I am an AUNTIE!!!!

My step-brother, Nate and his new bride, Lorraine, had a baby girl this weekend- Charlotte Anne Bell! :) AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. I am a proud auntie and have already gone shopping for the little one!! :)

Surprise Suprise!

Well, Friday as I left work...I was thinking...wow, a weekend at my apartment...alone....havent had that like ALL summer and quite frankly, I was not looking foward to this...but, Holls and Jods invited me to go to the lake with them on Saturday, so I would have at least gotten to do that! But...the night went on...I ate left over subway for dinner...read a lot of random books, magazines, newspapers, tried to find something on TV...blah blah.....BORING....was talking to the BF on the phone and then, HE SHOWED UP AT MY DOORSTEP!!!! My dream came true!!! I didn't think it was possible that he was going to be able to come see me this weekend- but he made it happen and it was SO wonderful and such a blessing!!!!!!

We had a GREAT time together...found some fun items at garage sales, went shopping for nice looking work outfits for him, just being with him, the entire world around me fades and all I can see or pay attention to is him...We did some baking...banana bread, peach cobbler, zuchinni bread...and we stopped at the farm market and then ate corn on the cob, green peppers...we went on a date to Outback...YUM....:) It was WONDERFULLLLLLLL. And much needed.

on another note...

On a more positive note than the last post, I will tell you the sweetest story that I heard yesterday during my 4th short trip to the garage sale...I was walking up on the stage where they have all the arts/crafts/decorations...and there were these precious little girls...maybe like, 4 and 5 years old....they were looking at the sea shells that were on the craft table...and they were holding up the biggest ones to their ears...seeing if they could hear the ocean...."I can hear it!!!" one exclaimed...."let me try to hear the ocean in that one too" the other would say. It was priceless. It was pure. It reminds me of the faith and the hope they were should always have. Faith like a Child. We are God's children, let us have that with him always. Trusting him. Faithfully waiting on him...too bad as adults that is VERY hard to do. I guess sometimes, we just need to rely on the children in our lives to teach us about how God truly wants us to live.

questions

So, I am pretty sure this blog is going to make no sense to people out there and I need to vent and get stuff off my chest but I can't really say what is bugging me too much, since that would be just cruel. Well, now that I started writing, I had to delete it because well, it gives too much away. Lets just say I am frustrated and it has nothing to do with friends and family. How do you know when God is leading you in a new direction, except, he hasnt shown the direction, he just has made the current placement quite unbearable...How do you know that it isnt just a test...I have no clue. Yea, being too picky about my words is quite hard because I just want to yell out my frustrations! Geesh, too bad that only works for me and only frustrates and makes those around me upset. Ha.

Well, the BF might have a 3rd interview at Whirlpool today...that is exciting...I hope he gets it....sounds like a good position....hmm...

the SAFMC garage sale

well, the 3rd time is a charm. Yearly, the church across the street has a garage sale...well, it is an intense event...people line up before the doors open...and unfortunatly for the 1st time, I havent been in that line. I had a visitor to talk about Dual Enrollment, so I took one for the team and met wtih the student. :) Just kidding. Anyways, so, I went, found nothing, came back and then saw the deals that everyone else got and realized that I want to go try again, so I went back and bought some things for my BF and for a friend and then, 2 little cute cups for myself. Then, I saw some neat prego books and told another friend about it and just went back to show her where the books were...lalala! For lunch, left over chinese! :) Last night, I finished the quilt...made out of old SAU shirts...very fun, but took a LONG time to complete...now I know why hand made quilts cost SO much money! My friend Beth and I ate chinese and then worked on the sewing machine, I only jabbed myself 3 times with the pin...argh. So, then, we went to TCBY for waffle cone wednesday to watch all the high school kids try to flirt with each other and then...we went to joanns, too many good deals at that store...I tell you what! :)
But, I was good and did not get anything! YEAH!

Jamos is lucky and is spending the day at Six Flags! how lucky is that?! Pretty lucky if you ask me! :)

weekend at grandma's

This past weekend, like I have stated before, was rather busy, but I thought I would show you a little of what I did...I went to my grandma's and she finally used the Vera Bradley placemats that I got her that had Bee's on them...so I took a picture and then, Jamos was able to come over for a little bit, so we walked around my grandma's house and looked at her flowers and I took pictures, I could have filled all teh space with flower pictures, but I dont want everyone out there stealing my flower photos..so I only posted 1 :) Just kidding. I will have more people pictures later, but they are on my moms camera and she has been too busy to send them to me! Geesh!

Yo yo

"I do not understand how anyone can live without one small place of enchantment to turn to" That is a quote from someone and it is a quite nice one if you ask me...

The weather is sticky...the pop machine ate my money...my eyes are burning...my feet stink...gas prices went up...my mom and granny are gone...the boyfriend is far away...but, I have the spirit of the Lord, he has blessed me beyond these earthly things and I know that he is leading me and guiding my life in the way he desires, which is awesome! So, I praise him and look to the heavens, because, my hope doesnt come from earthly things, my hope comes from the Lord! :)

wise words from ME

Be not the slave of your own past - plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep, swim far, so you shall come back with self respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

miles and miles of road behind me

Well, I am thankful for a safe 'long' weekend of travel all throughout the state and for my granny and mom who are now back in Florida. The weekend was a blurr, but a good blurr. I have learned it is hard to balance people...grandma's, moms, boyfriend, boyfriends family, father, friends, work, and self. How do you nurture and give time to each of those amazing parts of life? I have no idea, but I guess that is why I have always seen rows and rows of books on how to manage time and life at the bookstore, but until now, I have never needed to read that information. I know that the Lord is growing and stretching me. I find it amazing how I try to battle this life completely on my own...The church that Jamos and his family go to has been really great for me this summer. I have felt that each time, they are talking to me, to my life, to and it is a beautiful reminder, to trust him, to do my best, to be a christian to those who hurt me, to love people. This is hard. Life is confusing, there are things I want, but I have to wait on, there are relationships to nuture, there is myself I need to nuture. It is all a constant uphill climb, I know it is worth it, I know that things are going to become peaceful, and at some point there will be a plateau, and on that plateau, I will rest.

Who ate my bagel?

This morning, I got to work and decided to eat a lot....some oatmeal and a bagel with cream cheese...so I got into checking my emails, I had 2 that werent junk and actually from a student...and then, just when I was done with that, I looked around...to find the other part of the bagel...I apparently ate it without knowing it...UGH!!! so, now i am stuck with weight control oat meal....:)

funny.

Tonight, I get to drive to flint to pick up my mom and granny....3 hours in the car is JUST what I was thinking I wanted! :)

And...lastly, I have an invasion of ANTS...they are coming in thru the tinest hole in the SCREEN DOOR...to my kitchen. Jerks. I have tried vinegar...borax mixed with powered sugar....and well, this morning, I didnt have any ants to speak of...so, that is good! I felt like I was going crazy, sitting on my hands and knees watching the ants crawl....I reminded myself of my MOM....but, now I know why she did that...cause you can see where they are coming from!!

a long time ago....

wow. time flies and people grow up...this is back in 04 at the tigers game...I just was going thru my old emails and found this lovely picture:)

car stuff

Last night, after a long, LONG day at work, I went to get my oil changed at the firestone place...long story short...i went there cause i bought this card for like, the same price as 1 oil change and yet, I get 2 free, so I used my 2nd one...still have 1 more to go and I am NOT getting another card. It isnt worth it. It still took an hour to get the oil change and I had to talk to the annoying guy who works the desk and tries to get everyone to buy things they don't need. He deserves an A+ in doing that...he was talking bad about every place that had tires, he wanted to sell me tires...blah blah...so, I stopped by the downtown library to check things out...then, I went back to get the car, try to ignore the annoying sales man...and then go grocery shopping- I went to walmart in search of some good deals and I need to return pop bottles...finally made it home in time to realize I left my phone charger at WORK....so, I hardly got to talk to the BF which I really wanted to do...and I talked to my wise friend JAMEY...love her. She always has great advice and really good connections to the president. :) (if you know what I mean)....yeah. he likes me.

So....anyways, this morning was an early one...dropped the car off at SAM's to get new tires...my wonderful friend Beth picked me up...we drove to work together....i love that time I can get with her! :) And...she will hopefully remember me after work and I can pick up my car with NEW tires!!!

Then, tomorrow night after work, I am driving to flint to pick up my mom and granny...who will be in town til we leave on saturday for my other grandma's house to visit with her and I will hopefully see Jamos for even 5 minutes, and that would be enough to keep me going! :)

So, life is hard, I have bad feelings in the pit of my stomach due to the situation I am dealing with...and need guidance from the Lord. He is my rock and I know he can change hearts and work things out for the GOOD.

frustration

Today has been a rough day...disappointment and confusion seemed to have guided the way...and I am struggling in this area today with certain things. A friend sent me this verse from James 1...loved it and it went right to my heart. I also appreciate the wisdom of those I love...thank you.

2Dear brothers and sisters,[b] whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.

3For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

4So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.
5If you need wisdom--if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.

6But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

7People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

8They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.
9Christians who are[c] poor should be glad, for God has honored them.

10And those who are rich should be glad, for God has humbled them. They will fade away like a flower in the field.

11The hot sun rises and dries up the grass; the flower withers, and its beauty fades away. So also, wealthy people will fade away with all of their achievements.
12God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

13And remember, no one who wants to do wrong should ever say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else either.

14Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. 15These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death.

16So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.

17Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights.[d] Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows.

18In his goodness he chose to make us his own children by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his choice possession.

Summer is flying by...

Another really fun weekend at the lake...the bf made dinner for me on friday night, we watched movies, played at the beach every day, went to watch fireworks at venetian fest., saw our families, spent time together, always wonderful.

stuff

Yea, I am not very creative this morning, but none the less, I will try to write about this past week...up north...july 4th....we went to traverse city...played in the water....worked in the yard...talked....watched movies...ya know...all the fun stuff a girl could want to do:) I spent time with my boyfriend and with my mom and granny. :) it was great having her up here....able to see her that she is doing so well...cause she has had a hard year! But, anyways...that is all I can think to say!

4th of July