So...sometimes things stay the same and sometimes it appears as if the winds of change are blowing. Well, here, there seems to be a change in the wind.

I have a job interview in about a week and a half. Where, you ask? Well, my friend, in North Carolina. :) It's a job that I think would be very difficult and challenging, but perhaps rewarding at the same time. It's a job I need to find out a little more about and get a sense of the campus. It would be working at a children's home in NC...a children's home for sexually abused kids.

Challenging? Very.
Worthwhile? Very.
Do I think I can do it? Only by the grace of God.

There hasn't been a job offer yet, but the week after next, I will be taking off to head east again for a few days while I check that out as well as to discover if I would love that area of the States just as much as I think I will. :)

I would appreciate your prayers on this and for God's wisdom. :)

Here's what I've been up to for the past few days...it's been busy!


Here it is. The project I have been working on for the last several days...our garage.

I painted the one wall as a shock factor for Dad. But it started out white.

Like I said, it's the prettiest garage in the neighborhood!

The finished product.

This little girl is a ray of sunshine. It's been fun hanging out with her!

Tonight I got to just enjoy my hometown a bit.

This is Iowa. My home...regardless of where I live.

You know, God is pretty amazing. Cliche, I know. But true nonetheless. What makes me say that? Well, my friend...today in the midst of many hours of painting our garage (which, by the way, we now have the prettiest garage in the neighborhood!), I looked out toward the pond and cornfield beyond it...and shockingly enough, it was getting ready to rain. However, this is a normal thing anymore and not what caught my eye. What captured me and awed me was the color of the sky. It was the most stunning shade of blue gray that I have ever seen. I just wanted to stare at it and soak it in and just almost take a bath in it, it was that beautiful.

Yet another of many such instances throughout the years that cause me to say that my God is a fantastic Artist. Who would think to create such spectacular colors and creatures and sunsets and...well, I mean, really, who would think to give a duck orange feet? Only Someone incredibly creative and artistic (with quite the sense of humor at that!).

It seems that when I paint, I take on the nature of a child...getting more paint on me than on the walls. Today, Mom and I decided we were going to take on the garage. So we settled on a beautiful shade of blue and simply for a shock factor for Dad (he had no idea we were doing it today), I painted one of the walls. If you've seen Mom's car, Dori, then you know what color the garage is...I'm convinced she won't be able to find her car once its all painted...Dori will just blend right in. :)

In other news, my temp job ended today and I guess I am hoping for another until something permanent falls in place. I'm currently focusing all my energy on finding a job in Boone, NC...so if you know of anything there, let me know! I figure I love the mountains, it has all the seasons, the beach is only a few hours away, and I have friends within a couple hours of there...I'm young, single, and ready for something new...so why not!? :) If God closes that door, so be it...but for now, that's where I'm looking. Just waiting...ah, the waiting game...it is one game that I'm not sure is EVER fun!

Eric and Bekah. Aren't they a beautiful couple?

Sisters-in-law. :) Bekah and Lisa.

Brothers. Eric and Mark.

All set up and waiting for the people.

The Fisher guys.


What a good looking group. ;)

Walking down the isle...

Pre-wedding fun and pics.

Eric and the girls. :)

Bekah and the boys. :)

Bekah and all her girls.

Bekah and her bridesmaids...Melissa (her sister), Lisa (her sis-in-law), and me.

Me and my Mon Amie.

Pretty girls.

The dads...waiting.

The ceremony.

Wow.

The Spartan is cheering her on. She always was a mischievous one!

The groom's cake. (Eric is from Michigan.)

Sweet Victoria and me.

Anthony and Tomato.

Beautiful Bekah and Cute Karin.

Us CIU girls...Mon Amie, Victoria, me, Bekah, Karin, Steph, and Laurie.
Such great friends. I love these girls.

Aren't they cute? Throwing the bouquet.

Mon Amie and Tomato.

Karin and Mon Amie, waiting for the bride and groom....

The pretty bride and groom leaving the church.

My friend Karin's favorite proof that I was a "girly-girl" for at least part of the day.

After the wedding and hanging out with the Fisher's at their cabin, we went to the Cocke County Fair for a fun filled evening.

We thought this an odd twist on the "Win a Goldfish Game"...toss a ring around the duck and win a rabbit!

YUM! Funnel cakes at the fair!

Not healthy at all. But really tasty. Between the three of us, we devoured it.

The "Best of Show" winner for floral arrangements. We were very impressed. :)

We decided we needed this giraffe for Bekah...since she didn't get to go to the fair on her wedding day. So, we had to rescue him by fishing...I caught three sharks and saved him from certain doom.

Karin and I saved him and named him "Fish". Very fitting since we both fished for him and he will be a Fisher (Eric and Bekah).

The "Cocke County Fair"...

Mmm. Chicken.

I made it. I'm in TN for my roomie's wedding.

It was a long drive, but it went by pretty quickly overall. It was beautiful. I always wish someone were with me on that drive because it's so lovely. I want to climb out of my car and weave my way up to the top of one of those mountains and just be for awhile. Maybe someday. :)

Tomorrow is the big day. Everything is set. Everyone will look beautiful. And it will be wonderful. But for now...it's time for bed. :)

So tomorrow I'm heading out for what is my last trip east for awhile. My roommate from this past year, Bekah, is getting married! I'm breaking the drive up on the way there...but on Sunday, I've got 13 hours in the car by my lonesome. Needless to say, I would appreciate any prayers and/or phone calls that day as I am sure to be on the road! :)

As for the flashback...this comes from none other than the house of Mon Amie when I was still in Cola. My last Sunday at their house, her sister, Hope, was in town. We ate a very healthy meal including this spicy butternut squash thing. I have to confess I was skeptical about it. But then, when you have a vegetable (?) that when it is cut up looks like a hook and you can can say "aye" like a pirate at the picture taking...well, it just can't be all that bad. AND for an added bonus...apparently you can eat the skin.

"AYE!"

I pulled an all-nighter last night.
And my school work is now finished!
However, I misunderstood some dates.
So my official graduation date has been pushed back.
Until December.
But the work is all done.

It is such a relief to be done.
I had no idea what stress it was causing me until today.
Though I'm sure the snacking to stay awake made me heavier.
I feel so much lighter.

Now I can read whatever I want.

And I'm taking suggestions...
Let me know if you have any. :)

Tonight I was sitting down to write my final research paper for this degree I have been working on for the past two years. I'm still not entirely sure what my topic is which easily leads to distractions.

I have had a lot on my mind lately. Moving. Finding a job. Starting a temp job. Finishing homework. Connecting with friends. All of it has led to a struggle inside me. Is God really as good as I know in my head He is? I know the Jesus answer as well as any other person. But quite frankly, in the sweat, blood, and tears of this life, the "Jesus answer" doesn't always cut it. I don't do well with "trite" answers. Jesus is far more than the "trite" answers we hand out to everyone. That is the Jesus I am after. The One who can put up with my stubbornness, my questions, my insecurities, my tears, and my doubts.

Sometimes answers don't come. Or sometimes they are delayed...indefinitely. Sometimes, He pulls back and watches with the intensity of a Father whose child is learning to walk. Sometimes we fall and He won't come to the rescue, but rather will see if we will keep going simply because we love Him that much and want to reach Him.

"There are times in life when all you can do is gather up everything you know to be true and simply get back up and keep running. Often we are gifted with moments of grace, when Christ's presence seems very near, and at other moments we just keep running because God is worth it.

"That reality is part of our lives here on this planet. Falling is part of the race. There will be moments when our love for God will be tested in a furnace. Will we still love Him even when He doesn't do what we ask Him to do?"
- Sheila Walsh, "All that Really Matters"

Back to my paper...

I took a temp job
Just something to bide the time
Until something permanent comes along
A secretary of sorts
Just for a month

We'll see what happens next

This evening I went fishing
With my niece
I caught 4 fish
She caught 1
And I took my shoes off
The plush grass quenching the longing of my feet
With no fear of fire ants
It was beautiful

For just a few moments
All the cares of the world slipped away
As I enjoyed just being
With my niece

Thank You for a sweet escape
Even if just for a short time

I have a confession to make.
It is hard not knowing what is next.
Not what is down the road.
Not what is going on in a month.
But what I am going to do tomorrow.
Or next week.

I still have no job.
Several applications in.
But no news.

It is getting harder.
Which is making me trust more.
But is filling my mind with so many questions.

Do I get a temp job?
Do I get a temp place of my own?
Do I wait until it finally comes along?
What is "it"?
Will I know "it" when it does come along?

I just don't know the right answer right now.
And that is harder than anything.
I need a job.
He knows I need a job.
I'm open to going just about anywhere in the world.
Shouldn't that make it all that much easier?
But it doesn't.

It is just hard.
Not knowing.
Just waiting.
With bills stacking up.
He will provide.

I just hope it is soon.

Being home for 24 hours now, I have had time to consider a few things.

• It is really nice not to wake up to cockroaches crawling across me
• Drivers here are lovely
• I love seeing the stars in the Iowa sky
• It's great to be able to get a haircut finally
• Sweet corn is AMAZING
• I really love coming home

However, being away, I have also realized a few things.

• I miss my friends in Cola
• There were some good eating establishments in Cola
• I miss my friends in Cola

So that's really about all I've come up with. It's been a jam packed 24 hours. Hopefully in the upcoming days I'll come up with more. :)

We made it. We are home. Back in the land of corn and good drivers. Brina came down Friday and stayed with me and we began our trip back to Iowa on Monday morning. Here are some pics from the trip!! Enjoy. :)


I just realized I put these pics up in backwards order. We stopped over last night in Indy to see our friend Susie and her family. :) Last time the three of us were together, this little one was still in Susie's belly. :)

This is one HOT cat. If you look closely you can see it. Milo says "HOT" on his side.

It was a late girl's night for us old folks. :) Brina and I.

While in Indy, we committed some serious gluttony at the Cheesecake Factory.

Daughter and mother. :)

Jim and A on the carousel.

Pretty butterflies in the garden.

Brina and I went to Charleston for the day on Saturday.

We went to Magnolia Plantation near Charleston for part of the day.

It rained a lot while we were at the plantation.

Pretty flowers on the plantation.

Mon Amie and me.

The last dinner with at Santa Fe with the Cola Crew.
(L-R: Me, Canas, Paul, Mon Amie, Tomato, RJ, Teri)
I love you guys and miss you already!