Famine

Josh and I participated last weekend in 30 Hour Famine. For those of you who haven't heard this is a really great youth event written by World Vision. The kids collect money/sponsors before the event and agree to fast for 30 hours. (Mine was more like a 24 hour famine because I can't do math.) During the weekend there are activities to teach about the AIDS crisis and poverty in developing countries as well as Bible studies to dig into what Jesus had to say about these things. We had 10 youth involved and they raised a total of $773.03! This will first be matched by a government grant then go to World Vision. We also held a food drive over the weekend and filled a car with canned goods that will go to organizations that help those in the community.


The paper clip project: we strung together 1200 paperclips. This represents the number of children 5 & under who die from hunger related diseases in one hour.

My time is worth something too

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The Case of the Missing Applications
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Bah! Cracker Barrel

So, I had an interview today with Cracker Barrel. (For those of you wondering I do not know yet if I got the job.) The job drama really needs to end at some point because it's getting tiring. Let me explain: Since probably January I have been looking for a part time job. The nutshell version of why is that I currently do not work full time and Josh and I could really use a full time income. I haven't been going crazy about it, but I have put my application in a several places to work evenings and occasional weekends. My biggest pet peeve about the whole thing is that NO ONE calls back. Not even to say, I'm sorry but we don't like you. My second pet peeve is that almost everyone has told me that I need to have "open availability", which basically means you can work when we say you work. Why is this? There are people in this world, this city even, who work two jobs.

Enter, Cracker Barrel.
When I dropped off my application, the girl I talked to said I could call, blah, blah, blah. So the following Monday I phoned and talked to a manager. He talked like he hadn't seen my application, but said I could come in for an interview that afternoon.

• Fiasco #1 - didn't know the name of the person I talked to!
• They finally decided it must have been ____. He wasn't there. I waited around for ten minutes for a different manager to be available.
• She couldn't find my application. I filled out another.
  
• In the shortest interview ever, she said my work history looked good, but their latest shift started at 5:00 (I was looking for 6:00).
• Thank you, good-bye, one week passes

• I call back to say that I can now be available at 5:00 (aka I finally caved).
• She's not in so the transfer me to another manager.
• He says I need to call back and talk to her. Did so. Set up another interview - today.
  

• Fiasco #2 - I arrive armed with a name, to learn that she's not there! They try to find another manager.
• After 15 minutes of standing around, during which time the shift had changed, I ask again. They search for manager again.
  
• New manager asks my name to pull my application
• Can't find it ... AGAIN!
  
• Fill out third application and have interview
• He feels that I would be better suited to retail (aka the store part of Cracker Barrel) rather than a server. Whatever.
  
• Now have another interview on Thursday

All I have to say is they better know where my application is on Thursday.

The Forest

Josh came home the other night and suggested we go to for a hike. I have been wanting to visit a state park not far from us for a couple of years now. Josh said he would go with me, but wasn't particularly enthusiastic. This is why I was impressed that me made the suggestion. So, we packed up, remembered to take the camera, and went on little adventure. :)

The trees were all flowering and gorgeous. The area is a lot bigger than I realized. We only explored a little bit of it, so we'll probably go back sometime. Anyone want to come along?

Movie Madness

So, this past weekend I watched a couple movies that I thought were worth mentioning. The first is August Rush. Wow, this movie was great. Josh and I watched it together (so it's not just a chick flick). The film itself is quite good. I was expecting a little cheese, but it's really not like that. The music is really what blew me away though. I was drawn in the moment the main actress brought out a cello. (insert sigh of wistfulness). Not only that, but Josh and I both liked the sound track enough that we'll probably end up purchasing it. And that's saying something because we don't really share the same taste in music.

Bottom Line: See the movie!


I also watched an movie on ABC Family called Princess. I like ABC Family pretty well and I'd been seeing previews for it all week. I think what caught my attention was the song they played with it by a band called Room for Two. (I had never heard of them, but again - sucker for music.) I really should have just looked the band up on i-Tunes. The movie was sad - not the storyline mind you, the movie itself. It had enough of a mystery to it that I wanted to see the end. But when they finally revealed what was going on, it was pretty lame.

Bottom Line: You might lose a few brain cells.

It's a Girl!

Just because I'm cool. Okay, well, not really. But these are the invitations I made for the baby shower coming up. They turned out better than I expected, so I thought I'd share. :)

Into the Wild

This week Josh and I decided to enjoy the beautiful weather. We went out to one of the trails by the lake and decided to go for a walk: get a little exercise, enjoy each others company. We ended up on the trail that goes around the lake, so we decided to just go for it. It was gorgeous underneath all the trees, but when we got to the other side of the lake out in the sun I started dragging a little. But we made it! 4.8 Miles. I think it took us about two hours.

Things that I noticed on the trip:
1) It's a long way around the lake!
2) Our lake is really randomly placed in the very center of town
3) Baby geese and what we thought to be a baby heron
4) Baby birds of some kind and and we got to see instinct in action when the Mama bird tried to distract us and lead us away from her young. (We didn't hang around too long 'cause she was nervous to have us there.)
5) A Durkey!
There was this duck that had a crazy looking bill. It truly looked like a cross between a duck and a turkey. I didn't know such a thing existed. :) Just one more reason that I wish I had my camera with me.
6) And finally what I thought was a duck eating the head of another dead duck, but then it was apparently trying to drown the other duck because it wasn't really dead. Come to find out they were mating.
7) I'm so not a country girl



Another wild part of my week. My mighty hunter went out and got him a turkey. Thankfully he didn't bring it home like that. Basically he cut out the breast meat and brought it home. He pretty much took care of it. (It wasn't bloody, but did smell a little funky) I helped him bag it up tonight to put in the freezer. So I guess I'm gonna have to learn what to do with it. It should be easier than with venison, which I'm sure will also come. Did I mention I'm not a country girl? I totally cook with raw meat all the time, but somehow I was having trouble seeing it the same way. I'm trying! :) Good job, babe!

A House of Peace

Yesterday, my friends Emily and Dusty had a wedding shower. We drove down and had a lot of fun seeing friends from college.

After we had yummy cupcakes and they opened all the gifts, they had a special prayer time for the soon-to-be newlyweds. It was really special. One phrase that really stood out to me was
that God would make their home a house of peace. It struck me as something that I so desire. I want our home to be a place of peace, first of all for Josh and I. I'd love to be able to come home and feel that sense of peace. But I also want our home to be that for those who come to visit.

This was reinforced by a visit to Dave & Jen. :) I don't think we had seen them since the wedding and it was a great visit. All through college, we would go to Bible study there during the week. But it really became much more than that. Dave and Jen had a gift for hospitality. They always made us feel so welcome. If I was ever homesick or tired of dorm life or stressed out from all the homework, I could go over and have a safe place to retreat. A place of peace. I'm not sure they even know how much that meant. But I am so thankful.

I would love for our home to be that kind of haven. A peace brought about from the presence of God.

Going Batty

Today was one of those Sundays when I may have volunteered for too much. Josh and I were scheduled to do set-up/tear-down today. Basically, our church meets in a elementary school gym, so once a month we help get everything ... well, set-up and torn down obviously. Which means we have to get there at 7:30. (I'm so not a morning person. I can't believe Josh frequently has to be at work at 7:00 am). And I also volunteered to help a friend do the Preschool class today, so as soon as the gym was set up I hurried off to help set everything up for that. The class itself was pretty painless. Six kids, didn't teach, just helping keep the peace. I ALSO was trying frantically to pass out invitations I had made for a baby shower going on in a few weeks for two ladies from our small group. Then, Josh and I rushed off to another shower for that afternoon.

So, while that may all seem a good reason for the blog title, it's not the best part. Oh no, just about the time when the last of the kids were arriving, there was a bit of a ruckus on the other end of the hall. (Large hall between where the Preschool and Nursery classes meet.) I was at one end doing sign-in and looked down to see a small crowd of people and what I thought was a bird flying around. People, it was NOT a bird. It was a bat. A real, live, mouse-with-wings, BAT!

They tried to open the door and get it to fly outside, but I think by that time all the people around were making it nervous. It just kept swooping back and forth in the hall. We had closed the doors so it couldn't get to the kids, but I was still outside in case anybody else showed up to sign in.

I thought I could be mature about it. I mean really, it's just a bat. But then it flew down to my end of the hall where there were not a lot of people. Just me. Freaking out slightly. Huddled in the corner as it perched above a door across from me. I kind of lost it when it started my direction. But by that time, some of the men had taken over and were trying to catch it in a box or scare it into flying out the door (opposite direction from me), so I made my way quickly into class and tried to stop shuddering. :)

Interestingly enough, they never did catch it. It flew up out of sight and decided to stay there. They did tell the janitor but apparently he wasn't too concerned. If I was freaking out, I can picture the mass chaos of a elementary school hallway when a second-grade girl spots that thing.

Post College Life = No Spring Break

This last week has been kind of crazy. Not like in a stressful, I'm gonna pull my hair out kind of way, just busier than usual. At the beginning of the year Josh's DC hours changed from actually working at the mall to working hard at fundraising. This week was spring break for the students here, so Josh was at DC again for their extended hours. I ended up hanging out there quite a bit as well. It was fun, but not great for the housework aspect of things. :)

Yeah, well, I forgot what the original point of this post was. Except to bemoan the fact that I no longer get a spring break and somehow still managed to get a job that does not pay vacation time.

The Challenge

Yesterday, Josh and I were talking about how we've both gained weight in the last 9 months. Okay, so more like I was freaking out about my jeans getting tight and having a gut and having to be particular about what I wear because I'm afraid people will think I'm expecting. (which I'm not). And after Josh laughed at me he said he had gained weight too and why didn't we start running together.

Now, I hate running. Really. And my husband is a good foot taller than me so as I'm puffing along with a cramp in my side, I'm also holding him back.
Josh: So would you rather be fa... heavier than you were before, or would you rather start running?
Me: (after some thought) I'd rather be fat.

There has to be another option.

So, we've come up with a challenge, just a little motivator. Josh can do his running thing without me. And if he does it every day for a minimum of 15 mins. for one month, he gets a new xbox game. If I can do any kind of exercise I feel like (shopping does not count) four days a week for a minimum to 20 mins. for one month and I get a new pair of shoes. I'm aware that this is somewhat shallow, however it shows some promise.

x2

It is Sunday evening and I am sitting at home. Usually at this time, I am at the Black's house with our amazing small group. However, that is going to become a thing of the past. Let me explain...

When we started attending our church in June, Josh and I got plugged in with an awesome community group. As a newly married couple living in a new city and knowing very few people, this met a huge need for me. (I'm fighting how that sounds a little "Christianese", but I don't know how else to say it.) I enjoy Sunday morning services, but they do not provide the same opportunity to connect as hanging out in someone's home, eating food, talking, praying, and generally sharing life.

Well, in the last year or so we are not the only newbies to discover the Black's :) Our "small" group is now bursting at the seams a bit. And so we are multiplying. Not splitting, because that sounds like there was some kind of drama. (But in essence, splitting). There will now be two small groups, one moving to Monday night with the Black's, the other moving to Thursday night at the Pike's home. Josh and I have decided to go with Monday night.

Reasons this makes me sad:
* So far, not many people are going with Monday - so as much as I love the Blacks it may be a very small group indeed
* I will miss my friends who I won't get to see as often now
* I won't get to cuddle Miranda's or Bernadette's new baby girl every week (coming soon!)
* Going to both small groups would kind of defeat the purpose :)

Reasons this makes me happy:
* Now there are options for people who could not be involved in Sunday night small groups to have another night of the week
* I have been so blessed by our small group that I don't want others to miss out on the opportunity
* Joanna has said she will be cooking dinner for us all! (which she has practically been doing for the last couple months)
* Well, I guess both our groups will be free on Sunday nights if we decide to hang out and let's just be honest, it was getting a little crowded

So, I'm not really sad - just recruiting... I mean adjusting. I love the fact that it is a welcoming and growing church, so I hope this really will help more people to get plugged in.

Hey Baby

So, this beautiful bunch is my brother Nick with his fam at Christmas. I found out a couple of weeks ago, that I am going to be an aunt again! This is soooo exciting, because as you can see Bryce and Dylan are growing up way to fast. Krystal had her appointment today and the baby (just one) is due on November 10th. We're rooting for a girl, but then their boys have turned out pretty well too.

Sadly, Christmas is the last we got to spend time with my family. I'm ready for another visit, but it's looking like the end of May is the earliest we will get up there. Of course, I miss all my family, but it's hard to think of how much the Bryce and Dylan and Michael, Ryan, and Meagan are changing without me getting to see it. (I was informed when Lindsey came to visit that Michael is now taller than me! I mean not a huge feat, but he's my baby brother.) Lot's of changes in store this year I guess. Weddings, graduations, and now a new baby.

But moving on ... Just in case you doubt how precious they are, here's some pics from when Nick & Krystal came down to visit last fall:

They're planning to come to KY again, also in May. I'm looking forward to that too. I think the boys actually like Josh better than me. I guess I'm okay with it. I still hold power because they wouldn't get him for a uncle if it wasn't for me, right?

Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday Meagan!