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| Christmas!I know this is a bit late but.....
MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Mine was definitely really great, and I have to tell you about a couple things I learned...
1. Even though the weather in perfectly fine where you are, and where you're going, and everywhere else (except one city) in the United States, you should still check the time of your flight. You may have a delay, and you might get up at 3am to catch an early flight when you might not have to.
2. It pays to be nice to people. I already actually knew this...but it was reinforced at the airport when 5,000 other people around you are mean and grouchy and you're nice. The people at customer service have the power to determine whether or not you're going to actually get on an airplane....so if you're rude to them, guess what? You're going to be stuck in Chicago.
3. My mom's side of the family keeps getting BIGGER and bigger as days go by...I guess that's what happens when new babies are born and no one dies...but it's crazy! We definitely had 40 people in one house on Christmas Eve and it was fabulous :)
4. The word "family" has no real meaning at all, besides just people who love each other. My biological family has 4 members, but on Christmas Day there were 20 people at my parents house. It was really awesome because that group included 2 foster kids that used to live with us that came by because we're still part of their family. Also, my adopted sister's brother's girlfriend and her baby that my mom helps take care of. Anyway, it just struck me that this really is my "family", whether they're biologically related to me or not. I have to admit that I missed having just the 4 of us get together, but I definitely appreciate my new brothers and sisters too! : )
5. No matter where you go, there's nothing like coming home to sleep in your OWN BED!
I have pictures, but I'll have to post them later because I forgot my camera today...so you'll just have to wait :)
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| wow...a long timeI have to apologize for waiting so long between posts. I can't even say it's because I'm busy or have a lot going on...just because I haven't felt like I had anything really specific to write about.
Anyway, I thought I'd give you a few quick updates....
~After much debate about whether I would prefer free time or extra money, I finally gave in...and decided on extra money. I got a part time job at Burlington Coat Factory, and even though I definitely have less time on my hands than I did before, I am enjoying it. It's refreshingly different than working at the camp, and the people are pretty cool. Instead of building relationships, serving, and cleaning up after the guests, I just have to scan their stuff, tell them how cute it is (if that is really the case), and pleasantly send them on their way.
~I AM going home for Christmas and I am VERY excited about this. I haven't been to Michigan for about 9 months, which is the longest time I've ever been away...so it'll be really great to see my brothers and sisters, niece and nephew and everyone else around.
~I sold my car! The red Mercury Sable that is...not the new cute Focus. That was a very exciting thing because I wasn't sure how or if I would be able to sell it, and was considering donating it somewhere...so I'm really glad that's taken care of.
~I went to Alicia's house for Thanksgiving this year, and got to experience someone else's family traditions. It was so great to see Alicia and spend some time with her, but it was definitely weird to be away from Michigan and not eating dinner with my 25 extended family members at Great Grandma and Grandpa's farm. I also talked to my dad that day and he said they got together with a couple family members on Thanksgiving, but didn't end up going to "the farm". My Great Grandma actually passed away this year, so I wasn't sure how Thanksgiving would turn out, but I almost started to cry on the phone because it was the official end to Thanksgiving tradition the way it was. I know it shouldn't be a big deal, because I'm sure a new tradition will form in time...but it's still change, and it's still sad.
Anyway, life is good. I am definitely blessed, and recently I was challenged by some teens to be more active and outward focused in my demonstration of the love of Christ. I am involved in ministry here at the camp...but I have definitely become very comfortable here and I haven't taken any opportunities to really show Christ's love to people that need it. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this right now, but I'm thinking about some different ways to get out there and do that.
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| Well hello!
I have to say that things have been going pretty well in my life in the last little while. I realized that I haven't posted in a while, because nothing catastrophic has been going on, but I guess that's a good thing!
After I went to Canada a few weeks ago, I actually went to ANOTHER wedding in Minnesota for a friend that I've known since 2nd grade. It's amazing how you can not see or hear from people for such a long time and then when you see them, it's like there's been no time lapse. I am SOO thankful for that! I feel like I have friends all over North America, and it would be almost impossible to keep in touch with all of them all the time, but the reality is that you don't have to! Of course they're going to remember who I am, and they love me even if I haven't responded to their e-mails in 3 months or not! :)
Anyway, here are some pictures from there..
    
I loved being involved in the wedding with some amazing girls! I actually stayed in a hotel room with Carol (in the picture with me above) who I had never met before, and we had such an awesome time! We stayed up all night talking...it was just like I was in college again!
Other than that...like I said, not a lot has been going on. Lately, I've felt a little bit like I miss my brothers and sisters. My brother had a football game the other night, and I just really wanted to go to support him! I don't think about it every day, but I just had this thought this week that I'm missing all of my brothers and sisters games and stuff, and those are things that you can't just make up later in their lives...once they're over they're over... So yeah, sometimes I wish I lived closer to home, but I'm also glad to be away from home and I know that God has me on this journey I'm on so that He can use me in these specific areas.
Anyway, thanks for reading, have a fabulous Sunday afternoon!
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| rumors...Hey everyone!Apparently my last post was a little confusing. I want to let everyone know that I am (no matter how much my Canadian friends want me to) NOT...I repeat NOT moving to Alberta anytime soon. I do love it there, but I am in New York and I will remain here until further notice. Thanks guys...just wanted to clear that up  | | |
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