats now and again, but he chillaxes in the kitchen while im at work and then we walk or play when I get home. He's my love and I try to take him everywhere I go. :)

Nathan is at Appalachain Outreach in Jefferson City, TN this summer...yet another summer apart, but it will be 4 years a month from yesterday... wierd isn't it... yeah i know.

Ok off to bed. Thank you for listening to my heart for a while and humoring me.. Miss all of you who are far away.

2009-03-31T19:00:00.000-07:00

I always feel it valuable to write in here when I have something very deep to say and I never find myself just writing here because I got nothing else to do.

Well this is another deep time. Tonight as I was sitting in front of my TV with my scrounged up dinner of rice and fish, which is about all I have at the moment til I grocery shop, I wondered, is this going to be that time that my grandchildren say, “I don’t know how Gma did it?!”

I know this isn’t near what surviving feels like, but man, my heart feels like it’s just barely getting by. Let me complain all in one paragraph and get it out of the way so you don’t have to hear it anymore. Mac, although I love him more then ever, is make it very hard to be loveable. His nipping is getting more frequent, and after studying up on it, I found out it is because he is frustrated from being in his kennel all day. This also is affecting his barking. Today was Dad’s last day of work at Lonza. He cried, on the phone with me tonight and did his very best to make sure I couldn’t tell. He is so frustrated that he is know part of the statistic of people who have lost their jobs. Mom is on her second week of her 5-week layoff. She has three more to go, but at this very moment, she is waiting in a hospital for Grandpa who is having a very serious and possible fetal heart surgery. My sister is doing well, although her fiancé isn’t, which is making things stressful on her as well. Seriously… is this really happening? I thought this only happened in movies. All I need is an affair, some climactic music, a contract… and I have an all American soap opera.

I don’t know if necessarily I could handle this, but I don’t understand how I got the luck of the draw here. And I can only do one thing… pray… that Dad gets a job, that Mom keeps her job, that Grandpa makes it through the surgery and that he remembers those times Grandma was yelling at him about going to church, that a miracle could get Andy out of this worthless legal trouble, and that Nathan were home to kiss me good night soon.

My heart is spent. I’m not giving my 100% anywhere, because I don’t know where any of it is…

My New Addition...

2009-02-04T17:03:00.000-08:00

This is the new addition to my wonderful family. Mac came to live with me in my new house (which I will have pictures up later once everything is complete) Friday, January 30th. His birthday was December 18th, 2008, so he will be 8 weeks on Thursday. He was 7 lbs on Friday. I know that he has grown since then. He is such a mild mannered dog. If only potty train as quickly.

Forrest and him are doing alright. He got a good swat across the face the other day for being too friendly. I will get more pictures up soon. I am somewhat worn from getting up in the middle of the night and cleaning at the house. Mac I am sure will have good stories... Its only just a matter of time!

A Big Cheer for God AMAZING Timing!

2009-01-18T19:18:00.000-08:00

I got the great news that my house will be done THIS WEEK! I will probably be moving in next weekend! I slightly can't believe it. Mostly because my room isn't packed at all. But also b/c of God timing and all. Here are some pictures of before and half way through. I will have move in pictures up after next week.

Many times when I tell people about my house, I am mostly just really excited about it and don't get to talk about what a great joy it will be. As much as I want this to be a place to call my own (as much as a renter can call someplace home) I want my home to be a safe place...a place where my church kids can come when they need something to do, a place they feel safe and a place that God can ultimately use for His purposed! I have waited so long for a place like this and God has answered my prayers, and although at times, i may not want to allow God to have my house, it is not mine to withhold. So, God, here in front of all these bloggers, and everyone that desires to keep me accountable, I promise to glorify you with this house. It is yours. Just don't drink out of the milk jug and use chip clips! :) No, but seriously, Thank you for your oh so perfect, but sometimes misunderstood, timing. I say all this, not to toot my own horn, but so that all of you guys make sure that I don't fall on my promise to God.

So my new fluffy, black adopted son that is coming to my house on Feb. 25th ish is doing well so far. His name choices have come down to these 5:

1. Quincy (Thanks Alyssa. (She's three and loves Little Einsteins.))

2. Mac (Apple, fav McD burger, and he will be as big as a mac truck)

3. Zeus (Largeness)

4. Samson (From the Bible; Strength and Size)

5. Back-up (Thanks Tricia! "I need Back-Up!")

I am going to do that crazy, animal lover thing and ask the dog what he wants his name to be. They say (and don't ask me who they are) that if you say the names to your animal they may respond better to ones over the others. I have already purchased his collar, leash, and some treats. Mom said bring towels to rub on the mother for the first few days that he's home, and I also have the "Puppy Raising and Training Diary for Dummies." I want to do this right. And if you know me well, you know reading for me is almost non existent.... well.... in lo of the puppy, I feel it necessary to ready Marly and Me... (Thanks for the idea shan!) that and I want to read the book before I see the movie. Marly and Quincy/Mac/Zeus/Samson/Back-up are basically gonna look the same only one will be black! Oh goodness. Ok.

If you have any other tips, let me know! I'm getting back to reading.

Forrest's New Brother!!!

2009-01-12T15:28:00.000-08:00

He is due to arrive at my NEW house on Elmwood February 25. His mom is a golden retriever and his dad is a black lab. He is black in color and pretty much the best thing ever even though I haven't met him. I am absolutely thrilled and I will keep you as updated as possible and a get a real picture of him up soon.

But I NEED HELP! I cant think of a great name. I was thinking Security... cant you just picture me opening the door, "Security!" I thought that was funny...I need suggestions.... Ok.. off to go study Daniel. Peace out!!

Picture #4

2008-12-26T23:32:00.000-08:00

I was tagged into this fun game Shannon and Dani like 2 mo ago... and i just found it... sorry guys...

The Instructions:

1. Choose the 4th picture folder on my computer

2. Choose the 4th picture

3. Explain the picture

4. Tag 4 other bloggers

This is my sister a about a year or so after i was born in her favorite dress. I was taking a picture of a picture b/c i didnt have a scanner and i wanted to do a present that i never ended up making. hm.

I am sorry... i think i was the last one to do this... so there's no one to tag.

Happy Birthday Jesus

2008-12-26T23:08:00.000-08:00

This Christmas season I was completely reminded day after day of how blessed I am. First by my job, psh.. holy cow is that awesome! and then with our party it st. louis. those girls were/are amazing! we could have stayed and talked easily a second day without running out of things to say. sometimes after talking to people and hearing their situations, i just get more and more greatful. i have an amazing set of future inlaws, a rock star boyfriend...(which i found out very quickly how much i take for granted the feeling of being with someone), an amazing, too clean home now, and an awesome future home. The fab five are kickin' it strong at avanti's! I get to see God working daily, and boy, do i take advantage of that. lol i think this was all supposed to happen around thanksgiving, but christmas will work.

i got this amazing text from my dear friend rhychell... her daughter was saying Merry Christmas... this is for u shan, b/c ur not getting texts right now

The excitement of christmas...
I got a heating blanket! and Nathan got me a dog. We havent picked it out yet (haha got ya) but i will come spring. I will have pictures of my house up soon. I will do before and afters... ps. im moving into a house in Peoria b/c Jesus and I think it will be valuable for our youth group.

Next post will have more direction.. im scatter-brained right now.. i just really wanted Ryiah's picture up!

The Other Side

2008-10-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

I dont know if anyone else has experienced this before, but there has been, until just recently, a point in my life, where I would go through the motions of "God: just to remind myself that I still believed in Him. But now, on the tail end side of struggle and the dreaded waiting stage of life, the love and ultimate unconditional love and gratitude I have for God and his grace is two fold. I have seen the power and answered pray from a desperate plea for help ATLEAST 3 times in the last two weeks. God has guided me decision making and after making some big decisions, He has poured out affirmation. After conviction, He showed me multiple solutions, and after giving in faith, He blessed me in faithfulness.

I do not deserve this at all. I am worthless with out Jesus blood. Yet to think that God smiles down on me, and I sure, laughs at me when I look totally retarded, makes me fill with tears and weap with thanksgiving.

I went on the HOPE (Hands of Praise and Evangelism) trip this weekend to the Carmi Childrens home and then to Logan St. Baptist Church on sunday, and basically cried the whole time Nicky did the signs to Philips, Craig, and Dean's song; "Your grace still amazes me. Your love is still a mystery. Each day, I fall on my knees, because your grace still amazes me."

I know that I am being very blanketed about what I am talking about, but I dont think the subject really matters at this point. God needed me to see his faithfulness and He got me good. And on top of that He gave me the bestest man in the world to help me discover it. And the fam...

God is good.

Psalms 61
1 Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.

4 I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Selah

Quirks and More...

2008-10-01T22:33:00.000-07:00

I AM IT on the 6 Quirks game...
Argh... Lets see if I can do this...

Here are the rules:
Link the person who tagged you
Mention the rules on your blog
Tell about 6 quirks of yours
Tag 6 fellow bloggers of yours to do the same
Leave a comment to let them know

6
Whenever I am typing on the computer I hit the backspace button about three times more than I type, mostly because of my awful spelling skills, not typing as fast as my thoughts, and those horrible red squiggly lines that appear everywhere...I try to avoid right clicking and see if I can guess it first.

5
I really want someone to explain this one to me b/c i really have no explanation... The only room that I will let get really dirty is my bedroom. I hate when a kitchen is dirty or a furniture is dusty or just grossness is around except for my room.

4
I have a hard time using a shampoo that is not clear. I'm wondering if it because the shampoo is clear therefore it may be more clarifying... It takes a solid recommendation to make me use otherwise.

3
I LOVE SITTING ON MY FEET! In restaurants, at church, at home, I will find a way. Rarely am i sitting like a normal human being in a chair.

2
Favorite food: Artichoke...enough said

1
I have a fear of tweenkies. Dont know why, dont want to know why, that's just the way it is and I have accepted that.

Thanks Dani!

I got on here to write and I noticed my quirk challenge so I thought I should do that first. I am hitting a big stepping stone tomorrow. I got a real job. I full time job with benefits, a salary, a desk, co-workers... its career not a job now. I have a title that doesnt include the word food. And I'm crazy nervous. This is where the title of my blog means a ton. I really feel right now, no joke, that I am a teenager trying to be an adult. It's not that I question my intelligence. I just dont feel old enough.

I got my diploma in the mail today. It's official. I have passed at life. Living at home with mom and dad has def helped me get back on my feet, but man, I am ready for my own place. I am not sick of them, I love them more than words, but I do not miss the feeling of being a kid under my parents roof. Granted, becoming debt free feels totally possible right now. That is very exciting to me.

I miss my love so much. I only get to talk to him for about 10 minutes a day. It's just long enough to remind him that I love him, tell him that I know that he can really be an engineer, for him to tell me he loves me and a running countdown of when I get to see him next.

God and I are working hard to get where we need to be. I am working at pulling my weight. I feel totally blessed to have received this job and I just want to totally thank Him over and over by working my hardest. Work has a purpose now and I feel great about that. I need a booster, I need friends, some ears to come soon, but God is listening great for the moment. I know the day will come when I'm not lonely anymore. I have become very familiar with the waiting period so I can wait a little longer, I don't mind.

Say a prayer for me when you read this. Nothing serious. Just a helpful boost of confidence. Love you guys for reading this..

A Tablespoon of a Kick in the pants

2008-09-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

Well, since my last post, much has changed.

To catch you up to speed...I had started job searching by the end of May when I got to TN b/c i figured it wasnt going to be easy. And, shoot, it was impossible. I had two absolutely terrible experiences... I will write about them...but needless to say, I'm living back at the parents house and missing Kelsey, missing the label, missing Nashville like CRAZY and hating the "in debt" feeling!

Job searching at home isn't much easier. I applied for a BMW car dealership, a Pet Tech at an animal shelter, and a helper at a bakery. So, Im working at the bakery, Cyd's. I love it, although it is min wage, I love the people and the food and the laid back-ness of it.

I'm still looking for a radio job. I can't give up yet, but I sure wasnt expecting this.

I am loving being home though. Yes it's difficult at times, but you cant complain about being around people you love. I know God wants me here. Thats for sure. I'm just still figuring out why.

I gotta get back to work. I'm on my break at Cyd's and I think we are going to work on some artsy fartsy displays. I will def write more now that I DONT HAVE HOMEWORK!!! lol crazy!!!

Photo Blog

2008-06-10T22:32:00.001-07:00

I'm too tired to type alot so ill put up some pictures of recent happenings...
Pic 1: We have these nasty little fruit flies all the time even when there's no food sitting out. She slapped and got two at once!

Pic 2: Kelsey and I frantically getting her school project done by taking pictures of spilled beans.

Pic 3: This WAS a Cosmo but the dogs that dogsat this weekend def. thought it was a chew toy. Thank u tricia and kelsey for helping me remain calm.

Pic 4: Artsy pictures of my garden...this is parsley

Pic 5: Raspberry Bush

Pic 6: Lettuce

Pic 7: and the not so great picture but awesome sun flower!

These Next pics are the shots decorating my wall...

They were all pictures taken in Nashville so i felt it appropriate. Ok off to bed.

The Start of Week 3

2008-06-02T21:43:00.000-07:00

I was talking to Kelsey tonight and i started out talking all sophisitcated on this blog b/c i wanted people to feel like i has something important to say...now i just wanna make sure that people know i am doing ok and that i can see for myself that i am doing ok. I thought i would post some pictures up here to show you what i am up to and what not...
So Kelsey is taking this digital photography class on the side and we discovered this weekend and mostly yesterday that she needed to get some shoots done for tomorrow night. So we did the bean shots to show focus up front and in the distance. We went down town to see about some city lights and got totally freaked out by our surroundings. Saturday morning we got to go to this farmers market and flea market and the flea market wasnt all that great but i got some sweet potatoes, corn, and baby reds. Then i bought my raspberry bush!!! Oh i have got to get a picture of my potted garden on here for everyone to see! Megan Block would be so proud of me. I have lettuce, peppers, basil, parsley, 2 planters of assorted flowers, a raspberry bush, and i planted 2 giant sunflowers for Kelsey.
Funny story...we had chicken saturday night for dinner and we wanted to have Kelsey new amish sourdough bread that she bought at the farmers market and then she wanted to make her so wonderful seasoned baby reds. Yum...so she had them in the oven and they werent cooking very fast so we decided we would eat and then eat the potatoes when we were all done with everything else. Well... we decided after dinner that we wernt going to eat them until later but we were going to go downtown and shoot pictures. So...we left.....so 90 min later we walk back in our front door and it smelled that usual smell after you bake dinner...and kelsey was like, "man, what did we cook to leave a smell combo like that...chicken, bread, pota...POTATOES!!!" we accidently left the potatoes in the oven at 450 degrees for about 2 hours. And they tasted pretty good...but the principle!! Neither of us remembered and after the initial we laughed about it for a while... it's becuase we got an old fashioned stove and so there's no light to say if it's on or off. thats our rebuttal.

Saturday afternoon we were also looking for a used CD and record store and boy did we find one! Grimey's has everything you could ever dream of! I got a Madonna, Best of Bread, Bon Jovi, and Beegies Record and Kelsey got a $1 Steve Martin Stand up record. Now all we need is a working record player!
Well this weekend Tricia is coming to town and Kelsey is leaving me...so there will be more stories to tell soon. Forrest is doing well. I will have pictures of her, my apartment, and my garden up soon.

Figuring it out...

2008-05-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

So I am in Nashville.... crazy I know. I've been here two weeks tomorrow and it still only feels like a day or two. I'm missing everyone alot lately...all the girls from C'dale, my family, my love. I am one to embrace change, I am, but i guess i just wasn't expecting it to just be like..BHAM! SLAM! CHANGE! I feel like i am handling it well for such an abrupt turn-about.

My apartment...well... I got new carpet which was awesome! But...my bathroom door is a slidding curtian, there was no lock on my sliding glass door. Our shower didn't work for a day, the cabinet below our sink was rotted through, the light was out in the dark alley where our door is, and these last few days we found a leak that was coming from our upstairs neighbor's leaky tub pipes. Everything but the leak has been fixed so far. Every time we tell someone where we live they are like..."Ohhhhh... you live there!?.. Do you feel safe?!" So apparently we live in a kind of shady part of town. We havent had cable yet either. We've been playing phone tag with the cable man for when is a good time for him to come over. We've been watching DVD's on our computers and just hoping there is no big alerting news.

My roommate, Kelsey, is a doll! We are basically the same person when it comes to everything except for beans, chocolate and vanilla, anxiety, cars, and hair color. We cooked when we got bored last week. This weekend we are planning on making a trip into downtown so we can get some decretive pictures for the apt. Another big difference.... i have a duke shirt and she is from the UNC... i'm not really sure i have permission to wear it.

The job at the record label is pretty cool. We are updating and creating social networking pages for all of the artists under the INO Label. We do mail-outs that are crazy time consuming... We've meet really awesome people! Tonight, we were invited to a fund raising dinner for a local radio station where we were fed dinner and then it was a Third Day concert. Last week, Kelsey got to go on a photo shoot with Building 429. and I get to go on when in the middle of June. Philips Craig and Dean... dont tell Dad... its gonna be a little surprise for fathers day.

Target is cool. All i do for 5 hours at a time is ring people up at target. There are so many people... I have fun just creating stories for all the different people that come in. We have probably more fun then we should, but i cant get bored. The discount is great... but i dont think i've worked yet where i havent bought something... mind you...its usually a soda....but still. Yesterday i got a record player for $9! I know its pretty sweet!

As far a me personally... i'm doing alright. I'm looking for guidance daily about where to go to chuch. We went to one last week and I could feel God saying that he didnt need me there. I really want to find somewhere though where i can get plugged in. Kelsey makes fun of me all the time because i have to be doing something... and it's true... im usually doing something...like dishes or cleaning, or creating something or cooking... i really never sit and relax... i think i'm almost kind of scared to... i'll start thinking too much and miss people.... I talk to nathan every night and i'm slowly dying inside to think that i have no idea when i get to see him again. I'm not sure if this is just a girl thing for girls with boyfrinds.. but im getting worried that i might gain this streak of womanly independance and i almost dont want that because i will always need nathan. or i guess i should say that i dont ever what to be ok without him. do you know what i mean??

Forrest is doing well.. she has made a couple friends with the cats that come up to the window out side. At nights we will catch her running from my window to the sliding glass door in the living room and then back to my window... she's not used to so little human contact so shes super anxious to see us when we come home. I'll take pictures and put them up soon.. it's just that the place isnt complete and i want it to look how its supposed to.

please come and visit me. I miss everyone. Nathan said i sound quieter and more sad on the phone. I dont mean to i think im just slowly getting lonely...

2 Days Left

2008-04-30T14:01:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to capture my feelings so I remember what it feels like these last days of class, I really have no desire to remember them. As much as I thought I might be completely relieved,I am more totally anxious and stressed. My allergies make me feel like I have the worst cold in the entire world. When you are allergic to every tree in Illinois, this is how it feels and I just need to get over it.

I only have 1 homework assignment due as a final. Everything else is just studying for two tests that I have next thursday. My room is mostly boxed up. I have enough clothes for a week and I have to wear each of those close once, wash them and then wear them again next week.

I've found myself thinking really hard lately about what it might feel like this time next week or this time two weeks from now. Next week I will be desperately studying to pass a MGMT class and two weeks from now, I will be frantically going through all my belongings in my head and finding out where they are going to go in the apartment.

I got my first graduation card today. This is really surreal to me. I only have 4 days left of work here in carbondale. I have two hours left of class. I have about 48 hours left of outside work. You know the crazy part...it's been sitting in my head.... but i just realized yesterday that tomorrow is my birthday. The sad things.... i only have 9 more days with my best friends... 9 more days.

I praise God for everything He's shown me here. And I praise Him for everything he is going to provide for me. I really hope He doesn't mind that I'm still scared. Happy Birthday Shannon, today! Happy Birthday to me, tomorrow! Thank you for my Mom and Dad Jesus, and thanks for convincing my dad that daughters are way better than sons. :)

"...My cup overfloweth and I care about the stain..."

2008-02-28T03:54:00.000-08:00

I was blessed with the ability to have full confidence in future. I surprise myself many a times with how okay I am with life and with the directions God chooses to take me. Lately, I have been traveling a lot. I was in Louisville, KY, Nashville, TN I'm heading to Atlanta, GA this weekend, then next week I am going to a concert in St. Louis, MO and next weekend we head to New Orleans for our mission trip. God's showing me different opportunities to see what he's doing in the world.

God teaches me daily, I know this, but lately he has been teaching me about how judgmental I am. Women often seem to lean in that persuasion. I was talking to God last night and he showed me the gift he gave me in understanding the heart of people and consoling someone when they need a pick-me-up. Yet my sinful nature has the best of me and I judge. Sometimes I get so mad at my self for selfish emotions. If someone told me to get over myself I would be so hurt, but sometimes I feel just telling myself that I don't get the same affect.

I am in awe every day of Nathan's love for me. I didn't realize I was that likable for one thing, and I know that I am terribly annoying. God just reveals to me everyday little snippets of my future. Nathan and I will joke, or make decisions, or he'll grab my hand and I feel God saying, "See, this is just a preview of the amazing things I have in store for you and Nathan." I'm so blessed and most of the time it surpasses me and I don't give a rip.

I'll finish with a quote that I heard in the Caedmon's Call song I heard:
"...My cup overfloweth and I care about the stain..."

The aTypical Introduction

2008-01-12T23:59:00.000-08:00

An attempt to understand a girl's mind is so difficult for a man. We give them crap for trying and go on and on about how they have the slightest idea. Then we give a 30 second explanation of a man in a nutshell, like they are single-celled organisms with protruding extremities (including the head) even they have little control over.

I'm 21, all-american, been a girl, well, quite a while, and to explain a female is something i wouldn't even begin to stubble over. I'm attempting this starting now because I'm at that time where everything's happening. That whole, "Where will you be in five years?" question has answers potentially completely opposite to the now. I graduate in 4 months. I get my first apartments. God willing, I'll be married in two years, and sure before that five year hash mark my children will be in the picture.

Now, I'm not going at this blindly. I have the perfect handbook, the Bible. I have many imperfect, yet discerning examples in my mother, grandmothers, and so on and so forth. I have faith in God that He has the lesson plan charted with a ruler in one hand and a gold star in the other.

I am interested to see on paper, the turn out. So, I'm starting now. I've put the pen to the paper. I know the picture is going to be what God aims to post on his 'fridge, so, Im going to see what dot i hit next. You can watch if you want, but Im looking to grow closer to Christ, my boyfriend/husband, my family, and myself.