Hi all-
Wow...what an amazing weekend...somehow everything I've been working towards for the past 12 years just ended and it was a great feeling. ....well, ok, that's extreme. Not EVERYTHING, but a lot of it. Friday was graduation and it was a great time...not too sad, not overwhelmingly happy. It was very odd but good timing. We had fun meeting all of the people who came to see us turn the tassels and then headed into a whirlwind weekend. Open houses at every imaginable hour of each day...it was impossible to do it all. Friday night after the ceremony I went to Joni's and then was at Beth's until 12:30. I had a fantastic time at my open house Saturday afternoon...my poor grandparents got worked to death I'm afraid but they were willing helpers and made everything run very smoothly. Getting to see so many people in a day and catch up at least a little bit on their lives was truely a treat (although my feet hurt a little afterwards). I took a million photos and watched everyone chow down on the red velvet cake, cheesecake tarts, chocolate dipped strawberries the size of small apples, and the world's best punch. I enjoyed floating between my grandparents, church people, old friends, teens, kids I babysit, and mentors in my life. The expression of love was huge and very appreciated. Saturday night I was off to another party on the heels of the last people who left our house. We played volleyball and ate some more at Nicole's and then went to the lake for fire works. Drama drama drama...but the fireworks were cool. :)
On sunday we were up and at 'em early for church, came home for lunch, and mom and dad had me open the first of my gifts...Dennis and Donna gave me a digital camera, which I enjoyed using for the rest of the weekend. WOW!! What a fun toy! Then we were out the door to three more parties...enjoyed looking at all the old pictures and talking with the same people all three places about how everyone had the best food, the cutest decorations, the biggest attendance. ...at some point this process probably becomes rediculous, but we had a good time doing it. By 11:00 last night we were all worn out and ready for some R&R. Mom and dad declared that today was a household wide quarantine...no one comes in, no one goes out. Boy did we need it! Relaxing morning on the deck, fun times finally opening my gifts, a stroll by the lake, a nice dinner, a game of bocce ball, and viewing all the home videos from this spring with the grandparents about filled the day. Tonight I got the best gift I've ever received...Casey wrote me a song for my present...it was a tender moment. I love you sweets.
I wish I had something profound to say about graduating...perhaps it will take a little while to understand this tornado that we like to call "May." Then again these days have made me wonder if we can ever truely understand the "transition periods" in our lives until we see them in context way down the road. Somehow God controls the steering wheel even at our moments of greatest uncertainty and question...halleluiah!
Tomorrow it's back to the real world, I head to the hospital for training, which I am SO excited about. I'll post about it sometime. Hope you all enjoyed your weekend. Peace.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
a little catch up
I promised myself that I would make a post some time before graduation...because I know that if I don't I'll forget everything that's happened in the last few weeks in the flurry of this weekend. For anyone who cares (or for me if no one does) here you go:
Florida was simply awesome...I hadn't been to the beach since I was 5...which doesn't really count as anything. HOLY COW! It was one of the most breathtaking and exhilarating things I have ever seen. The powerful, never ending waves, the beauty of the sunrise over the horizon, the mystery of the moon and stars over the pounding water. It was awesome. On top of this all the group really did have a fun time...we endured a fair amount of drama, but not too bad considering, and the great fun I had with people I don't always spend time with far outweighed it. Long delays in the airports, a great day at Universal Studios, and less than 9 hours of sleep during the whole trip made it a memorable one indeed. Can't wait to get my pics back tomorrow.
Sunday we had our last soul purpose concert and started the onslaught of graduation parties with a great big shindig at Matt's. Good times had by all...especially the smore factory people around the campfire.
Today I spent my first day on the job at the hospital. It was an incredible day, extremely eye opening, educational, and even a little scary. I am working in an ICU wing as a nurses' aid...which basically means that I stock cabinets, keep records, and take vitals while working next to life or death situations. I am very excited about the things I will see and learn, and a little scared about the possibility (and probability) for error in my work. Maybe this will help me become a bit more detail oriented. I'm already preparing for the challenge of keeping my compassion level for patients balanced with efficiency and objectivity. It will be an interesting mix...I'm determined to find it. God gave me some very special experiences today which reminded me of the value and frailty of life. Make the most of every moment guys...we never know what will come next. Please pray that I will have a positive impact on my floor too...the atmosphere is already very different than what I am used to. I want to be able to shine a strong light, and I praise God for the Christian friend I have already made on the floor.
Well, 5:15 came pretty early this morning...now I must to bed. Peace and God's blessing to you all as you celebrate the coming of summer.
Florida was simply awesome...I hadn't been to the beach since I was 5...which doesn't really count as anything. HOLY COW! It was one of the most breathtaking and exhilarating things I have ever seen. The powerful, never ending waves, the beauty of the sunrise over the horizon, the mystery of the moon and stars over the pounding water. It was awesome. On top of this all the group really did have a fun time...we endured a fair amount of drama, but not too bad considering, and the great fun I had with people I don't always spend time with far outweighed it. Long delays in the airports, a great day at Universal Studios, and less than 9 hours of sleep during the whole trip made it a memorable one indeed. Can't wait to get my pics back tomorrow.
Sunday we had our last soul purpose concert and started the onslaught of graduation parties with a great big shindig at Matt's. Good times had by all...especially the smore factory people around the campfire.
Today I spent my first day on the job at the hospital. It was an incredible day, extremely eye opening, educational, and even a little scary. I am working in an ICU wing as a nurses' aid...which basically means that I stock cabinets, keep records, and take vitals while working next to life or death situations. I am very excited about the things I will see and learn, and a little scared about the possibility (and probability) for error in my work. Maybe this will help me become a bit more detail oriented. I'm already preparing for the challenge of keeping my compassion level for patients balanced with efficiency and objectivity. It will be an interesting mix...I'm determined to find it. God gave me some very special experiences today which reminded me of the value and frailty of life. Make the most of every moment guys...we never know what will come next. Please pray that I will have a positive impact on my floor too...the atmosphere is already very different than what I am used to. I want to be able to shine a strong light, and I praise God for the Christian friend I have already made on the floor.
Well, 5:15 came pretty early this morning...now I must to bed. Peace and God's blessing to you all as you celebrate the coming of summer.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Hear that??
...a long deep sigh of relief...high school is over.
I don't really have full comprehension yet...people keep asking me how it feels and I really don't know. Wierd. That's probably the biggest thing. Right behind pretty darn good.
This morning my classmates and I are headed to Florida for Senior trip...looking forward to catching up with them in a very no-stress situation. We will spend a day on the beach and one at Universal studios (you can pray for my lack of love for rollercoasters) and we may even go parasailing!
To all of you who are in your crunch weeks still...hang in there...there is an end to this tunnel, can't wait till you join me on the other end. Peace.
I don't really have full comprehension yet...people keep asking me how it feels and I really don't know. Wierd. That's probably the biggest thing. Right behind pretty darn good.
This morning my classmates and I are headed to Florida for Senior trip...looking forward to catching up with them in a very no-stress situation. We will spend a day on the beach and one at Universal studios (you can pray for my lack of love for rollercoasters) and we may even go parasailing!
To all of you who are in your crunch weeks still...hang in there...there is an end to this tunnel, can't wait till you join me on the other end. Peace.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
It's May!
Hi all...
So it's been a few days and I have a few updates I'd rather give you than do more English homework.
School continues to wind down...or maybe it's up...I have trouble figuring that out. We had our last soul purpose concert last thursday, our last soccer practice is this Thursday, and I never have to open a calculus book again (I hope) since my math teacher is teaching us something else now (although I haven't the foggiest idea what). :) After tomorrow we only have one more chapel. I keep telling people that I'm not old enough to graduate. Thank goodness no one believes me...I'm ready to go, it just doesn't seem possible.
Our great friends, Dennis and Donna Dare, who have really been more like family to us are moving this summer to St. Louis...a sad thing but a really good thing for them. It's odd to see them go but thank goodness they won't be too far.
The house is getting turned inside out getting ready for end of the year stuff...which mostly amounts to talking mom into buying 2 cakes rather than three and assuring her that our house will hold all the people who will be coming. It also means that we have gotten to see every picture we own in the last few weeks, which is a blast. It's always fun to look back on old memories and see everything as it was...sometimes blissful, sometimes stupid, sometimes sad, and for me often akward (just like that spelling). It's interesting that the baby pictures are just as much fun to look at as the picture of TJ in a cowboy hat and boots and his underwear or random pictures around the house or the many shots of the homeschool group dressed as authors, ancient Romans, and singing minstrels. Through the ups and downs, the laughs and lessons, God has been extremely faithful to my family and I...the little reminders pop up like dandelions as we sort through the pictures. Maybe that's why it's so good to look back at I time when I feel like my whole life is about pressing forward. God's really calling me to trust without seeing in several ways lately...Pray for me on this one if you would...I'm too stubbornly independant to be the faithful, indebted follower I am called to be.
I hope you are doing well...especially you college people who I don't ever see but are still alive as far as I know. You may never read this but it doesn't change how much I love and appreciate you guys! Can't wait for summer-
So it's been a few days and I have a few updates I'd rather give you than do more English homework.
School continues to wind down...or maybe it's up...I have trouble figuring that out. We had our last soul purpose concert last thursday, our last soccer practice is this Thursday, and I never have to open a calculus book again (I hope) since my math teacher is teaching us something else now (although I haven't the foggiest idea what). :) After tomorrow we only have one more chapel. I keep telling people that I'm not old enough to graduate. Thank goodness no one believes me...I'm ready to go, it just doesn't seem possible.
Our great friends, Dennis and Donna Dare, who have really been more like family to us are moving this summer to St. Louis...a sad thing but a really good thing for them. It's odd to see them go but thank goodness they won't be too far.
The house is getting turned inside out getting ready for end of the year stuff...which mostly amounts to talking mom into buying 2 cakes rather than three and assuring her that our house will hold all the people who will be coming. It also means that we have gotten to see every picture we own in the last few weeks, which is a blast. It's always fun to look back on old memories and see everything as it was...sometimes blissful, sometimes stupid, sometimes sad, and for me often akward (just like that spelling). It's interesting that the baby pictures are just as much fun to look at as the picture of TJ in a cowboy hat and boots and his underwear or random pictures around the house or the many shots of the homeschool group dressed as authors, ancient Romans, and singing minstrels. Through the ups and downs, the laughs and lessons, God has been extremely faithful to my family and I...the little reminders pop up like dandelions as we sort through the pictures. Maybe that's why it's so good to look back at I time when I feel like my whole life is about pressing forward. God's really calling me to trust without seeing in several ways lately...Pray for me on this one if you would...I'm too stubbornly independant to be the faithful, indebted follower I am called to be.
I hope you are doing well...especially you college people who I don't ever see but are still alive as far as I know. You may never read this but it doesn't change how much I love and appreciate you guys! Can't wait for summer-
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