A Few Things About Indiana

I'm here!
It's weird!
Really overwhelming.... but making me lean more than ever on my Savior.

Some Things:

1. It's hot.
2. It's humid.
3.  It's beautiful... but totally different beautiful than Idaho beautiful.
4. The water is warm enough to go floating in. We went floating....
5. I am alive.
6. I am getting over the first shock.... slowly but surely.
7. Christ is my beloved.... He is holding me.
8. "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me...."
9. I start training on Monday....
10. "“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Thank you for your prayers and please PALEASE keep praying!
It really does make a difference!

Toodles for now!

On My Way....

I'm sitting in the Denver Airport.... listening to children argue.
Holding back tears.
Praying. 

I really thought I was prepared for this....
After months of getting ready, weeks of feeling pensive, nervous, and emotional.... I thought I was ready.

But I'm not.
I am feeling overwhelmed with how huge and scary this all is.
I am trying to imagine life without my precious family. 
I am suddenly aware that I won't be flying back next week.
I am realizing how very long a year is.
I am scared.


I can't do this.


But I don't have to. 


God didn't take me this far to have me have a melt-down in the airport. 
HE has a plan.
HE has a purpose. 
HE is holding me.

I am just His vessel. 

I am super weak.
Weaker than I ever though possible.... but He is strong.

I have been so blessed.
My life has been so wonderful.

I had a comfort zone.... it was perfect.
God's pushing me out of it.
It hurts.
But a good, necessary pain.

A pain that brings me to the foot of the cross.

I know God has great plans for this year....
I know that there will be hard times, but I know that He will carry me.

My plane is starting to load.... Next up, Indiana.

Please pray for me!

And... could you pray I stop crying?
It's getting awkward.

Friendship = Da Bomb

I had an AWESOME time with some girls  yesterday!

I am going to miss them a ton!!!!

It seems like just yesterday we were little girls... 

I have SO many wonderful memories with them!

What's with all this "growing up" stuff?!?!?!?

I think I've had enough!

Now, Beth and Tiff both have babies... and husbands. 

We are old.

We are busy.

Clare is getting married and moving.

I am moving.

Certain individuals are graying.

I lied on that last part. 

Truly....

We've been through a lot together. 

They have been there for me SO many times.

We have done SO many crazy/stupid/awesome thing together.

Yesterday, we got to have the whole clan (+Babies.) together for a picnic.

I love these girls so much! 

They are treasures!!!!!!!

Saying good-bye to them hurt. 

I love them.

I will miss them!!!!

Two Days!

Wow.

Two tiny winy little days.
:(
:)
:'(
:D

Wow.

Jo and Beth just took me for a "de-stresser" date!
Not that I'm stressed or anything... :-/

We went to coffee....

Got ice-cream.

Went to a movie!

It is illegal to take pictures during a movie.... :)

Shopped!

We were on our way to Madagascar 3.... so we couldn't resist  the photo opportunity. 

It was wonderful.
Relaxing.
Sweet.
Etc.

They are too good to me.

I love them!!!

Tomorrow morning is my last time at Java Bear.
*Sniff.
I love that place!!
So.
Much.

Its crazy what a huge part in my life it has had!

This job has seen me through a lot..

In the last four years so much has happened.

I've changed SO much.

I've learned SO much.

I've messed up SO much.

It's seen me through a lot.

I don't really want to say goodbye.
At.
All.

But. I get to spend one last morning making coffee.
One last morning with my boss....
Who happens to be pretty awesome!
One more morning drinking coffee!

Two days!!!!!!!!!!!

Whoooooooo......

Wait, Who's Leaving?!?!?!?!

Dude!!!!

Someone is seriously slacking in the blogging department!!!!!!

HELLOOOOOOO!

Oh, wait! That's my fault?!?!?!

I am so sorry....

Truth is....
I have been a wee bit too busy to sit on the computer and write a blog.

Tomorrow.... it will be one week till I leave.
In case you aren't a pro at math... that means I leave in EIGHT days!!!!!!!
(If you don't know where I'm going, you should click this.... )

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Snifff....
YAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whaaaa.......
THANK You LORD!!!!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
WhOOOOOOOt!!!!!!!!!!

Ya..... talk about mixed emotions!

I kinda feel like a roller-coaster.....
YAY, sniff, YAY, sniff......

It gets a bit ridiculous!

I am SO excited.
I am SO anxious to leave and begin this awesome adventure!
I have seen God confirm this SO many times and know that this is of Him!

But.

When I hug my little siblings goodnight.... it gets a bit harder.
When I sit back and listen to my family's crazy antics.... I start missing home.
When I start or get involved in my fam's craziness.... I get an ache in my stomach.
When I get a coffee at Java Bear.... I have to remind myself why I am going.
When my niece gives me kisses and says, "Peeez...." I melt... into a glob of glue that can never be moved.
When I eat one of my mom's amazing "health-nutish concoctions," I grab the  banister, never to let go.

A week is not a lot of time....
At.All.

I started packing.
Whoa.
Packing for a year is no easy task.

I put pretty much all of my clothes into two suitcases.....
I didn't really think through what I would wear for the next week.
Hmm, PJ's are in style now, right?!?!

I think the fact that I am leaving is "trying" to hit me.
It is SO not real yet.
I know I'm going.... but I don't know!
Do you understand?
I'm packing, preparing, praying.... but wow, I'm going to actually GO!
Soon!
Really?

I had to say goodbye to a dear friend on Tuesday.
She left for a Mission Trip and I will leave while she's gone.
It was sad.
But, it isn't real that I won''t see her for quite a while.

I went on a date with my little bro, Pete.... it was pretty awesome!
We went to coffee.... talked about our greatest secrets.
Talked about how much I will miss him, and vice versa.
I really will miss that little guy.
He isn't going to be little when I get home.
But that still isn't a reality.

I worked my last afternoon shift at Java Bear.
It was so sad to say goodbye to my customers.
I am pretty attached to that little place!
As I told my favorites that I wouldn't be back.... I realized how un-real that was to me.

Time is truly flying by..... I keep getting surprised with how few days I have left.

I am excited!
SO excited!

But.... it's not really real.
Yet!

Toodles for now!

"Trust in the Lord with ALL thine heart...."

Morning Musings.....

It's 6:30am.
I've been up for two and a half hours.

FYI....
4am is not a healthy time to wake up.

I really love mornings.
TONS!
It's so beautiful and peaceful.

When you wake up early you get so much more out of your day.... etc.

I've been waking up at 5am pretty regularly because of work and have loved it!

BUT.  4am is too early.

Whew.

I was thinking through my day....
I'm slightly (Is that possible?) stoked!
.... I'm SUPER stoked!

- I am working the morning shift..... attempting to brighten the sluggish/sleepy/grumpy customers.
Believe me, it takes a lot of energy!

- Maybe I'll try a shot of espresso.... hmmm.

- I have a walking/talking date with Marian when I get home.

- I'm going to sit in the sunshine with Beth and EM.

 - I get to be with my cousin!

- I will see some awesome girlfriends!!!!!!!!!
*That I miss SO much... this is sad since I haven't even left yet!

- I feel like cooking something....

- I shall drink an enormous cup of tea!

- I will eat.

- I think I will pour some water down my brother's shirt....

- AND we are going to play volleyball at open gym!!!

Are you jealous?

Plan a year long trip.... it makes you take time to enjoy the little things!

Happy Tuesday, people!

What I Love About Sunday!!!!!

1. Church!!!!
I love our little church....
I love knowing everyone....
I love singing to the Lord!
I love the precious little girls that sang...
I love my little bro that sits beside me!

2. Sleeping in... and having my coffee in bed!

3. Seeing engagement rings!

4. Having friends over!!!!!!

5. Food!!!!!!

6. Volleyball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"That's what I love about Sunday...."

What Up?

- Nobody panic..... but on Friday, there were a bunch of guys in camo, with guns, running around shooting each other. 

It was scary. 

Marian and I hid in our bedroom. 

With dried mango(Jimmy spoiled me with a HUGE bag!!!)... watching movies.

By the way.... We never, EVER watch movies in the middle of the day.

Except for back in high-school when a volleyball tournament took every ounce of energy I had.

Or the time I was sick.

But other than that....

We NEVER watch movies in the middle of the day.

It was fun....

A ton of fun....

A memory.

I felt like a bum.

But it was fun!

The boys had a bunch of guys over for air soft.

I have concluded that between 5-13 is an adorable age for boys.

They try to act macho. 

They try to act old.

They are still babies.

I love them.

- Beth an I have been working on our tan....

Oh ya!

- I had an AMAZING birthday!

There were SO many sweet things that people did!!!!

Like this.

THIS. WAS. AMAZING!

Beyond amazing. 

I seriously almost passed out from over-exposure to awesome! 

Thank you, Mrs Glenn!

And this.

Peter had words put on fabric and had Jo help him sew it onto the softest, most amazing blanket ever!!!!

I love it!

It makes me SO happy!

No Pete.... YOU da BOMB!!!!!!

I love you!

And a bunch of other things like the girls taking me to town for lunch, shopping, etc, Em time, Marian making me a headband, Jimmy's mango's, mom's sweet gifts, a customer who made me clip-on earrings, pizza, etc.... I got severely spoiled by everyone!

- I have worked at Java Bear for four years now....

I am still not tired of it.
Still have yet to have a truly "rude" customer!

Still lovin coffee!

- I taught Em how to do sit-ups.... you're never too young or too old for fitness, folks!

-I'm leaving in 26 days.

Wow.

- One of my dearest friends graduated.

Nikki seriously rocks my socks!

We played volleyball together....

We won first in our tournament together.

She is an AMAZING athlete.

End of story.

Except there's more.

Nikki gives all glory to God for her mad athletic skills.

And there is still more.

Nikki did something bad to her knee. 

So bad that I can't remember what it's called.

She had to have a surgery. 

She had to miss out on her last year of volleyball.

Through more pain and trials than I can even imagine, Nikki has shined for the Lord.

She has inspired myself and so many others.

I am so blessed to be her friend.

I love her and  am SO excited to see what God will do with her life!!!!

- BIG STORY OF THE DAY!!!!!!

I saved it for last.... cause it's the greatest thing ever!!!!

One of my best friends in the world....

Is.

Engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(*Insert tears and screaming*)

Wasn't it just yesterday we were running around playing hot lava?

It couldn't have been that long ago when we had that ridiculous "match making" list.

We grew up together....

We did EVERYTHING  together.

We had a ton of "first time" experiences together.

I love her SO much!

I thought I had made it clear that I'm leaving for a year, therefore they could just simmer down and wait till I get back... but, we all know how that goes.

Their love story is so perfect for them and seeing them together makes me happier than any blog could tell!

I am SO excited for them both!

- People. 

I love weddings. 

Love marriage.

It is such a beautiful thing....

But please, PLEASE stop planning your weddings for when I'm gone.

Seriously, another year isn't going to hurt any one!

 Or is it???