The "Back To's"

What a hectic world we live in :)

Once Labor Day was over, most of the tourists started to filter out of town. The seasonal people are starting to trickle back down south, and traffic is starting to lighten up a little. It gets crazy once five o'clock hits, but for the most part it's not too bad. School, sports, and regular schedules have started and town really feels a bit more mellow. And constricting. Its getting dark sooner, there's a bit of a nip in the air, and the fall winds have arrived. Not to mention the trees already think its fall. *Sigh* If only summer would stay a bit longer..

Back to school means back to AWANA for us. No, we don't have children yet, but we both love them dearly and help with many of the children's programs at church. So, Wednesday nights we go to help out with the program. AWANA stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, and serves as a training tool where students memorize scripture, play games, and hear a Bible story every week. It is a huge outreach to the community, as one third to half of the students who come otherwise don't go to church. Its a great experience though, and its a great opportunity for us to just love on these kids.
Check it out at the official site: http://awana.org/

Also, Caleb's aunt and uncle went back to the Philippines this week after being on furlough for the summer. Because they work at a theological college, they have summers off and it works out for them to come back home. It has been great to see them throughout the summer and spend time with them.

Other than that, we haven't been up to much except work and spending what little extra time we have with each other, family and friends. We do get to participate in a Bible study with other young adults around our age every week, but now that its dark and its too cold to meet at the beach, the group will be meeting at our house. I love having people over. We have just under 3,000 sq ft of house, so we definitely have room for quite a few people. It also makes the house not feel as empty ;) But we love getting together with the group, are excited that it is growing, and glad we can host them for the colder months. The number has been consistently around twenty people.. so it'll be a squeeze for our living room,.. good thing we like each other ;)

It's a Monday.. err.. Tuesday

Well, as I sit here in the office, I face the reality that our weekend has come to a close. What a weekend, though.. we definitely managed to stay busy. My best friend from high school and her boyfriend came to visit and we were all excited.

Friday started out with me at work, and ended with a late night drive out to the state park and a movie. Saturday we took our friends to a taxidermy shop and to the state park so they could see it in the daylight. Sunday was church and we didn't really do a whole lot. Monday we went out to my parents' house, drove out to a peninsula southwest of town, explored some more, and then retreated back to the house. I was sad to leave for work this morning knowing they'd be gone when I got home, but it was a great weekend. Hopefully they can come up again this summer (when there's a lot more to do in this town!)

So now as I face the reality that its Tuesday (even though it feels like a Monday), my mind is once again set on school and work, and of course, the weekend! Haha.. yes, we have plans yet again for this weekend; a ministry conference! Last year it was awesome, and I can't wait to see how it will go this year.We're not quite sure what we're doing about staying overnight yet, but we have a few options. We'll figure it out :)

On that note, I'm off for a while. I might stop back later, if not, I'll probably be back Friday.

Have a good week! :)

"Jesus Loves Me.... Hallelujah!!"

This area is overwhelming. First, it's huge, and I'm a little country girl used to open spaces. Second, there's sooo many people. Third, although both of the previous statements are true; I love it.

Today was 60 degrees and sunny. We were playing with the kids outside in t-shirts, and loving it. There were pancakes, family, friends, a ninja themed birthday party, and a trip to Georgetown. Everything was great. I'm getting used to hearing people speak in Albanian, and loving being able to watch their exchanges. It gives me great joy to simply not understand the language and force myself to try and understand other things instead; body language, simple joys, and the way some of the family interacts. During the birthday party today, one of the men visiting came over, gestured toward me while speaking to someone else, and then that man turned to me and told me what had just been spoken in a language I didn't understand (besides the giant grin on the mans face); that man really liked me because every time he saw me I had a big smile, and he liked that. That made my heart happy. We couldn't understand each other verbally, but we did in a different way. For the record.. about the man who complimented my smile, his eyes light up when he smiles, and his smile gets bigger and his eyes get brighter when he is interacting with one of the kids. That makes me smile.

Things feel different here, and I am overwhelmed with a sense of family. There's family visiting, friends, and a college student who goes to the local university all here. It doesn't seem to matter where we all come from, or how different we are, everyone just carries on together. And in my opinion, that is how it should be. Not that I don't feel a sense of family with my family in Michigan, but this is somehow different, because of the different people.. ya know..?

Something else that overwhelms me is how I love being with the kids, and seeing how Caleb loves being with them too. It makes me anxious for one (or.. a few..) of our own, even though I know its not a good idea for us to have any right now. That's another waiting game. In His time.. it will happen, we know that :) But we also know that it's not a crime to look forward to it very much :)

Another highlight of the night was dinner, and the singing/performing of the youngest kid. This little girl was half naked, and kept running across the back of a few chairs (between a few people who were feeding her different things) singing her own rendition of Jesus Loves Me and the Hallelujah Chorus. It went something like "...Jesus loves me this I know...   Hallelujah!!!!..." and on & on she went. It was hilarious and encouraging all at the same time. Seeing someone that small singing about Jesus loving them is so precious. Lets just say that it didn't help me being anxious at all. "In His time.."

Well, before I post pictures, I'll tell you what tomorrow may bring. As far as we know, our godson's baptism is in the morning, brunch after that, and then we might go to a museum. We'll see how the day goes, and I'll let you know.

 I'm not sure who was having more fun, my husband or the kids ;) 

 Little ninjas.. all in a row

 Georgetown :)

Someone stole my camera.. hm.. I have no idea who it was.. ;)

Turkey and Shopping.. aka Thanksgiving

Tonight is one of those nights that no matter how hard I try to clear my mind and go to sleep, I can't fall asleep for anything. My husband sound asleep next to me, and I lying there wide awake... that has become too familiar of a scenario. So here I find myself in the kitchen, in my slippers, sweater, and extra warm pants (its really cold in this house at night!), with a cup of sleepy time tea. I sure hope it works tonight.

This weekend is going to be a whirlwind for sure, so I'd like to get enough sleep tonight that it tides me over and I don't get too worn out. Tomorrow we head out across state to my hometown for a few days. While there, we will see most of both parents' sides, and my husbands grandparents on his moms side. That will be Thursday, though. Tomorrow promises me lots of laundry and packing until we pick my sister up from school and embark on our three hour drive. Friday will be interesting.. Caleb's family has always went shopping on black Friday, and due to their excitement, I went last year as well. I was across state, so I went to a different shopping town than they did, and the two experiences couldn't be more different. Where I went was as calm as could be. People weren't stealing things out of each others carts, fighting, going crazy, etc. I was in an out of most stores in under a half hour. But Caleb's experience on the other hand, was pretty... intense. He was standing in line in one store while watching a man a few lines over drink a fifth of rum. When confronted by the authorities, this man proceeded to try and fight with the cops, complete with throwing a few punches. Really? Is it really worth that much? I couldn't believe some of the stories I heard. Last year during a conversation with my older brother, I told him I was thinking about doing the black Friday shopping and he very enthusiastically asked me why and what I was thinking. He told me that people get killed, trampled, fight, etc., and I told him that I just wanted to experience the madness. He told me I was nuts and to be careful. Well, now I'm hooked. Maybe its because the town I shopped in wasn't the typical madhouse, but either way, Caleb and I will be two of the crazy people shopping early Friday morning. And, just to clarify, we'll be shopping on the other side of the state, the town that wasn't a crazy madhouse =)

Something to keep in mind while reading this though, is that the only reason we know when black Friday is, is because of the holiday that it proceeds; Thanksgiving. This year as you celebrate, think about the things you are thankful for; family, friends, a home, food, clothes, freedom, and so many of the other things we take for granted so often. Thanksgiving is too often associated with a meal where many of us gorge ourselves, and not to be thankful for the little things. So this year as you overload on turkey, potatoes, and pumpkin pie, be thankful for the other little (and big!) things you have been blessed with. I'm so excited to be able to see my family. Being thankful for them is something I have definitely done more of since I moved three hours away. All of a sudden I couldn't drive across town, or some short distance, and see them. Our time together is limited to a few short hours every few months. Let me tell you, that was an adjustment. So, this year as I prepare to see them for this holiday, I am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to travel, for the opportunity to be able to spend time with them for yet another holiday, and for the opportunity to just relax in an atmosphere that brings back so many good memories.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Stay safe and warm, and have a truly blessed and thankful weekend!