With Halloween coming fast, I am excited as that means Christmas will be here sooner than I know...which means I get to come home to Ohio! These past few weeks have been tough but I got through them. It really showed me just how strong I am doing this by myself. Only two things are connecting me to my parents' support: a cell phone bill and health insurance. I just found out that I will have to get my own provider out here and go off the family plan, as there is no cell tower here for AT&T. So, soon I will be adding that bill to my name! I have also started applying to businesses for a job, as starting December I wont be sitting full-time anymore. I have applied to 3 places already and am continuing to scout out possibilities. If they offer health benefits, then I will finally be a fully self reliant adult....crazy.
These few weeks I have also felt more of a sense of home here though, as I have begun to get more involved in some stuff. A few Saturdays ago, the pastor and his wife had a get together at their house for people who were new in the church to meet others. I went and finally got to meet some more people my age. One is actually from Ohio and she is 24. It was also mentioned that a small group would be starting for people ages 20-30, so soon every week I will get a chance to hang out with people around my age too. I have already had a lunch date with one girl, something of which I miss doing with all my friends back home. I also signed up to help on Sunday nights with Awana, essentially a youth group ministry. My first night, to see what I thought, was this past Sunday and I liked it enough to want to volunteer more. The age group I will probably be with is the third and fourth grade girls, which tend to crack me up as they are 9 going on 29. Soon my nights will be filling up like they always seemed to do in college.
Tonight I am having dinner with the family I sit for, and my contribution was to bring dessert. It was my first shot at baking a cake since I have moved, and it turned out okay. I will probably cook it for longer next time, as I knew to turn down the oven temp but not what the time to cook it would be. Tomorrow I am making cookies for my small group, which has peanut butter, caramel sauce and chocolate chips in it. I hope those turn out okay! I also got a call from the church today about a women's retreat this weekend. I didn't sign up, as it was $75 and I am trying to save my money. They called though and said they have a "scholarship" for me to go for free if I wasn't going to be busy. I didn't have any major plans so I am going to go! Its amazing how God can bless me like that, and its one example I can share in which He does :)
One problem I am having though is getting my drivers license out here. Mine expired on my birthday, but I have made 3, count em THREE, trips to the BMV (a 30 min drive there) and still can't get it. The first time I went they were closed (online says open everyday but really only mon, wed, fri). The second time she said I needed a birth certificate because my middle initial was on my Ohio license. That was at my moms so she sent it to me. I went again and she looked at the certificate and said I need a state issued one, which mine was a city one. To get a state issued one, it can take up to 12 WEEKS to get sent to me. I didn't think it would be such a hassle to get this done and it is very frustrating. At this point though they aren't budging, so just pray that I don't get pulled over or anything until it is all taken care of. All I can do is shake my head at that situation.
Speaking of praying, many prayers need to be sent out for my family as there seem to be a lot of health issues going on lately. My grandpa just had hip replacement surgery last week, and he is finally starting to get better mentally since waking up. Others in the family are struggling with chemotherapy, COPD, heart issues and Alzheimer's. I am hoping that everyone will recover or at least be without pain. It is hard being away during these times, but I know that even if I was there there isn't much I can do about it. If everyone can hold out til Christmas when I visit, that's all I wish for!
Last of all, my second class starts next week, so I will have 2 at a time for awhile. This is nothing new, as at one point I had 3 at a time in the spring so I know I can handle it. I am past the rough spot I expected financially in September, so now I am saving up to buy some things for my apartment and myself. The temperature is slowly decreasing, but luckily the sunshine keeps my spirits up. Today it was only 45 degree when I went outside, but there was no need for a coat as the sun kept you plenty warm as long as you stayed out of the shade! The next update I hope will bring some more good news of health, friendship and a job! Everything in God's time I know, but I want it all to hurry up and get here! Hoping that you are overflowing with these blessings and more also...until next time ADIOS!!
Views from the town
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Fall is Here!
So September kind of flew by faster than I thought it would, and fall came right after. I have been enjoying babysitting the kids and they bring me a lot of entertainment. I have gotten kisses for my bruises and told that I have to get married because they are pretty sure it's illegal to not be. They are not always good, but luckily I get another day to try all over again. September also brought about the end of my business, of which I am not too upset to lose. God has taken care of me this far, and the four months have brought various blessings in which I hadn't even thought I would encounter. I was able to sell about half of my pieces to various consignment stores and the rest went to the house of the family I sit for. Cleaning the space out was a lot of work considering it was so small though. I cleaned the windows inside and out which involved a ladder, half a bottle of Windex, a couple hours (there was a lot) and many bruises for my efforts..of course which got kissed as mentioned above. But it is all settled and now I thankfully only have one rent payment to worry about instead of two.
I have been enjoying getting together once a week for small group with the women at my church. Listening to their views on the book we are reading is very interesting and I get to learn a lot about how people think differently even though we are all reading the exact same thing. In many ways it is like our own little book club. And the church has been so helpful with me this month also. They gave me two big bags full of groceries, and I have had women make me stew, potato casserole and chocolate desserts. Despite those yummy treats, I have managed to fit into some pants that Ive had for over a year...most likely from all of the walking I do. I try to walk as much as I can to the store, library and post office which is relaxing and gets me out and about. Anyways, my church family has been a great help to me since I have been away from friends and family all this time.
Yes, for many of you know that it was my birthday a few days ago and I want to say THANK YOU for all of your cards, texts, calls and kind thoughts. It was my first birthday ever by myself and it was harder than I thought it would be. I did have to sit that day, so I took myself out for dinner at a Mexican restaurant and ordered something spicy of course! It was very good and I had like 3 different waiters ask if everything was fine. I wonder if my face was red from the hot sauce lol. Afterwards I watched a movie and read, but was asleep by 10pm because I was so tired. The next day was worse I think because being alone caught up with me, but I eventually humbled myself and got over my sadness. There are many more people out there who go through worse everyday. Now though, I am 25 and still reluctant to call myself an adult despite the fact that I am closer to 30 than 20. I sometimes think I will always feel 16.
Outside the leaves have all changed, and many are already falling. The only colors on the trees here are gold/yellow, which I guess means there are no maple trees (which are the ones I believe make the red colors). It is very pretty and changes the look of the mountains. I have tried taking pictures but it doesn't ever seem to capture the true beauty of it. I guess if you are really curious you will have to come out here and see it for yourself! The weather has stayed fairly warm also, and I have yet to turn on my heat. I am going to try to wait until the last moment to do that, as I am waiting for winter but not ready for it. It has only snowed twice in the mountains so far, so the cold is staying at bay for now. The river has also gone way down so that you could probably even cross it by foot.
Other than that, class is about halfway through and I will be glad when it's over. Only a few courses more to go and then I will definitely be done for awhile. The library is like my second home and I am here most days of the week. They have free wifi (so I save $50/month on internet), a place to do homework, and all the free books and movies I could get. I have been working through the author John Sandford and he writes a lot of thriller/mystery novels based in the mid-west/Wisconsin area. I sometimes wonder what life would be like if I had stayed in Ohio, especially with the various things going on there right now, but I know that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be. The future seems to change each month that I'm here and I hope to keep moving along with the changes! Love and miss you all XOXO
I have been enjoying getting together once a week for small group with the women at my church. Listening to their views on the book we are reading is very interesting and I get to learn a lot about how people think differently even though we are all reading the exact same thing. In many ways it is like our own little book club. And the church has been so helpful with me this month also. They gave me two big bags full of groceries, and I have had women make me stew, potato casserole and chocolate desserts. Despite those yummy treats, I have managed to fit into some pants that Ive had for over a year...most likely from all of the walking I do. I try to walk as much as I can to the store, library and post office which is relaxing and gets me out and about. Anyways, my church family has been a great help to me since I have been away from friends and family all this time.
Yes, for many of you know that it was my birthday a few days ago and I want to say THANK YOU for all of your cards, texts, calls and kind thoughts. It was my first birthday ever by myself and it was harder than I thought it would be. I did have to sit that day, so I took myself out for dinner at a Mexican restaurant and ordered something spicy of course! It was very good and I had like 3 different waiters ask if everything was fine. I wonder if my face was red from the hot sauce lol. Afterwards I watched a movie and read, but was asleep by 10pm because I was so tired. The next day was worse I think because being alone caught up with me, but I eventually humbled myself and got over my sadness. There are many more people out there who go through worse everyday. Now though, I am 25 and still reluctant to call myself an adult despite the fact that I am closer to 30 than 20. I sometimes think I will always feel 16.
Outside the leaves have all changed, and many are already falling. The only colors on the trees here are gold/yellow, which I guess means there are no maple trees (which are the ones I believe make the red colors). It is very pretty and changes the look of the mountains. I have tried taking pictures but it doesn't ever seem to capture the true beauty of it. I guess if you are really curious you will have to come out here and see it for yourself! The weather has stayed fairly warm also, and I have yet to turn on my heat. I am going to try to wait until the last moment to do that, as I am waiting for winter but not ready for it. It has only snowed twice in the mountains so far, so the cold is staying at bay for now. The river has also gone way down so that you could probably even cross it by foot.
Other than that, class is about halfway through and I will be glad when it's over. Only a few courses more to go and then I will definitely be done for awhile. The library is like my second home and I am here most days of the week. They have free wifi (so I save $50/month on internet), a place to do homework, and all the free books and movies I could get. I have been working through the author John Sandford and he writes a lot of thriller/mystery novels based in the mid-west/Wisconsin area. I sometimes wonder what life would be like if I had stayed in Ohio, especially with the various things going on there right now, but I know that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be. The future seems to change each month that I'm here and I hope to keep moving along with the changes! Love and miss you all XOXO
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