There is no place like HOME

My summer break started when summer school ended on Friday July 10th. Meaning I have from July 11th-August 16th to relax while not having to work or go to school. This is what those 36 days look like...

July 11-16: Junior High summer camp. I thought at the young age of 20 I would easily keep up with the fast pace of camp with 300 teenagers...I was wrong. By the time I was home from camp I was exhausted from a crazy, exciting, and long week.

I was home in my apartment for 36 hours before packing to house/dog/puppy sit.

July 18-25: I spent a week with a baby, I mean puppy and her older sister. I enjoyed air conditioning and cable for a week but did not enjoy the schedule of a 7 week old puppy.

I was home in my apartment for 36 hours before packing to head to David's parents before flying to Montreal, Canada.

July 28-August 5: We are in Canada visiting Pastor Westerne Joseph and his wonderful family. David has been serving with Pastor Westerne in Haiti since 2003. A year ago the Joseph family relocated in Montreal due to the unsafe conditions in Lascahobas, Haiti. It has been a blessing to spend time with a family who considers David their own son. They are a joyful family whom I've loved spending time with. We have been trying to spoil their children Andie, Dave, Wesline, and Marco as much as possible. I am not looking forward to saying good-bye.

I will be home in my apartment for 36 hours before packing for The Well's mexico missions trip in Ensenada, Mexico.

August 7-16: The Well, our young adult service at Neighborhood, is taking a group of around 18 young adults to serve the country of Mexico. We will be working with a short term missions company who has set-up a week of service projects and activities for us to lead. I have not been on a missions trip in two years and am looking forward to getting to know my peers better while serving the Lord.

We are planning to get home Sunday evening, August 16th, and then the next morning I will be back to work at 7:30am. I have missed working with students and am looking forward to being back to work. I love the classroom I work in as well as the staff who work along side me. Also on Monday August 17th, classes start for me at school. Again I am taking a full time load and am looking forward being back in a classroom myself. I love learning and studying- even though it can burn me out at times.

I see my 36 days of summer vacation as a huge success. I have accomplished the right amount of vacation, relaxation, and serving. I am thankful for being able to travel, spend time with friends, and also enjoy down time in rest for the new season which is upon me. Throughout my travels I am reminded there is no place like home.

Terrebonne, Canada

Disney's G-Force in 3-D...in French.

My friends Marco and Wesline.

Family dinner.

Blessings

Throughout a BUSY month, I am feeling constantly blessed. I am encouraged daily from the small surprises God places in my day. At the end of the day I am exhausted from the days events yet energized from the Lord I praise.

*I am blessed to live in an adorable apartment with two girls I cherish. The Lord has constantly provided and has open doors I didn't think I was ready to walk through.

*I am working summer school- a major blessing. God answered my prayers as to how I would survive during the summer months.

*A community is growing around me. A community I have longed for, prayed for, and harvested emotions in. I praise God for the unconditionally loving friends I have.

*My family has been blessing me in countless ways. My dad helped me move in and get things set up. My grandparents helped me make my apartment feel like a home. Most importantly my mom made the transition smooth and positive. Without her strength I wouldn't have done it!

Deuteronomy 28:1-3
"1 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country."

Thus far...

May has been busy as expected. My birthday weekend was full of surprises which surpassed every expectation I had. I went to dinner with Carsen- girl talk and catching up was lovely. After work on Friday, David had a surprise planned. We went to the shooting range and I shot my first gun! I have a much better shot then I thought and I was quite taken with a 38 Special. Four boxes of bullets later, I was addicted.

We finished the night by driving to Chico with Chelsea and her boyfriend Josh to eat at Hula's (one of my favorite places). Saturday started with breakfast at Deja Vu with David and then on to my second surprise- All Fired Up. I've been talking about wanting to visit the creative ceramic shop and I was delighted when we walked in. David and I enjoyed a few hours of painting and focusing on our ceramic pieces. Sunday afternoon held a luncheon with many friends and family. I shared an afternoon of celebration with my dad and the people closest to us. It was a glorious time had by all.

This past weekend I was out of town with my church leadership group. The weekend was filled with playing games, relaxing, cooking together, and getting away from our busy lives. It was encouraging and satisfying to get to know my friends in a more intimate way.
It was a blessing to be encouraged and supported by twenty of my peers. By the end of the weekend I was joyful and sleep deprived. We were home in time to go to dinner with my mom in honor of her day.

Finals come next week, moving out at the end of the month, and still searching for work over the short summer months. Life is too short to worry about such things- so I don't plan to.

Here's to May

Looking at my calendar for the month of May I am overwhelmed with writing. Scribbles, notes, appointments, trips, homework dues dates, birthdays. Things I enjoy and things that are required. As April comes to an end I am gearing up for a busy end of my semester. I am trying to stay focused and finish the semester strong. Alas the hustle and bustle of life is making me crazy. I cannot wait for summer in hopes that my schedule will lighten up and life will calm down.

Enjoyed Spring Break relaxing. As long as the week felt, I was suprisingly busy.

I attended the Nishizaki wedding last weekend which made for a busy trip. It was a beautiful wedding and I realized how much work goes into planning such a ceremony. As always, it was fun spending time with the Nishizaki's.



I am looking forward to a birthday and kissing my teen years good-bye.

Working summer school is an option and I am waiting to see if I will be hired for the six-week session.

A friend and I are hoping and praying about moving out. I am looking forward to the adventure that possibly brings and trying to not get too excited before the details are planned out.

I am really enjoying my Tuesday night leadership igroup for The Well. I am looking forward to our retreat in two weeks!

Sold my old car. I posted it on Craigslist and less than a week later it was sold.

I have recently learned that because my car was totaled in January I have to re-register my car, have a certified brake and light check, smog inspection, and surrender my old license plates. I have spent more money on fees, inspections, and repairs this month than I expected. Great...

I ordered my first pair of real glasses. We'll see how they turn out.

Here's to May!

Hypocrite

This weekend is the beginning of my week long break from work...and I am already bored. A common theme on my blog is how busy I am, no time to relax. I long for just one day to do what I want and have no set obligations. Wish granted. Now what am I doing? Complaining. I am not taking a bubble bath or packing for a vacation but instead am sitting in my bed scratching for something to do. Sure there are things I could be doing (deep cleaning, laundry, reading, homework...lot and lots of homework) but alas I am adjusting to my new blank schedule. Who would have ever thought I would need to get used to relaxing. Am I human?

New Addiction

I have recently been introduced to the game Cribbage. Let me just say- I love it. I have been playing for hours at a time and appreciate the simplicity of the game. The other side to my love for the game is the fact that I am realizing I am sore loser. In all honesty, I am a poor sport. I blame my parents. Ok, not really but I was never forced to practice healthy competitive skills. I have never been on a team and haven't experienced winning/losing. We also weren't a game-playing family. So now that I am a young adult and love to play any game I am realizing I am no fun to play with. I whine, complain, and shut down when I am not the champion. The truth of the matter is that I am working on being a better loser while enjoying my new addiction.

I am also working on figuring out how I want to spend my Spring Breaks. I have two awkward weeks in April: next week is my break from college and the following week is my break from work. Since I have an online semester it wouldn't be hard to go out of town for my break from work. With many friends leaving to Portland (instead of Mexico) and other schools already having their breaks, I am at a halt with my plans. I want to make the most of my time off but am not looking forward to making a trip alone. I could enjoy a week at home relaxing but I would really love to go somewhere. I am open to any fun ideas and am hoping to have a game plan soon.

Weekend Away

I spent the weekend in Medesto with Brandon, Melissa, and Xander. I have visited a couple of times but always for big events (baby dedication, birthday party, etc). This weekend I went down to hang out and spend time with my distant friends. I've known Brandon and Mel since I was thirteen and in Junior High. We have traveled to many countries together, ate many meals together, danced, laughed, and cried together. They are the true definition of friends who become family. They have both been a source of leadership, accountability, and love in my life.


On another note, this was my first trip in which I went alone. It is a 3 1/2 hour drive one way and I was not surprised to learn I am not a road warrior. I understand many people enjoy driving a long. A peaceful time to think, relax, and be secluded for a few hours. I, on the other hand, found it incredibly boring and exhausting. I didn't think about much...just about how many miles until I reached home. I was shocked and slightly embarrassed of my lack of intellectual thoughts with my seven hours of driving. I realized I am not the source of my thoughts but yet conversations make me think. I am not one who wants and/or needs much alone time. I was interested to learn something new about Aleah Faires.

In other news: I am still working and going to school. I love my job and am thankful for working with such wonderful children. I missing being in a classroom myself. I cannot wait to be done with my online semester. My evenings are still busy with cooking class, family dinner, igroups, and youth group. I feel as though I lack the time (and initiative) to seek out new relationships or even work on making the ones I have more healthy. My priorities need rearranging. I am wishing I was a better communicator and knew what that looked like. I see a lot of hard work in my future...great.