Auntie Mae

15K:]

2010-11-07T22:10:00.004-05:00

So today maddie and I skipped church to watch Cherith and Tim run the 15K Turkey Run! We told him we would come watch and support him not knowing it ended up happening on a sunday morning! It was a lot of fun! I had never been to a race before. In this one, they all predicted how long it would take them and the first 50 people closest to their time won a turkey! Cherith got 4TH!! She was only 30 seconds too fast. She regretted running a little faster to the finish line:) Tim's time was a ways off, but he got 41 out of 100! This is the only picture we got. We had major camera problems. Maddies 6 batteries that she thought were charged werent. Then i had my phone, so i snapped the one of tim! But then charith soon followed. As I went to snap the picture my phone said the memory was full. Darn it. They ran such a good race! Im so proud of them both! :]

Just feet away from the finish line!

Oh my lanta..

2010-10-29T01:56:00.004-04:00

Thought I would post a few pictures along with this post.

How can I resisit?! These are a few of our dorm pictures we took a few weeks ago!! :)

Oh my lanta..I don't even know what to say!
Its been what.. 6 months? Yikes.
So here is my attempt, at 1am, to start this thing back up.. I say that everytime. We'll see what happens.

So, like I love to do, Ill write out my schedule so you can see what my daily life looks like. :)

5:00--bright eyed and bushy tailed and time for a shower.
5:54- run out the door and barely make it to the 5:55 shuttle.
5:55-- head to work.
8:35-- get back from work and head to class.
9:00-- classes start and continue straight until lunch.
12:30-- lunch
1:10-- Biblical Greek! (yes, I am taking greek...so far alright;)
2:00-- Run out of class to barely catch the 2:05 shuttle yet again.
2:05-- hitch my ride to work
4:15-- get off work and head back to the school
4:30-- start my cm. which is now one of the girls bathrooms!
5:00-- squeeze in some greek homework
5:30--dinner
5:50-- dish crew every third week. (this week is mine;)
6:30-- homework, homework, homework!
11:00ish-- I can usually make it to bed! (yup..im doing so much better than i was last semester!) :)

6 hours or less of sleep... then I start it all over again.

My homework load has been alright.. several several hours a night at most points. But its really good, I just wish at times I could spend more time on it then I am able to, but I just do not have that kind of time!

Oh my stars! God has been doing some amazing things in my life. He is teaching me lots in class and out of it! He has filled me with such joy even when things are not going the greatest! He has been reminding me how good He really is even when my circumstances arn't so good! Also not worrying and freakin out about stuff such as work, school, cm issues...and everything else known as life. I have no reason to worry, the all knowing, all powerful God of the universe has got it covered. What am I thinking? That I can do a better job. Bahaha.. yeah. right. :) All the things I was worrying about before this semester began; Which room I would get, what roomates I was going to have, what my 4 routes were like for work, if I would like and get along with this new freshman class... and so on. Looking back, I did much more worrying about these things then I should have. They have all worked out perfectly! God is truely amazing! My RA is freakin awesome! LOVE her! My roomies are so great! We have such good times! My CM just got switched...so far it has been so great and I like it:) (even though it is a bathroom), my room is probably one of the greatest rooms on campus, and as for the new freshman class...I LOVE THEM! They are all so great! I have really enjoyed getting to talk and hang out with them! They are so fun!

Classes have just been so amazing, I want to take them all again! :] Romans, pnumatology, 1 &2 Peter, James, Angelology/Demonology/Satanology, Family Relationships Class, and others that I cant think of at the moment. As I said, I am taking Bibical Greek! AHHHHH! It's crazy! The teacher, Jason Weaver, does an AMAZING job teaching it, He is so gifted! The WHOLE time is full of class participation and humiliation. ;) It is so good even though you feel stupid next to those few students that seem to be able to speak fluently now and I feel like I am lagging so far behind! But apparently he said everyone starts feeling this way once we are getting to this point. We are only a third of the way through. 6 more weeks! AHHH! :) This semester is FLYING by! I cant even believe it!

Well, I would love to write more.. but.. it is almost 2. I havent stayed up this late for ages. I keep feeling like today is friday night. We have today, friday, and this next monday off work because the kiddos get off school for some parent/teacher conference. Psh. heck. I dont mind... but I would rather work to earn some money.. but God will provide, He ALWAYS does in odd, strange ways! But all day it has been throwing me off:)

Okay, love you all. And I will try and post some pictures and keep you updated a lil bit on my life!! <3

1 year old jaylea:]

2010-04-07T21:05:00.002-04:00

here are some pictures of jaylea and her parents!!

God's will is perfect, but not always painless.

2010-03-21T18:27:00.008-04:00

we had adventures..

..and we had fun!

Well.. I havent really wrote much on my blog so none of you really heard about Jake.

We had been going out for almost 6 months but as of march 18th we made it official that we are just going to be friends. we had been praying and thinking about us for some time and we decided that we believe it is God's will for us to just be friends. The night before we spent several hours talking, crying, and laughing together. It was a reallyyy hard decision. But we both knew this was God will for both of us right now. we both still really care for each other but want God's will.

One of the hardest things for me... is when i see him, i cant think... oh, theres my jake or want to run up and hold his hand... i cant spend time and talk to him like i did before. I have to change my mindset which is what im having the hardest time with seeing all we have done and been through together..

I knew some of you knew but not all of you so i decided to let you all know.

On to a happier subject..

..i am at mtc [the new tribes missions training center] with amber, dj, and jaylea. thats how i am spending my spring break. :) very relaxing and im really enjoying all the time i get to spend with them:)

Jaylea turned 1 March 22nd! :] it was almost a year ago when i posted about her being in the hospital on Easter day. Its so awesome to see her grow! She has realized how vocal she can be and is on the verge of walking.. she's almost got it. :D i will post some pictures of her in another post.. it will just be easier that way.. :)

surprise:]

2010-01-19T22:12:00.008-05:00

This is what keeps us going when we pull all nighters..it happens..often..

tacobell run anyone?! :]

this..is jake:)

SNOW:]

what keeps me alive and awake:]

My lil baby!

My monster:D

it looks shorter than it really is!

im alive:) some of you have been asking if i am and asking me to post something!!

sorry to some of you who i havent replied too. I have been soooo busy. Okay..i know everyone says that..but let me explain to you how busy i really am..

..here is my current schedule...

..enjoy:)..

now remember..this is my daily schedule..and will be this WHOLE semester.

5:30-6:00--wake up and get ready for work

6:10-8-50--at work[buses] i have a 45 minute layover inbetween routes..so that gives me some time to catch up on homework!

i have 10 minutes to get to class.

9:00-12:30--classes

12:30-1:00--lunch

1:10-2:00--class

2:10-4:30--at work [buses]

4:45-5:30--my CM [campus ministry. I clean all second floor]

5:30--dinner

5:50-6:30--dinner dish crew. every three weeks i am on this..and this week is mine..:/
6:30-7:00--shower

7:00-?--homework
then off to bed to wake up and do this all over again. yikes. I know.

and then i have my dorm room chore..mine this week is trash. and it needs to get takin out almost every day.

So anyway..thats my day..everyday. at least I get weekends off work:)

My classes have been grrreat! The ones this semester have been more intense this semester. We have Prophets Class, Theology, and Hermenutics 2!

Our Prophets teacher is new. And EVERYONE at this school knows that new teachers mean a lot of homework. after being there for several years..they drop the homework load. This class goes til march 18th. Once we ALL looked at the syllabus, we all decided we were going to have a party the night of the 18th.. if we all survive that is:)

God has been sooo GOOD!! Even tho things have not gone so smoothly since being here. With money, class credits, and work.. but its just going grrreat and can only give God the credit.

ok..i need to run..

im at Caribou doing homework with jake.. finished for tonight.. and thought id say hi and catch you up a lil bit. I have a chapter and a half left of Basic Theology by Charles Ryrie, but not to worry..i have my layover tomorrow morning to get it done..so then i have something to do!!

i love you all! :D

Chicken Noodle Soup, Volleyball, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers:]

2009-09-02T01:22:00.002-04:00

Hmm..yeah..I haven't said a thing in a long time..
..sorry bout that.
Today..has been grreat. Mainly because I'm feeling so much better. If you didn't know, I was sick. Yes, only a two weeks into school..and I got sick..along with a bunch of others, its now spreading! So today, was grreat!
Last night, I mentioned to a friend that it would be soo nice to have chicken noodle soup. So, he texted me and told me to wake up early and he'd bring some. So, at 5:30, I woke up, got dressed and headed down to the lounge. As I sat down, he came in with a big hot bowl of chicken noodle soup..Ahh..:] I have never had soup in the morning..but will remember that the next time I'm sick..it tasted so good and felt wonderful on my throat. So after we ate our soup..he headed off to buses.
Seeing I got up soo early, I got to get some homework done, cleaned my desk, and had all my stuff ready to head down to classes..an hour early:]
Another thing..I saw Mr. Oliver at breakfast. Yes, I did go to breakfast after I ate soup..jus so I could get me some eggs! And yes..he remembered me and even knew my name. haha!
Anyway..so we are having tournaments..Monday is soccer, Tuesday is volleyball, Wednesday is hockey..and the list goes on. I'm on a soccer team and a volleyball team. Our volleyball team is called, Hello Kitty. Yeah, I know..gay right. haha. But anyway..I am soo proud of my team..we played a team of staff and their kids[rumor has it that two of them are on the high school volleyball team..] so, we played best out of three. The first game, was crazy..we bounced back from 4-12 to 11-12...but they ended up winning the first game by two. Then, the second game, we were ahead the whole time until the end, then it was back and forth, back and forth for a long time till finally, they won by two. So, yes, we lost, but it was so nerve wracking..we almost had it. So, I am pumped for next weeks game! Dude, we were so pleased with how well we did..so it didn't matter that we lost..we just had a great time. Even tho people did make fun of our name. ;]
Next, after the game, several of us came into the lounge. We were naming off older movies, Yours, Mine, and Ours, Court Jester...and finally we got to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Timmy announced that we had to watch it sometime..when I remembered I had it:] so a bunch of us..even the guys..sang along and quoted most of the lines..just laughing..
Ahh..theres nothing like it..plain beautiful:]

ohh, and by the way..PLEASE PRAY for me and two others who are taking our CDL[commercial drivers license] test tomorrow[about 3-5pm Florida time]. I heard its a intense test, but the trainer thinks we are ready. Please pray God calms our hearts and minds and we take our time on the test and remember everything we have to say..and we won't forget anything. Thank you!!

I put on my mexico shirt today..

2009-07-21T03:10:00.007-04:00

why? cause today is the first day the team will be in Mexico:]
sigh. I don't even know what to write. It's been a hard couple weeks. I am having mixed emotions. The team is there..they made it. It's just so weird..why am I not there..why am I way up here..in Washington..when they are all down in Mexico..at this very minute..all the people I love, in one of the places I love the most. Don't get me wrong..I love all the people in Washington and Montana..but..its just, I learnt so much there..the relationships you build while there are amazing..
I miss the Mexicans..
I miss the drive back to the ranch while Monte drives..
I miss the dryness..
I miss the missionaries..
I miss the time spend with the team..and the closeness you get with everyone..
I miss the brickyard..
I miss the food..
I miss the orphanage..
I miss the mountains..
I miss the rain..
I miss the swing set..
I miss the sunrises and sunsets..
I miss city..
I even miss Polly..the annoying, barking chihuahua that lived next door..
and even the cockroaches..which you knew were near once you heard the shriek of a girls voice followed by the pounding of a flip flop against the cool tile floor trying to kill it!
I miss it all!
The list could honestly go on and on.
I am so overjoyed for the team tho..they get to experience all that..I just wish I was there to experience it with them..
but I know..God's will is PERFECT! and there is a reason why they went and some stayed..
I am so glad Hannah got to go..:] for the third time..how great is that! :]
I just can't stop smiling...I am sooo happy for them!
And..they are updating the blog daily..check it out..I know I'm going to be checking it every evening:)
And I am going to go to a few Mexican restaurants while they are down there..just so I can somewhat join in on the fun..and remember all I learnt and experienced there..and we got some good Mexican places up here..:]
Oh..also..a couple of the team members said they wanted something to take along on the trip that would represent me..seeing I couldn't go..we thought and thought...some mentioned a life size picture of me..but I immediately said no to that. But we agreed to a bobble head turtle, one I got from Mexico last year:] So, Megan the Turtle has made it their safely..that I know of..Bastian is taking care of her..I'm hoping she doesn't come back with a broken neck..or even get lost:]
well..its late..and I must get going..I need to wake up somewhat early..going to babysit my three lil cousin in the morning:]

love you all!

p.s..amber, dj, and jaylea get here in a little over a day..I am soo excited:] I cant wait to see them...ahhh:]

ohh..p.s.s..;] I am allergic to bee stings..and you guessed it..I got stung..two days ago..and can you believe it..its gotten worse..swollen, red, hurting, and itching. That's what going on with my ankle at the moment. Ahh...and the swelling is spreading around my ankle and up the leg..if you could pray it get better and not infected..that'd be grreat!!! :]

It's a sad, sad day..

2009-07-11T13:20:00.000-04:00

I'm missing slurpee day:/ and already missed free chicken day (cow day:) at chickfila...why doesnt the north have such places..sigh..who needs those calories anyway..(bare with me while I try and talk myself into thinking its not as exciting as it really is)..

It's Actually July.

2009-07-01T21:00:00.003-04:00

I just realized that the other day.
June has honestly, been the longest month..I have ever experienced in my life.
Throughout this month, I have quit my job..which in a way, seem like several months, but also like I could just run and get that uniform on and jump on in and help with the lunch rush! ;) The week after I quit, my chick-fil-a got a new owner and two managers. I got introduced to him by Melanie(the former boss) and he acted like it wouldn’t be a problem for me to come back and work there when I am on my summer break! Which would be so amazing..then I wouldn’t have to go through the chore of finding a new job, going store to store, filling out applications, interviews…and all that junk! :] Or, another option, is, my friend, Lee, who used to be a manager at chick-fil-a..but is now working at Olive Garden, said he could probably get me a job there for the summer as a hostess. I think that would be an exciting job..for a change!
Ok..back to all what happened this month. :]
I spent the weekend I quit my job with few girls from the mission. Originally, we were going to have a big sleepover for my birthday..but it never worked out. So a couple girls organized a girls weekend! Earliesh Saturday morning, we headed to the beach!! I guess I should add pictures! If I have time I will..or else they will have their own separate post! :] So anyway, we went to the beach and walk along the shore, then, went back to the car and got our lunch, then took it down to the beach to eat it. Then, after awhile, we made our way to Maitland and checked into our hotel room. If I remember correctly, the rest of the girls went down to the swimming pool and Jenna, Sarah, and I sat up on the bed talking and eating most of the bag of candy! :] hehe! Then, we went over to Cranes Roost, Jenna brought her guitar, and we just had a great night worshipping and singing praises to God! It was such a great night, during our time of singing, a girl walked by..then started walking back towards us, she came and joined us! Since then, she has actually hung out with us a time or two which is really neat!! We then went back to the hotel and played games, got massages, and watched a movie..but I feel asleep before they watched it! :] The next morning, we went to Cranes Roost and had a bible study and some more songs..what a great morning that was! :] Thank you girls for putting that whole weekend together..it was such an amazing time! I loved it! Then, on our way back to Sanford, Mary, Jenna, and I hung out at the mall for awhile while I was waiting for my ride from Richie. Which brings me to my next thing..
Chick-fil-a was all meeting at Chilies, their treat..[free meal..why not;] no, but the reason was to meet the new owner and managers and to say goodbye to all our former owner and managers.
Lets see..what happened next..
Mary, Sarah, and I, went out to get a tan. I was set on coming up north tan while everyone up here would still be white. Well..we ended up being out there longer then expected all because of Dove chocolate. It melted in the sun, so we had fun putting it on our lips, making a mustache, and putting hearts on our faces. And the tanning results were…a burn, which turned to into a solid layer of lil blisters all over my chest. I should put a picture of that just to gross y’all out! :]
Ohh my goodness..so much happened..i’m having trouble remembering it all. Lets see..
Some friends from church came over one night to watch a movie. It was Seven Pounds..none of em had seen it!! I think its pretty good! :]
Our MK youth group had a summer BBQ type thing..which was a lot of fun!! That night..we also met two new aussie friends. Their family was staying in the guest house. James and Heidi! We showed them around. And also got them in trouble by their father. Ya see..we went were down in the lobby talking till midnight, then we went over to the new park and talked..actually hiding while the security guard made her rounds, then went over to the schools playground which is where their father found us..he was furious and it was late. Anyway..but it was a grrreat night.
Oh, one night, Chad came over to hang out with us..we ended up playing Pinochle. I learned to play it in 4th grade, I didn’t really like it then, it was more like a chore cause they made me…cause there wasn’t enough people for teams unless I played! But I enjoyed it this time. And that was the night chad brought back my ring from png that I ordered! So I was really excited! :] Thanks Chad!
Another night, a bunch of us girls rented one of the guest house rooms. We had a great night..games, scary stories..jenna lead us all around outside while telling one, and singing out on the riverwalk in the middle of the night! (hair on the bathroom ceiling) I’m probably missing something..
Saying a bunch of goodbyes. And the morning I left..Matt and Sarah got up real early to see me off. We left 5 o’clock sharp. Not to mention matt lives 30 min away. That meant so much guys..thanks! :]
We then got to Seattle, Wa, and made our way up to Bellingham..the place where I grew up!
The next night..we were able to go to a cousins birthday party, and got to see a bunch of family. Which was exciting!
Also..our three lil cousins, Eleiya, Anika, and Alder took just a few minutes to warm up..and now..its like we never left!! It was great spending a couple days with them.
Also..we spend a day in the hospital..my uncle kyle..who is only 8 years older than me and like a brother..and something wrong with his teeth..im still not completely sure, but, he couldn’t open his mouth, had a hard time breathing, and was is so much pain. But he is doing so much better now!
We made the day drive..12 hours or so to Montana. While here..we went to Monarch, spent time with some family that came down to see us, and have played plenty of games:]
Also, we had to speak at a church…like I said in my last post..it went..well. I thought I could of done better..but ohh well. We’ll see how the other ones do.
All this to say…it has been such a long but grrreat month..the best of my life..seriously..minus the goodbyes;]
Go ahead and remind me of all the other stuff we did the month of june..I forget a lot of it!
love you all:)

Made it to the land of casinos, mountains, and cowboys!

2009-06-26T23:43:00.003-04:00

Yup..thats right..we made it to Montana!

The other day..we went with my uncle Chris and lil cousin Austin to a waterpark..just a little one. So that was fun to go down the slides, be in the sun, and just spend some time with them.

Last night, Jenna, Sarah, Mary, and a few girls that were just visiting called me during Good News! We probably talked for a couple hours. It was good to hear their voices. :] I don't know..it's great being over here visiting family..but, I just feel like I'm missing out on so much by not being down there..but, now that I think about it, I guess I'm missing out on some grreat times here with all the time I'm thinking about how much I'm missing there. haha!

Well, we just rehearsed what we are going to say and do at church this Sunday. I havent even thought about what I am going to say tho, and its in just a few days. Goodness sake..I better think about that. And we have to sing for offering..ugh..wow..the life of an MK..just keeps getting better..:)

Wow..earlier I thought of so much more I could say..guess my mind has shut down for the night.

I honestly dont know what else there is to say..except..please pray for us as we give our presentation this sunday..and the following ones..that the people will come with open hearts and ears. This is a weird prayer request..but, would you just pray that I will be truly happy..and not wearing a mask. I dont know whats come over me just recently..I guess I just feel numb..and at times like I'm just sitting back in the distance, watching whats going on..with not much to say..thanks..

I love you guys.. <3

29 days left..but lets not think about that..;]

2009-05-18T10:33:00.010-04:00

Well, I have nothing deep to say or anything to that will make you think...but I wanted to write anyway..its been a long time!

I have 29 more days. Not that i'm counting down or anything...;] I really shouldn't..its pretty depressing..but, I'm excited to see what God has in store for me this summer and the next two years!! We come back around Aug 4th, and will be here for about two days, then we are heading up on the long drive, again, to Wisconsin! My room is in the process of getting torn down. I am moving into my sisters smaller room, and she will get the nicer, bigger one! :] I have all posters, random papers, and pictures off my walls. Its starting to look quite bare. I got rid of about 20 walmart bags full of old clothes that I will no longer wear! And I have most of the stuff I am going to take to Wisconsin together! But there is still a lot to do!

My niece is doing so much better then she was on Easter! Thank you all for praying for her! She still has a sensitive stomach...but Amber just has to watch what she eats more so now..and not eat things that will irritate Jaylea. I cant wait to see them in July!! They are coming out to Washington for our family camp! She will be almost 5 months then!! She is getting so old!

Another thing..i am loving this stormy weather!! Just beautiful! :D

I love overcast days. And I love the rainy stormy days too..like today!!

This picture shows you perfectly, how we feel about each other! ;] Chad is leaving today, to go to my home, papua new guinea. He better have a great time!!

I love you Jenna!! :D I just had to put this picture on!!

I don't know what is going on here..:]

There we go..

Oh, so I got my new laptop today..for college!! Yay!! I love it! Most people think its silly that I never had my own computer till now. hehe!! But I am enjoying it so much. Which means hopefully I'll be blogging more! But that's what I seem to say every time! :)

Well, that's all for now folks! :)

Scared to Death..

2009-04-13T00:56:00.007-04:00

Where do I even start...
So yesterday morning..Jaylea was, for the most part, acting normal, she went most of the night, not wanting to eat..and that morning, was the same. She was sleepier then normal. She slept all the way through church..without a peep. On the way home, my mom tried to feed her with a bottle, she would drink some, but then let it all run out of her mouth down her chin and neck. If she did swallow some..she would just spit it all up. This was not the Jaylea we know. She is a good eater. As we got home..she didn't want to eat again. She missed several feeding times. By this time, she didn't even want to wake up..she might of opened her eyes for a lil bit..but then..she would fall back to sleep. Amber was getting worried. At one point, Jaylea rolled her eyes to the back of her head. DJ assured her she would be alright. So Amber decided to lay down..she later fell asleep. We were going to go out to eat for Easter...but decided to wait, to see if we could get her to eat.
DJ sat on the couch, with Jaylea sprawled across his lap. She never would sleep like that, maybe the first day or two of her life..but not now..at three weeks. You could put her in any uncomfortable position, and she would just lie there..completely out of it. I went and sat next to DJ..as I held her lil hand, she usually, even when asleep, would grab onto my finger tight..and not let go..even if I would try and pull away, but this time, as I held her hand..she didn't hold my hand back..her lil hand would just plop back to her side if I let go. As I sat there..watching my lifeless lil girl..all I could do was pray..something was wrong..and we didn't know what it was. She wasn't being responsive, she wouldn't even cry, she was limp, lethargic, she didn't want to eat, all she wanted to do was sleep, and we couldn't really wake her up and keep her up. Some of us took a nap..or just sat and waited...
I woke up to DJ on the phone with Jaylea's doctor..I heard,"So that's not normal right? You want us to go to the Children's Hospital? Ok, thanks." We all got ready to go to. I new something was definitely wrong when he came out with Jaylea in her car seat..still sound asleep..cause she hates getting in that thing..she usually crys when they try and get her in there..even if she was sleeping.
As I heard my sister, bawling while getting all Jaylea's things together..I had to fight back the tears. It was one of the scariest things that I've gone through. I have grown so attached to my lil girl..I love her with all my heart..now..my heart was breaking..I'd do anything to help her..to make her well and herself again..I didn't know what the doctors would say..but tried not to think the worst.
We made our way to the Hospital..it seemed like eternity..I wanted to get my lil baby there. She sat there sleeping..quiet, the whole trip which isn't her..she usually would lay there eyes wide open just looking at her surroundings..worry and tears were just building up...ready to burst.
Finally, we made our way to the emergency room. Oh my goodness..I have never seen the nurses move so slow..guess it doesn't go as fast as the movies show. As we got settled down, waiting for her name to be called..we all took turns going to the single bathroom. I sat there..fighting back the tears..waiting for my turn..I happened to be the last one in line. The minute I opened the door to the bathroom, I just burst into tears..crying my heart out. I was scared to death..praying she would be alright. Just wondering what was wrong with my precious baby, and hoping it would not be serious. I hurried up..and applied more makeup and made my way back out.
A bit later..Jaylea started crying..which I know at least relieved me a lil. Amber tried feeding her again, right when the nurse called her name. They made their way to one of the rooms, a bit later, DJ called all us back there..and we sat in the lil hospital room, waiting for the doctor.
They asked a bunch of questions..and by this time, Jaylea was wide awake..so the doctor couldn't see how she had been acting all day long. One of the reason she was wide awake..was probably cause they had to take her temp though her lil bottom..and she started crying..so..that woke her up a lil. But we still don't know why she seemed almost normal in front of the doctor..we just sat there confused..but amazed. The doctors ended up just sending us home after a few lil tests and such. But did set her appointment with Jaylea's doctor for today..instead of Wed.
We are still worried..cause it didn't seem like the doctors understood how she was throughout the whole day..but we are hoping some of the questions will be answered today at her checkup..and she will not go through that again. She is starting to eat a bit more..and once we got home and Amber fed her..she didn't spit up once. :)
Could you please be praying she continues to eat more and keep it all down and will gain more energy as time goes on..ohh, and that she gains more weight..she still weighs about 6 pounds..and today marked her three week and one day birthday! :)
Sigh..yesterday was such a long emotional day..but glad she is doing better!
I love you guys! See you soon!

p.s..we are heading out today..not sure what time..but will be there tomorrow!

Dont get stuck..

2009-04-11T01:02:00.008-04:00

..yep..that's right...
You see..ok, well, this might sound weird..and I dont know how this will turn out..its late..I'm feeling sick..and I need to go to bed..but, I just wanted to share something I've been thinking about..
Since I got up to Wisconsin..I've been realizing how I was stuck in this weekly routine..I was so involved and had my mind wrapped around everything going on..that is if I wasn't on robot mode...I worked everyday 8 or 9 to around 5 with both jobs(except sundays:)..and in the evenings, I either had one of two youth groups, awana, and good news sessions:)..but had a few evenings to catch up on some things..weeks just flew by..which turned into months..
I got to the point, where I didnt really want to go to NTBI anymore, cause so much was going on there, I was just plain comfortable. I know, one of my favorite sayings is,"Nothing great comes from being comfortable." And that's where I was, comfortable in my own lil town, and my own lil circle of friends...in a lil bubble. But, then, when I got up here, I woke up and realized how much more God has for me outside of my lil bubble. As I have mentioned before about how there are awkward relationships and how I'd rather go someplace new and have a clean slate..well, I have different thoughts on that now. That may sound better..that is my plan and how I would want it to turn out, and not Gods. And now, I am really excited to move up here and go to school mostly from talking to Kristyna and Kelly(DJ's sisters..it seems like I have known them forever..just its just been a couple years!) about school, the classes, and how great the teachers are..hehe!
I am going to miss everyone so much..sigh..its gonna be real, real tough..but I am really excited about moving up here now..its where God wants me to be..and'm excited to see what God has in store for me up here.
Another thing...I am officially accepted into NTBI Waukesha..the only thing that they were waiting for was a picture and my physical form(which I had both done..but just needed to send them in)..once I got here..and realized how much I wanted to go..and saw that this is what God has for me the next couple years..so I sent those things off..and they emailed me back right away and told me I was accepted and was going to get some things in the mail..how exciting! :)
Man..there were a few more things I wanted to add..thats what I get for doing it so late..I forget..or is that cause of my old age?! ;)
Now..all this happened pretty much before I heard the news that possibly..if all goes well...Maddie...remember her..she came to visit..and I said how I wasn't going to see her for two more years..well, she is coming to the states in a couple months..but anyway..like I was saying, if it all works out..she is planning on going to NTBI in Waukesha...this Fall believe it or not. This past year, we'd talk about colleges, and she wasnt sure..our original plan...when I was in like, 7th grade, we planned to go together. But, then, she wanted to go to a different college and just wasnt sure if she wanted to go to NTBI right off the bat..which was perfectly fine...and I accepted it and figured she wasnt going to go the same year. Then, a couple nights ago..I caught her online, and one of the first things she said to me was.."I just finished my application to NTBI." I was overjoyed! I mean, there is still a possibility that she might not go...but I'm praying she will be able to!!
Wow..ok..I need to go to bed..
..I'll see you all soon..very soon...two more days here...one full..21hours(if all goes well) drive back..and I'll see you guys again!
Tomorrow we are meeting up with Uncle Karl and Aunt Maribeth..friends from PNG..and from the NTM training..I've known them since 3rd grade..so that will be a lot of fun!
well, goodnight my dear friends..I love you! :)

It doesnt get any better then this...

2009-04-07T00:56:00.006-04:00

..i was told to put pictures of Jaylea and me..:) so this afternoon..we had some fun with the camera! :]

..more to come..hmm..i just realized..that they all pretty much look the same..ohh well!!

Coming Soon...
Jaylea Karyn's First Visit to the Bowling Ally!

..Be Excited..
:]

Lil Jaylea Karyn! :)

2009-04-06T00:24:00.004-04:00

Just feelin her guns! this ones for Jenna! (i love you..and miss you like crazy! call me ok! dont make me call you:)

Grandpa time!
these next three pictures..were all her..she put her hands like that..hehe..

hear no evil

speak no evil

see no evil

she didnt really like her first bath

More to come..i promise..dont say I didnt warn you! :)

She is tooo adorable!

2009-03-26T17:02:00.003-04:00

Ahhhh...she is just tooo cute for words!! There are words across her face cause I snatched it off the hospital website...you have to buy it..i might just do that..cause its such a great picture!! :) She is just so stinkin adorable! :)

I'd like to introduce you to...

2009-03-24T21:47:00.005-04:00

...my niece, Jaylea Karyn Royer!

She made her grand entrance on Sunday March 22nd at 6:43pm[i believe:]

Welcome to the world darlin..i love you! :]

We are heading up there in less then two weeks! It seems like i wont see her in forever..I feel like when I finally get to see her..she will already be walking and talking..haha! Thats how long the next two weeks will be!! I cant wait to sit in a rocking chair with her and tell her stories! :)

..babies, birthdays, summer stuff, and school! :D

2009-03-05T13:28:00.007-05:00

Ohh my stars..so many good things have happened this week and in the months to come!

1) It was my birthday! I admit..I was not looking forward to this day..not one bit. The BIG two-oh! Thats just so old, I am no longer in the teens..eww. Ever since I was real real little, I wanted to be like Peter Pan...I never wanted to grow up...guess I was really just lazy, I didnt want to pay all the bills, be responsible, make all the choices [not getting told what to do pretty much by the parents], having a job the rest of my life...and just being out on my own. Its just plain scary. But I ended up having a fantastic day. I had to work at chick-fil-a, but they went easy on my all day..hehe! And they made Dima and me a milkshake each[cause she shares my birthday too..I guess I share hers..cause she is older then me:] and they stuck a candle in the whipcream and sang happy birthday! :P Thank you all for the messages, hugs emails, comments, hugs, phone calls, voicemails, and more hugs! :) It was a great day! Which brings me to the second one...

2) Lil James Eli Harris was born 11:50am, 8.5lbs, and 22 in long! :D according to Josh, he is the cutest ever, he is awesome, manly, and a good looking boy! And I agree! He sure is adorable!! What a great present to get...lil James Eli!! We are birthday buddies! [or you could say birthday twins:] And I havent told James yet, but we are going to be best friends..like this *crosses middle and pointer finger* We'll be pretty tight! hehe! :) "All this..."<--guess some of you will get that! :P

3) Tomorrow..I am going to Dare 2 Share. Im not quite sure what to expect..its my first year going...but i'm very excited to see what God is going to teach me and what all He has to say to me this weekend! :)

4) I am going to go to Wisconsin the beginning of April..to welcome my lil niece into the world! :) Yep..i'll be an aunt..and I am just so excited! And when I go up to ntbi..they will be at mtc[the bootcamp/language school] So we will just be 6 hours away from each other! :) I am going to be the aunt that spoils her with shoes..just converses..I have bought her two already..they are so lil and cute! hehe!

5) This summer...will be spent in Washington..yes..I am not going to mexico..as much as I want to, sigh. I havent told Josh no yet, officially, but I will probably start crying when I tell him no. Seriously...im not joking. But, I will be hanging out with my family. I told you all before, that during this summer, will mark two years of me not seeing them..but, I was wrong..it will be 3 years that I havent seen all my extended family. Which is a long time...
While we are there..we will have our annual 'Family Camp', thats when the whole family gets together..it seems like there is 60-70 of us if everyone comes, and we spend a week camping. They started this tradition the year Pete and I were born![my cousin:] So this is the 20th year! :) wow..I just realized that! :D We all pretty much live in the same area..so we see each other all the time...but its exciting to just spend a week all together! :)

6) NTBI...is coming soon! Awhh..its been like a rollercoaster for me this past year..at times I have been so excited to go...and at other times..I dont really want to go. I am really looking forward to the classes..but I just know so many people up there..in a way that will make it easier..but there are so many awkward relationships, people I used to be friends with, people I know but dont really talk to, and family friends that have known me since I was lil. Its just going to be weird..I would rather move some place completely knew..and have a brand new slate and know no one. But i'm pretty sure this is where God wants me to go..so I am excited to see what He has for me up there! :)

Guess thats all the news for now :)

ohh p.s..work is going great today..but maybe it cause everyone that pretty much answers the questions are out today or are in meetings the whole time..so everyone that calls or comes in, I just have to get their name and number and give the person the message..haha! Pretty easy! And I have enjoyed talking and laughing with Nancy today..an older lady who is a snowbird[one that comes down to the headquarters to help out during the winter..for those of you who dont know] She is so great! She has so many stories to tell and has had so much experience on life! And her and a bunch of her friends were going to go to chick-fil-a to each lunch, after she finished working and she was disappointed when she found out I wasnt working there today! :)

I Have Survived the First Week...

2009-02-19T10:51:00.002-05:00

Well, as some of you know..I got a second job. I'm working in the Tax and Retirement Office at New Tribes Mission. Mr. Snyder hired me as the secretary! :) I take all the calls, and transfer them to the correct person who can answer the question, set up appointments, email and give messages to the right people, and deal with walk-ins, scan the data sheets when Nancy isn't here, and put together and staple forms, open the mail..separate it..then give it to the person its meant for. Oh, and I make the coffee in the morning! :)
At first, before the job even began..I was pretty excited. "Wow!" I thought,"This job is going to be a nice and slow one..I will be able to just sit and relax. It will be completely different then Chick-fil-a."
Then..on my very first day, after the first 15 minutes on the job..I got like, 5-6 walk-ins, several phone calls and a bunch of mail to open. After that..I had completely different feelings towards the job! :)
People were bringing in these forms and papers and using all these tax words that I know nothing about. Honestly, I am clueless in this area. Taxes...eww.
Now, its been exactly one week since I've started! Today is my 5th day!
Everything is going pretty good today!
*The phone calls have all been a success! [which means I haven't transferred any calls to the wrong person:]
*My cup of coffee is sitting next to me and it tastes delicious![somehow I put in the perfect amount of sugar and creamer..we'll just see if I can do it again next time;]
*There wasn't tooo much mail today! [and I gave it all to the correct people:]
*Seeing its not very busy, and there is nothing to do or catch up on...I will probably write a lot of random posts..don't say I didn't warn you! :) [thanks Matt for the idea of keeping up with my blog at work:]
*For my break, I just have to walk up a flight of stairs, and ill be home...haha...I just did that to get a water bottle..cause the coffee wasn't satisfying my thirst! :)
Well, that's all for now! not sure how long ill be here today..maybe till 4..4:30..5. We'll see how busy we are.
I'm enjoying this slow pace job more and more...and it gives me plenty of time to think and collect my thoughts! :)

Such a fake.

2009-02-19T10:50:00.001-05:00

The door flings open, as I walk in, my boss says, "Hey Megan! How are you?"

"Good." I reply, "How are you?"

"Good, Thanks!"

Every single day I walk into work...and that is whats said. Its starting to get so fake..and routine...its been bugging me.

Can we not be comfortable to share how we are really doing and what we are going through? Guess not. Theres no time. When we trained for the job..one of the main things they tell us is.."Leave your problems at home when you come to work..we want our employees to have big smiles on their faces and be inviting.." Sigh..guess thats how its going to be. It jus so annoying.

p.s..this is something I wrote forever ago..and didnt end up posting it. so thought.."hey..why not." ahaha! :)

Mexico.

2009-01-26T15:47:00.004-05:00

I haven't looked at that word the same since two summers ago. Now, whenever I hear or read that word, I am reminded of the crazy adventures, all God taught me, the amazing memories made, my future..maybe not in mexico..but somewhere probably overseas, and all the friendships made there. Sigh.

I just watched the last mexico video. Only one lil lonely tear made it down my cheek...but at least there was one...seeing there hard to come by! You see..the reason for the tear..is cause inside..im struggling to accept the fact..that I probably wont go to mexico this summer. My heart is breaking. At first, I was sure it was Gods will for me to go...but as time goes on..I think im starting to realize that I am the one that really badly wants to go..and God doesn't.

My family is going to the northwest for the summer. which by that time..I will not have seen all my family in 2 years. If I did go, I would have to fly from Washington to el paso, and meet up with the group[yeah, I had it all figured out], then, after the trip, I would have to fly from el paso back to Washington, then straight to Wisconsin. A couple days after that, I would have to start training to become a bus driver..then a bit after that..I would start college. I thought the transition back was really hard that last two times...if I had to immediately move away from my friends and family and start college..it would be tough..that's a hard transition on its own. Sigh.

Josh might not even be considering to ask me to go back..I have no clue..but I haven't heard anything from him yet..I know he has been praying about it! and hey..I've already gone twice for goodness sake.

So, pretty much..its probably a no go for me...but..its not to late...if God really wants me to go...He will make it happen....

I jus needed to cry...

2008-11-10T17:15:00.003-05:00

Wow...what a day....sigh...so, this morning, I was dealing with something..that has been emotionally stressful for me..and there has been things going on..that I've been holding in...
So..as I was dealing with this...I was completely zoned out...I honestly dont know where the time went..cause the last time I looked at the clock..I had 20 minutes till work...and I had to be there at 11:30 So, all of the sudden, I look up at the clock..and I thought..ohh my..I better get my uniform on I jus have a couple more minutes till I should be heading out. As I went to my bedroom..I looked at my clock..11:30. I looked at the time again..then thought.."No..that has to be wrong." So, I looked at another clock...nope...it was right...I was suppose to be at work and clocked in at that very moment. How could of this happened..where did the time go?! So I raced and got my uniform on...then, I couldn't find my keys. I called my dad, and he said if I could find moms, I could jus use those. I ran downstairs....started the car as I called chick-fil-a...one of the girls there answered, I told her I would be there as fast as I can and apologized. Thats when..I jus started crying...all the way to work....as I walked through the door...25 minutes late..Melanie[the boss] said,"Megan, its really ok...dont worry about it." I walked by her and said,"No, its not..im so sorry." I started crying again as I walked up the stairs to put my purse in one of the lockers. She came up behind me and said,"Really Megan, some people are late and jus call in and say they are going to be late..and dont even feel bad..I can tell you feel really bad..and so dont worry about it at all. Take your time...and come down when you are ready ok!"
So, I tried to reapply my makeup, [cause if I jus shed a tear..it lookes like I cried for hours] and went down to get a drink. As I came back, Lee started making a joke about me being late..I said while trying to hold back the tears,"ohh Lee..dont even go there..." and I looked at him as I walked past. He said,"wait..whoa..." I turned around,"Megan..are you ok...your crying." He gave me a hug...and said,"Megan, your alright..you dont have to worry about it. Why are you crying?" I jus said cause I am late..but, I dont think normally..I would of cried..but..that was the last straw...I reached the top of the bottle..and jus let it out. I really needed to cry..cause its been awhile. I sorta wished I was at a place I could of jus cried it out...cause I never cry..and it feels good to get it out..ya know. He hugged me again trying to convince me it was ok. I went out, and Carlton[the older guy there..he is about in his upper 60 I think] said,"Megan, are you ok?" I replied,"no." He said,"I told them....I told them, Megan isn't here yet..if she is late..something must be wrong..she is never late...I hope everything is alright."
It must of been awkward for the customers..cough..I mean guests for me to take their orders when I have red watery eyes..and on the verge of crying again. :]
I was so mad at myself for being late...all day..so, Lee decided that I needed to talk to a Psychiatrist or whatever after work and he volunteered himself for that spot. So, after work...he sat down...and told me he was a great listener..and I can talk to him whenever....cause he said it wasnt good to hold everything in..and he hates seeing people cry. So we talked awhile. But afterwards...I jus had to thank God for those people I work with and how it worked out. And how fast He had the day go for me. :D
Sigh...it was an interesting day.
I jus wanted to share my story with you...

first timer! :)

2008-11-04T16:51:00.003-05:00

So, today..I voted, for the first time! :) I was quite overjoyed with the fact that I was able to vote for a president for my first voting experience! :)
We had to leave early, cause my parents had to work. So, around 6:30..off we went..a couple blocks down the street! There were probably 25-35 people ahead of us! We stood in line for 20 minutes or so until they finally opened the doors. But when we got to the doors...I was very disappointed....sigh...there were no curtain's...I always thought about the first time I would vote for a president..and I would walk into the lil cubical..and slide the curtian to close it. But no...there were no curtians! =[ ohh well..I lived.
So anyway...we were finally able to vote..they gave me the ballot and I was ready. I found myself a lil table thing...and was ready to color in the first oval...but no...the pen didnt work...I dont know how the guy ahead of me did his. So after getting someones attention and finally getting a new pen, I was ready to get to work! :)
As I was working on not making any mistakes..I over heard this lil boy with his parents...he was with his dad and said, "who are you voting for daddy...ohh, for O..." his dad interupted his telling him to be quiet. Then, he decided to go to his mom and said,"Are your voting for McCain?" and the mom told him also to be quiet cause some people like it to be kept a secret, but she didn't care. I finished the same time they did, I was walking behind them and the lil boy was just looking at me the whole way...so I smiled then he said,"your pretty." haha...it was quite interesting. *awkward turtle* :]
As we got the to machine thing that takes your ballot, the guy there[who I knew..cause a lot of people with ntm work there during the elections] said, "This is your first time voting, right?" So I told him yes...then he asked me if I wanted him to announce it to everyone. I said,"uh, well, ummm...." And he yelled out,"First time voter!" I raised my arms as if I won a race..but then everyone started cheering and clapping...so I put my arms down and walked away humiliated! :)
Thats my story..sorry..its quite long...

Theres the place!

So..this one car stopped..and I saw this person getting out..but all i could really see were the Obama signs. I laughed and made a few lil jokes about it..then..when she got out enough..and i could see her face...i was shocked..cause I knew her..hehe..she used to go to the curves down the street, where I used to work!

Also..after I voted...there were people down the street that were jumping up and down holding Obama signs...as we walked pass...I was so tempted to say,"Ohh...to late...I already voted..to bad I didn't see you earlier..cause that would of made me change my vote." hehe..do they seriously think that is going to change someones vote? I am sure..if they are going to vote..they would come ready and prepared..and not coming having no clue who they are going to vote for!

And there is my "I Voted" sticker! :)

Just a thought!

2008-10-31T16:11:00.002-04:00

As you know, people have different fears in life...like, heights, bugs, and the list goes on. Well, I was thinking about my fear. The fear of getting in trouble...for example..by parents, teachers, and my boss. :)
I thought long and hard about this...then thought..why am not as worried about that with God. How can I let myself be like that. From music, to movies, internet, or to a 'lil white lie'...why don't I worry about disobeying Him and letting Him down as much as I do with humans? I should. God knows it all and sees everything...I can't hide anything from Him. In every area of my life, I should double check with God first..to see if that is what He wants me to listen to, watch, and do. Instead of having God involved in just a couple parts of my life...why not have Him involved in ALL of it?!
Just something that I have been thinking about a lot.

have to hurry and get ready for youth group...hope there arnt tooo many mistakes and it all makes sense..but I gotta go..:]...

Its a Mystery?!

2008-10-26T19:05:00.002-04:00

So, a couple weeks ago...I was at awana..and I had to make a few copies. So I went into the break room and started the first page. I had to talk to Josh, so I went over to his office. I was there longer then expected, and had to hurry back to my lil cubbies. When I got back to the break room...I saw that some how...the second sheet was copied...the exact amount I needed. I was sorta freakin out...cause I did the first page...and when I came back..the second one was done. So I shared the news with Josh, Matt, and Stephen. hehe! I never saw anyone go into the breakroom while I was in Josh's office.
I was told to blog this! hehe!
But..if you are the one who did this...or you know who did it...feel free to tell me! hehe!

Love Notes! =]

2008-10-11T18:04:00.004-04:00

Well, I think this blog...is going to start being all about good news....or love notes from God! =] Hehe, cause God gives me so many each day...I just can't help but share at least one a day!! ;)
Hope you don't mind! :]
So....on Thursday, I got off work, and was just about to eat my chicken noodle soup while I waited for my parents to pick me up...cause they needed the car that day. So, my mom rushed in....and said..."we have to go..don't you remember...we have to pick up brittany at 5?" So, I hurried and ate my soup....but didn't get to use the saltine crackers, so I just put them in my purse.
All that to say, last night, my dad came out of his bedroom around midnight feeling quite sick to his stomach. See...I am sleeping in the living room cause my grandparents are taking my room and I was still awake. I saw him looking throughout the kitchen, then he said,"ohh....I thought we had saltine crackers...I guess we don't. And we used the last can of the sprite today too didn't we?" With that said...he was just going to come watch some tv....cause that was all he felt for. But then...God reminded me..."Megan, you have some crackers leftover from yesterday..remember?" So, I searched through my purse...thinking they would of gotten squished and would just be crumbs....cause I had my bible and journal in there too. But they weren't! So....he was able to eat those! God new he was going to need those crackers....so He made sure I didn't use them on my soup....=]
But today....we went to the store...and got him a full box of them! =]

some good news! =)

2008-10-10T12:04:00.003-04:00

This last Saturday, I saw my schedule for this week. I noticed that I worked from Monday to Thursday, and then got Friday and Saturday off. I was so confused..they never give me the weekend off. It was so unlike them. I didn't understand. But, as much as I don't mind working weekends..cause pretty much everyone works cause its so busy....it makes it alot of fun.....but I wasn't going to complain.
Well...Wednesday...I got sick..then...thursday...I got worse...but I still had to go to work...then as I was lying there so sick Thursday evening, I realized I had the whole weekend to rest up and get better! God knew that's exactly what I needed! And even tho I didn't understand why my schedule was like that at the beginning of the week...it now makes perfect sense! :)

Im not quite sure...

2008-10-07T10:01:00.003-04:00

Well, I am ready for work early.

And really wanted to post something...but I have to idea what i'd like to write...I just can't think of anything.

any ideas?!

I guess I'll just write whats been going on...

it will be quick...I don't have that much time...=]

...my Grandparents arrived on thur...which was really exciting! They are here till the 22nd...or around then. I haven't seen them in over a year...so its really nice to spend this much needed time with them!

The day after they arrived...we headed to the ntm beach retreat. That was a lot of fun. We were able to just relax...walk on the beach...and enjoy God's beautiful creation! I could sit forever just listening to the ocean--just God and me! We had some good talks! :)

This Sunday...was brits birthday! So, we made our way back home. She wanted chinese [is that how you spell it..it looks funny:] food....so we ate...opened presents...played clue...then ate cake and icecream! =]

Monday....I won't explain it all...but I managed to spill hot boiling water all over my wrist...so its red and puffy! Lee told me to put mustard on it...I thought he was just kidding...then...my boss said the same thing...so I tried it. Sigh...all it did was take the red away...so you can barely see it...but it still hurts the same. I am never doing that again...if its going to hurt like it does....its going to show. haha. or else...people think that I am making it all up....=]
Went to youth group....as tired as I was....I was excited about breakout groups...cause most of the girls were there
...but guess what...we had a guest speaker..who did a great job...but we then weren't able to have break out groups! =/
...next week!

Today...I have work. =]<--I guess work deserves a smiley...hehe...it just depends whos working that makes the day either wonderfully amazing and makes me love my job....or completely annoying and awful and makes me want to quit right then and there. =]

Oh, tomorrows Cubbies! I have to call Mrs. Holmgren....we are doing cubbies together...well...she is doing most of the work...which I feel bad...I will have to ask her is she wants to me to take more things!

ok...I am going to go.......work awaits me!

My grandpa is taking me to work today...cause they need the car...it should be fun! =]

i'll write more later...

Yup, i'm writing again! =]

2008-09-06T17:53:00.003-04:00

"Whoa"..yah, thats probably what your thinking....two posts...in only two days!! yah, I know! =]
I just wanted to say this, so today, I had to open at work! I had to leave at 7:30. So, I set my alarm for 5:50. It went off.....but I was still way to tired because I got home real late last night. So I set the alarm for 10 minutes....I was looking forward to sleeping a little more. But, I never woke up to the alarm, I was deep in sleep in the middle of a dream, when suddenly...I just flew out of bed looked at the clock realizing that I had slept in....it said 7:25! It was completely God. Why else would I randomly, out of the blue, while I am deep in sleep....just...wake up...with 5 minutes to spare?! Even though I was freaking out because I only had 5 minutes.....all I could do was thank God! =] It was a good way to start my day! Isn't He just amazing?! :]

Why?!

2008-09-03T22:15:00.005-04:00

[So jenna wanted me to post more...so here goes;]
This past month, I have been questioning God alot. Like,"Why did the Caley's have to move to England...for forever? They have a home here, friends, a life." "Why can't I be living in papua new guinea? Thats the place I love, its my home, its where I long to be." Why this and why that. So basically, "why can't things just be my way?" But if it were that way, who knows where I would be. But, I have to remind myself of Jeremiah 29:11,"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you." God has everything under control, so I should just leave it all up to Him with no questions asked. But I am still tempted to ask Him 'why' and question His wonderful plan, which usually doesn't always seem so wonderful at that time. I mean, who am I to question the Creator of the universe, the One who tells the spring to turn to summer, the One who tells the sun when to set and the stars when to shine, the One who is keeping me alive, the One who loves me no matter what I do, the One who sticks by my side even when i've turned my back from Him. Yah, I do stupid things.....but He still loves me...no matter what! And having God take on the responsibility of all my worries...takes a huge burden off me! All I really have to do....is trust that God has everything under control....and not ask Him 'Why'!! Even when I am unsure about things....God knows all about it.
I am reading a book called "The Grand Weaver." In the book, Ravi Zacharias tells a story about a weaver who creates these beautiful garments called a 'sari' for brides to wear on their wedding day. They have a variety of spectacular colors that are woven into such beautiful patterns. As they start making them, you can't quite tell how its going to turn out, but the weaver does. Just like God, The Grand Weaver, He has a design in mind for us, even though we can't quite see how it will turn out. But through all the disappointments in our lives-both the threads He brings in and the ones He leaves out, the snagged stitches and the "flaws" that show up at all the "wrong times" starts to reveal a beautiful masterpiece. It is interesting to look back on things that seemed to be the end of the world and you weren't sure how it would turn out.....and how God worked it all out and had it all under control. Just like when the weaver is creating the garment you might say, 'oh, I wonder why he used that color there.' which you thought was going to be a mistake and ruin it, but ended up becoming part of the beautiful pattern which he had in mind from the start!
Well, thats just what I have been thinking about lately!
ok, I am not quite sure if this all fits together and makes sense....sorry. why do i always seem to write posts when i am sleepy and its late?! ;]

2008-08-13T21:12:00.001-04:00

Here is it....finally....enjoy!!!

Sigh....I could watch this over and over!! :)

2008-08-09T22:23:00.001-04:00

Well, here is the slideshow from mexico!! I can't wait to post the video...its so beautiful! I got to see it at youth group! :] :] :]
This monday is senior goodbye night. I am so sad, I love youth group! But, I will still be going, yup, Jenny and I are going to be break out group leaders! I am excited about it, but really nervous. If you guys could please be praying for us that would be awesome. :] I can't wait to see what God has planned for us this next year at youth group! I am looking forward to all He is going to teach me through this new experience! Like Josh told us at youth group,"Nothing great comes from being comfortable." And this situation is very uncomfortable for me....and I will be stepping out of my comfort zone....but I am excited!!
"Thank you Lord for this opportunity!" :]

The Slideshow!

2008-08-09T22:09:00.004-04:00

2008-08-06T21:45:00.004-04:00

I have two things to say.......
......Happy Birthday Angie!!! I love you!!!!
and...ohh my word, I am so tired.....my sister came down last night and we didn't get to bed till around two, and so I have 3 and a half hours of sleep, then I had a 7 hour and a half shift, 8-3:30......until the manager came over and said, uh, megan, and you stay till 7?! AHHHhh.....and she wanted me to stay till 7 tomorrow too....but I talked to david and he said he would take that shift for me cause I just couldn't do it, but, yes, I did say yes....I was on the verge of tears.....11 hour shift with 25 minute break total......augh.......8am-7pm.....anyways....I am so tired......so I am just going to go..........
night everyone...love you! :]

I'm back!! hehe! ;]

2008-08-01T19:36:00.002-04:00

I am still alive.....

.....I don't have time to write anything really........

............but don't worry.....I will put mexico pictures up....sometime.....I promise!!!!

.........here.....I can't resist.....I have to put a couple up......

the days before the trip are getting even shorter.......

2008-05-26T22:10:00.010-04:00

Wow.....is all I can really say! :]
Less then 4 days from today, we will all be sleeping in the little cabins at the KOA campground! ;] Its just so unreal to me that I am going to experience mexico again! I think it will become more real once I am at the airport boarding the plane! ;]
I am doing laundry right now, so then I can just fold them, and stick them into my duffle bag! :] :] :] :] :] I hope I pack less....so then I have more room to bring back stuff!! :] Sigh. I still can't believe it!!! I am super excited......but overwhelmed at the thought of all I have to do before I go! I missed youth group tonight....cause I had to work till 7! So I won't be able to say goodbye to everyone! :[
I'm gonna go! I am so tired.....haha!! And have to put some t-shirts in the dryer!

Also, check this.....its a blog that we are going to be updating with pictures and news while we are in mexico! http://www.thriveyouthmexico.blogspot.com

Some senior pictures for the grandparents and family! ;]

2008-05-01T17:05:00.005-04:00

Well, I thought it would be a lot easier for me, my grandparents, and family to look at my senior pictures on my blog, then for me to email all of the pictures to them. Don't worry guys....I will still send you one or two!! hehe! ;] Love ya!

Just a thought......

2008-04-14T09:24:00.004-04:00

Well, as most of my friends know...I pretty much have no sense of smell...haha....[yah, it must run in the family....but skipped a generation...cause my parents can smell just fine;]! yah, I can smell, a big sunday dinner cooking, anything with tomato sause and garlic....but thats pretty much it...I can never smell if something is burning, or cookies cooking, or the gross trash can thats smells awful[which most of the time not smelling is a good thing;] but there are so many wonderful smells that I am missing....[don't worry, I am not exactly complaining] haha! but, anyways, all this to say......last night, my mom and I were cooking.....and we were browning hamburger, and she put some garlic in while I was stirring....I said...."oOooOoo...I can smell that!" hehe....then I got to thinking....I wonder if there will be smells in heaven, cause if there are....I will be able to smell all of the beautiful smells there! :]

p.s........47 days--8 hours--3 minutes!!! :) [:well, thats what the count down thing says:]

Camping!

2008-03-30T19:58:00.004-04:00

well, we're all back from the camping trip.....safe and sound! :] I have to make this post fast...cause I have loads of school to do! :]
wow....it was amazing!!! At first, I was suppose to do junior church, and wasn't going to make it, but then, after much prayer and calling around....Mr.B decided to cancel junior church this week so Caleb and I could go! :) which I was very excited about!!! So I know God wanted to me to go, even tho it seemed like I wasn't going to be able to!
I loved Josh's Lessons! About finding your real identity! And like, how they were sorta talking about in the skit, people/family/friends having high expectations for your life or giving you false identity's. that is sorta whats happening with me......mainly with some friends. But, like, lately, it seems like their plans for my life, I have to follow! yah I know, it sounds crazy. I just realized how much I listen to them. Pretty sad. But it definitely opened my eyes to see its not my friends choice to tell me if I am going to bible school this year........or to wait. I have heard so many peoples opinions, and I wasn't sure if its just their voice, or Gods! I wrote in my journal this weekend, how it seems like everyones voice is way louder then Gods, and thats all I seem to hear! I know I should try and be following Gods plan/will for my life, but, im getting them all mixed up! hmm, I am not sure if this is making any sense, cause as some of you that went...I've been going on very little sleep this weekend! hehe! But all this to say....even tho I am missing so much that I learnt.....I am so glad God had me go on this trip.......cause I was able to just hand the problem completely over to God and trust Him that whatever His will is....it will be done! If I go to ntbi this year...awesome....if not..its ok...I will just work for the year! and so I was able to have a good time...besides the cold...haha!! Its about time! hehe!!! So, yah.....the camping trip/Josh's lessons helped me a LOT!! :) even tho I seemed to write like...nothing...hehe...I am so out of it....and just talking talking talking....augh...I better go to bed....I will put pictures up later.....as of for now.......night! :]
p.s...thank you all for praying for me!!! :]

Chili Cook Off!

2008-03-19T09:13:00.010-04:00

Trent and Hailey! :]

A much as I hate Chili, I was going to try Chikos!

....here goes......

Two thumbs up, and yes chiko....if I had three thumbs....it would be three thumbs up! ;]

So, again this year, we had a chili cookoff! A fundraiser for the mexico trip!!! :] As much as I hate chili, I was excited about it! yah, I know, how can I go to this church and hate chili? Cause it seems to be their favorite! Well, I am not alone, I found out Aleah hates it too! :)

Afterwards we had a Mexico meeting, which I was excited about! During it Jessie reminded Hannah and I about the time my taco went flying in the air while driving back to the Ranch during the storm last year! ;] it made me smile........and laugh!!! :) :] :) :]

Well, yah....I am have a little Mexico money issue. The 1/3 that we are suppose to get by working, which I am getting from Chik-fil-a, will cover it. but that money is suppose to go towards Bible School. And that 1/3 is about 1/6 of the monay I need for college! There really is no other way to earn it, either I am at work or at home doing school. That is why I am missing service projects, prayer meeting, and awana, cause I got a little behind last week cause I worked over 32 hours. I worked every single day, it was pretty insane! So Hannah and I were talking about it, and thought there would be another way to work it out, so i didn't have to use my college money.

But lately, a lot of people are saying and acting like I should wait a year for Bible School! I mean, there are a lot of plus' to staying a year. One is money would not be a problem, cause I would be able to work for a full year! And I would be able to get a car! In a way, I don't feel ready to go, leave my family and friends...and go clear up north[but, I would have a sister and brother-in-law that would live only a couple minutes away!! which would be amazing:]I don't know if that is God saying I shouldn't go......or if it is Gods will for me too go this year. I don't want to give up and say,"ok, there is no way I'll be able to get the money I need for Bible School, I'll just go the next year." No, I want to try, God will close the door if its His will, and He will also open them! :] I need to just stop worring about it and just trust God!

Well, all that to say, Hannah and I went to talk to Josh about it, I was on the verge of tears, just cause of the stress of everything going on. He said that he still wants us to make all the 1/3 by working, and that he would be praying for me. I know Josh can't just change the rules, cause other people are having trouble earning the money they need. And he can't change the rules half way through.

So on Monday, I handed the money, the whole $330, out of all the money I had earned so far. :-/ In a way, I am excited! Excited that I am and was able to give that money....that means I am going to Mexico.....which is absolutely amazing!!!! But it makes Bible School seem less and less of a chance. But seeing I worked so much last week, after I get that paycheck, and adding it to what I already had, I will be a little over 2/5 there!! I can already see the door opening for me to go this fall to college!! But its not too late for the door to close!

So, I just wanted to let you all know, well, for my frends here who didn't know, but for all my family and friends up north, who I don't get to talk to much!!!!

Sigh. ok, i think I will stop. just some thoughts that are running through my mind! I am just a little confused! So, if you could, could you plese pray that I will know what God wants me to do this next year, and that if its His will, I will be able to go to Mexico and Bible School! thanks!!! Love you all/megan marie :]

memories! ;)

2008-01-27T16:32:00.000-05:00

Hmmm.....=) well, I have been wanted to put a couple mexico pictures up, but haven't been able to! But after the Mexico Meeting today......it really made me want to put some up!! Remember these?! ;) Enjoy! ;)

Ok, so, its pretty much official.....that I am going back to Mexico!! Lord willing!! I am so excited!! Please be praying that we will grow closer to God and come back changed!! =) Sigh, just thinking about going back, remembering what was taught and learnt, seeing all the ones we grew so close to and loved......just makes me smile from ear to ear!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :): )

"its real!"

2007-12-13T17:17:00.000-05:00

Ok, so, yesterday, my mom and I were in the livingroom when the fire alarm went off, it goes off everyonce in awhile when they are testing it. So, we both weren't thinking much about it, it went on for a minute, when I decided to get out of my PJs, I wasn't in much of a hurry, just taking my time, then, decided to put on a little makeup, as I was doing that, my dad comes running in saying,"its real." We couldn't believe it, so, I grabbed my purse and camera! I walked out the door, and past the doors in the next hallway, it was full of smoke, a guy walked in there making sure everyone was out, and he took a couple steps and you couldn't even see him, thats how thick it was. So, we all went outside and had to stay out there for over an hour! No one was hurt during it, but what happened was, a lady had some chicken on the stove in a pot, there was no flames, just a bunch of smoke! It was crazy! But poor Mrs. Mosely! So, the lobby, their hallway, my hallway, and a bit upstairs smelled real smokey all day and you can still smell it little today!

There were about 5 big fire trucks, and 3-4 little ones, and I don't know how many policemen!

In they go!
and out they come!

This was sorta random, it was just the one in my hallway they pulled!

I took a vidoe of the firetrucks coming....but, its not working at the moment!

for someone special! ;)

2007-11-19T00:39:00.000-05:00

Ok.......this is for the Miss, Mrs, or Mr. Anonymous who wrote a comment on my last post! They said I should update it more!

Well.....there is not much to say, I mean, school....which is going alright....I took my first two tests last week.......English and A Bible test......guess what....I got 100% on both....thats a first ;), trying to find a job........well........thats not going the best....but there are quite a few places that I found where I could apply, spanish......haven't got that to work on the computer yet......

......oh, but I do have sad news........my cat died!!! I found that cat when I was about 5 years old! My grandma and I were walking together to the garden, to get veggies, and as we were walking back up the little hill to the house, there she was, walking all by herself out of the corn field!! I picked her up, and I asked my grandma if I could bring it to the house! So she said yes, but, if we saw any signs that someone lost a cat, then we would have to give her back!! Well, I was so set on the cat staying, I named her......Tiger.....[yah.....not a normal name...hehe...she had stripes.....and I was just 5 at the time;].....I also, tied some hay rope around her neck, and would walk her around, then, when I would go inside, I would tie her to the steps, so she would have to stay! :) My grandparents also had an old hamper thing with a lid out side by the garage, so, I also put her in there.......yes.....now I feel bad for doing that...the poor cat...but she loved me....cause she stayed for over 13 years! Or it was just the food! ;)

My grandpa always had dogs......I never remember him having a cat, but when I brought her up to the house, my grandpa knew that I would ask if she could stay at their house, cause my mom never really like the smell of aminals and their food, she just likes them from a distance, so does amber......anyways, then we found out we would be missionaries.....so with all our traveling......there was no we could take her with me! anyways, so, I looked up into my grandpas eyes and asked if she could stay!! And of course, he said yes! :) Next I asked him for a horse, but he said no, that it would ruin the hay field! ;)

So, I want to thank my grandpa now...for all the years he has takin care of my cat, feeding it....he fed them plenty cause my mom said he wanted to do whatever he could to make her stay alive till we got back!! He also took her to the vet.....she was having to many kittens.......and my grandpa said before the whole cat thing, that he would never take an animal to the vet....but he did!!! I was told that she died a week or so ago....but, he just couldn't tell me.....because he knew how much I loved that cat!!

grandma.....could you tell grandpa this........

thanks grandpa! I love you so much!!! love/maymay :)

Ohhh...and.....HAPPY ANNIVERSARY GRANDPA AND GRANDMA!!!! I hope you had an amazing day! And I love you two SOOO much! Thanks for always being there, I enjoyed cooking and helping you in the flower garden, watching all the old movies, going to Kowloon, shopping, and playing scrabble[even tho I always lost], and picking berries and beans with you grandma........and grandpa......I loved helping out in the garden, sitting out side on a cool summer day, watching the baseball, football, and basketball games, oh, and we can't forget about wheel a fortune and jeporty, oh, all the many years of camping.......and the tractor rides!! :) Thank you two for everything!! Love you!

Well, thats all the news here! :)

The Fall Party!!!!! Decades!!!! yay!!!! ;)

2007-11-06T12:42:00.000-05:00

Well.....heres the pictures I promised!!! Your right Hannah.....I shouldn't be doing this...I should be doing school.....haha!!! ;)

That night was so much fun!!!
Ok, this is a weird picture!! But.....I like it! haha!! :)

Tyler and Matt!!!
Brittany and I!! <3 Jenna and I dancing!!!

Ok, for those of you who don't know this.....I was suppose to be a 'punk rocker' or something like that.....it didn't really look like it, but, I colored my hair, with this gel color stuff.........I had to use the whole bottle because I have darker brown hair.......but, my hair was as hard as a rock, we wanted to have it sticking up all over......but, that just didn't work........it took me two different times to wash it.....over and hour and 15 minutes all together........by bath tub was pink....but, other then that....it was fine! haha!!

April making a 'tyler' face and chiko behind...ready to attack!!

Uh-Ooo.....here he goes again!! ;)
Hannah and I! I was so glad she was able to come!!!! I barely get to see her any more......=..( love ya hannah!!!

Oh chiko!! :)

haha!

I got to see Mickey!!! [well....Ann!!] yay!!!

Matt and I!! :)

Angela and I on the way there!! :)

Ally and I!! <3 Chiko and I! ;)

Hannah and I with our wonderful creation!! :)

There it is!! :) Wonderful isn't it Hannah?! :) Thanks for taking Russells place!! :)

April, Matt, and I!!
Brittany and I again!!! <3 Jessie and I!!! <3 Liz, Sam, and I!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Okie dokie...here are two pictures from the next day, when I went with the Burgetts to thier Fall thingy at their school!! :)
Tylers idea! ;)

And here I am climbing the rock wall......my first time ever.....Jill went with me!! It was so much fun, I loved it, but, I was on the side, which was the harder side, the rock thingys are way smaller.....oh well, but I reached the very top!! yay! ;)

Yay!!

2007-11-02T15:58:00.000-04:00

Hey!!! I just wanted to tell you all quick......that I got my school books this week!! I was so excited before they came.....but now....its a little overwhelming! Just seeing all the work I have to do in the little about of time I have!! But I wanted to tell you all thanks for praying that they would come!!! I am not going to get it done by Christmas as I planned!!! A whole year of school in 2 months....uhh.....not gonna happen! But, my next goal is March, but, I am getting a job soon, I have applied to a couple close by! Bank and Doctor Office type places!! So, I might just have finish by the beginning of May!
Ohh, could you guys pray for a friend of mine, David, he lost a friend last week, and it has been very hard for him and his sister, Stacy! They live directly above us!! Thank you!!
Well, I will be putting up pics of the Fall Party soon, when I find time!! :)

Beach Retreat!

2007-10-11T21:19:00.000-04:00

Alright, here are some pictures from the beach retreat! Yah, it was weeks ago, I was just able to get them on here!!!

Tyler!! We were waiting for a friend in the Hotel Lobby! [tylers idea for the window pictures! hehe]
And he said I had to take one too!

David and I! He is just like the younger brother I never had!!!

Some of the girls! Jenna, Cara, Lianna, and I!

Tyler with some of the girls! haha!

I decided on Sat. morning, I would wake up early and do my devos while the sun came up! And I was going to do it Sunday morning, but I barely got up for the church service NTM had!

Another one!

<------North - Remember Mrs. Welsh - South------>

I love sunrises and sunsets!

After it was already up.....the view from our room!

Ok, the story behind this.....A lot of NTMers were swimming, and some of the teens got taking to the guy [Uncle Buck] thats standing by Jenna! He said that He was in the ocean, and a wave hit him in the back, and he false teeth flew out, and he lost them!

Then, then next night, we were all in the pool again, and he was there with his two other single friends, Uncle Bill[the one standing next to me] and Aunt Joan! He had teeth in that night, so we asked if he found them, and he said he had two pairs! hehe....

But we invited them to our sunrise service that NTM was having! Uncle buck was the only on that was able to come! He was videoing the whole thing! ;)

Tyler and I when all of us went out side, it was so windy.....and cold!!

No, i'm not sad!!! hehe, just makin a face cause I was tired of pictrues!

Brittany, my Mom and I before we checked out!

The building we stayed at!

Oh look, does that green oddish colored building look familiar?!

Remember these little pink houses Hannah?! ;)

And I just had to take one more picture of it!!! =)

Well, thats all the ones I have now!

Oh, and could you guys pray that my school books get here, I still haven't started, and I wanted to get done by Christmas.....one year of school in two months.....hmm.....I am still going to try, we'll see how that goes! hehe!! Thanks!

Thank you!!!

2007-10-02T13:20:00.000-04:00

Thank you all for praying for my moms friend who had an 80% chance of having cancer!!! She had her tests and there was no sign of cancer!!! God is awesome!!
Here is what her daughter wrote.......

A couple weeks back, the doctor told my mom he was 80% sure she had cancer in her lymphnodes. We have been praying and seeking God through all of this, with the understanding that his will may be for her to have cancer. She has been in and out of the doctors office taking tests, and today went in to get the results. The doctor told her there was no sign of cancer at all in her tests!!! PRAISE GOD. Thank you for your prayers!!

Please pray!!

2007-09-21T12:57:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, we just found out today, that my moms good friend may have an 80% chance of having cancer! They were our neighbors for quite awhile!!! And its hard to imagine her even having cancer!

Here is what her daughter wrote.........

So, just tonight, I found out the terrible news that my mom may have an 80% chance of having cancer in her lymphnodes. She has had a catscan and a x-ray that has been taken. Next week we will find out about the x-ray and they are soon setting an appointment up with a cancer doctor to get a better biopsy on the situation. They have told her that she will have to do chemo. :(It is all so sudden and really scary and sad. My mom is scared, I know, but she is a strong woman. We have just all been saddened tonight. My heart will barely beat, I am just on edge. Cancer is so scary and such a hard thing to go through. Mostly because it so easily spreads and is not set on having a cure. This past year and half, I have cried on the phone and really felt pain for one of my best friend's whose mom died of cancer at a young age. It is really hard. It is so uncertain and painful. Please pray for my family as we take this new bump in life. I am just crying out to God of "why?" And he knows why. But, if anything, just pray for peace of understanding and patience through this all as we find out through out the next couple weeks what all is really going on in my mom's body. I love her. She is a wonderful Christian woman. I told God tonight as I cried out to him that I wish I could take her place. I would in a heart beat. Before we found this out, we have just been so burdened with my mom's mom (my grandma) who has just recently been diagnosed with cancer in her kidney. It has been a really hard month. Please remember us in your prayers.

Norm and Karen Howell

Thank you so much!!!!!

I love the rain!!!! =)

2007-09-19T17:02:00.000-04:00

Hmmm........today was one of those days where it just rains[drizzles] ALL day!!! This is totally washington weather!!! I love it! So, this morning, I had to make myself a cup of hot chocolate!!! =) Wish I could have played in it!!!! But its so nice especially when you see the palm trees swaying and the white caps on the lake!! =)

Oh, and here are a couple pics from the ladies retreat!!!

Hannah and I!

Smile!!!

We would get a ton of gold fish and share thenm during the lessons! And I drank so much hot chocolate!!! =)

My mom and I!!!

With our very own room keys!!! =)

The veiw from the meeting room!!! They hotel was very green!! =) It was nice, cause when we took walks on the beach, we could tell how far we went and where our hotel was!

Hannah, Kim, Sarita, and I!

It was beautiful!!!

The squeaky sand!! =)

Madalyns Visit

2007-08-25T22:20:00.000-04:00

Well, I its been awhile since I wrote on here!!!
Lets see, after we got back........my friends from PNG came to visit me! Which was a lot of fun! She was here for a week!

We had some fun at Ross!!!
Ok, this picture, has sort of a long story, ok, so we were playing in the rain[I thought of you Jessie=] so we came in, and we took a shower and it was 5, and we decided to go to the prayer meeting[which is at 6, and its 30 minutes from our house], but we wanted Maddie to see a space shuttle go up[5:30, the time we were suppose to leave], and the food was ready at 5:25, so, we got ready, put our hot stew in mugs and headed outside! So, we were in Jeans, with burning hot stew, on a hot humid day! So we were we so hot.......but we made it to the prayer meeting 15 minutes late!!!! :)

Theres the space shuttle we had to see! :)

We found this Hammerhead shark on the beach!

Maddie and I! <3

We had some fun at the airport!!!

It was a lot of fun! But they are leaving to go back to PNG this month, the 28th! So, I will see her again...........in 2 years!!!

Back!!!

2007-08-02T15:42:00.000-04:00

Hey guys......I'm back!! Yay, I am excited to be back and see everybody!!! The flight back was good! We got back a couple hours ago!!!
Well, lets see, we had some interesting things that happened! Well, the 2nd to last day we were in Wisconsin, we were all playing Dutch Blitz, and the fire alarm went off. Amber said that it always goes off, and they never think anything of it! But they decided to look out side and see if anyone was running out, and there was. So, we grabbed their laptop, camera, and important documents, and ran out, within two minutes, the firefighters came! The was a fire pretty close to their apartment, the building is shaped as an L, and they were on one side, and the fire was on the other, so they got no fire or smoke damage! And there was this Mom and two little girls, and the fire was right next door to their apartment, and so they we camping under a tree watching the firefighters, and so we asked if they wanted to come in, so the two girls and her friend came in and ate popcorn, watched T.V., and gave them something to do besides watching the firefighters come in and out!! And the sad thing is, the Mom doesn't have renters insurance! I am not sure on the damage, I hope its not much!

Then, the last night we were there, we went to the park, and on the lake, they had a water skiing show! So, we were watching, and all of the sudden, a guy came walking over saying how anybody could water ski, he was drunk.......and so we were talking to him [cause he would not leave, and would just follow us around] and he would say,"oh, what is that movie, its a comedy, a man and his wife, and his wife is real big? hmmm....its not home improvement.....augh, I hate when I can't think of things! Well, I better get to my baseball game!" and so we tried to think of it, and the whole time he was standing there, he said it like, 5 times, acting like it was his first time asking it! And as we were walking off, he wanted to tell us a joke, it was interesting!

And when we were at Sears, the checkout lady[Rose] talked to me for about 25-30 minutes, and I could not get one word in! [I was just trying to add to the conversation] It went from how dirty money is, to hospital air, to her lung trouble, to gardens, to horrible neighbors, to coupons!!! I tried to say I have to go, but she kept talking! And my family was just standing aways off, watching, and they tried saving me by calling me, but I didn't have my phone on me!!! =) But it was funny!!!

Well, I finally saw all the pictures and video, I am going to put some on for all my family who haven't seen them yet!!! =) See some of you Sunday and on Monday!!!

Heading back!

2007-07-28T18:07:00.000-04:00

We are heading to Wisconsin today, we are gonna leave in a couple hours! The brakes are having trouble, so we drove to my uncles(where the part was available), and they are fixing it now! So us girls are just relaxing at the moment! Which is nice, cause we have a 23 hour drive ahead of us! And we will be staying a couple days in Wisconsin with Amber and Dj, and we will be flying back to Florida the 2nd! Yay!! Usually after vacation, you want to stay there, and in a way, I do, but I am looking forward to getting back, and see everybody, get the pictures and video, and get back to my bed!!! But I miss the grandparents already! =) I will see you all soon!! Can't wait!
[oh, Jessie, I can't wait to hear some stories!!! I just love grandparents too!!! my grandma loved the walmart story in mexico......she always has very embarassing moments to tell, and this time, I did!!!] =)

a couple pics!

2007-07-26T01:00:00.000-04:00

..........I don't know what to say about this one........
awhhh.....we were leaving!!!! Austin and I! =)

Amber and I playing 'scum'!!! Such a great game!!

Grandma and I!

Grandpa and I! There is NOTHING like grandpa calling me 'maymay'!!!

The 1st pic was when we were in Great Falls.....the computer is to slow to put more on! Maybe later! and the other ones were when we were at my uncle and aunts house! I will put more of us playing scum later......just for fun! =)

Our Trip to Montana!

2007-07-23T11:49:00.000-04:00

Yay!!

Look Jessie, I have horrible aim with the camera!

Brittany, Logan, and part or me!

Brittany, Logan, and I!! =)

My smore!!

All of the family.....and the dogs!!! =)

Mom, Roger, and I!

You guys know what Dutch Splitz is?? The card game?? Well, my dads cousin made big cards, and you have to put the cards in the middle by running them there! =)

Go Circles!!!

The fam!!! =)

Soaring Eagle and I! (my new boyfriend)

We got pretty close!! ;)

Amber wanted me to be a tree hugger!!! =)

Grandma, Amber, and I!

Grandpa and Grandma with there cake!

Love you!!
Wow.....they gave huge pieces!! Cause they got such a huge cake for a little amount of people! =)

Brittany and I at Trick Falls!

Me at Trick Falls!

Trick Falls!

Montana!

Dj is gonna squish me! (we are staying in my uncle and aunts RV!)

And he did!!!

We are here!!!!

2007-07-20T01:11:00.000-04:00

Hey guys....we have made it to Montana!! Our 18 hour(something like that) drive was long, but fun! The beginning, we all(the girls) sang png songs and songs we sang when we were little! It was so much fun! Then we finally got dinner at 10:35 at McDonalds! I have been wanting orange juice for the longest time, and haven't been able to get any, so, I decided to get some, so I go up there and ask for a glass, and they said that the machine has been taken apart! Oh well, that always happens to me, the machine is broken or they are out of it! =)
Then I slept pretty much the whole night, not the best sleep, but pretty good! I sat in the back of the mini van with brittany, and she is the smallest in the family, but takes the most room, she HAS to be spread out, and I had 1/4 of the back seat, and brittany had the rest! And I don't really like feet touching me, and so brittany had to make sure they were as far away as they can be, but in her sleep, they ended up on my lap most of the time! Oh well, its good memories! So, we got to Great Falls around 4pm! We had pizza(and I finally had my orange juice that I had been waiting for!) and we went for a walk! And the rest of the night, we looked at pictures of when we were little! It was so nice to see my grandparents!! =)
Tomorrow, my moms parents, who I haven't seen in a whole year, are coming for the day! I can't wait!!! And over the weekend, I won't be able to check my mail, or see comments cause we will be up in the mountains for my grandparents 50th Anniversary party! Which should be a lot of fun!
Oh, and something I just found out, my best friend, Madalyn, who I have known since 3rd grade, is coming to visit me for a week, before she goes back to PNG with her family! I am so excited!!! And she can meet everyone at youth group!! So she will now know who I am talking about! I can't wait!!!
Ok, it is late, and I have to get up early! well, 8 isn't early compared to 6:30 at mexico! Oh, I had a dream that we were all there again, in the soccer field working, and I asked Monte what I could do! =)
I will try and put a couple pics on sometime! =)

real quick........

2007-07-17T23:43:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, well....we made it to Wisconsin safe, and right now I am at my sisters house, and we are watching rocky balboa!! :) (cause they have to return it tonight!) Tomorrow, we are going to go shopping cause Amber needs some jeans! She is just as bad as me, she hasn't packed yet, and we are going to start driving to Montana tomorrow, around 4-5 pm I believe!
We should get to Great Falls, Montana around 1-2pm(on thurs)!!!!
Oh yah, Karis comes tomorrow, its so sad that we just missed each other......hmmmm.......!!!!
Well, I will post maybe on Thurs or Friday! Love you all! =)

Bye.........

2007-07-17T02:20:00.000-04:00

Well, it is WAY past my bed time, cause I have been working on some pages for my grandparents book! Everyone is doing a couple pages with pictures and memories, and they will put them all together, for their anniversary! And I made 5 pages and I am so tired! But I thought I would put this picture on!! We are leaving the house at 9am, and will head to the airport! We are going to fly to Wisconsin and be there a couple days, then drive with my sister and brother-in-law to Montana!! It should be a lot of fun! And I will still most likely, will be posting pictures and things that I have been up to while I am away! Ok, I can't type.....I keep messing up! lol!! So I will just stop!! =)

I will talk to you all later! =)

Hannah and I together for the last time *sniff* at youth group! What a sad moment! =..( But we decided to make sure we get together often, and not just see each other on Sundays!=)

Slurpee Day!!!

2007-07-15T19:25:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday 7-11!!! yay!!!
Kelly, Jessie, and I!!!

I think this is one of our first slurpee stops!!!

Ok, well, this was actually July 11th, but I just got the time on!!! Alright, so this was my first experience slurpee hopping!!!! It was amazing! Ok, so all you up north, that does not know what in the world I am talking about.....July 11th(7/11) is 7-11s birthday, and they give free 7.11 ounces of slurpee free!!! So, what they do here, is they hit all the 7-11 stores!! And this year, they went for 11 Slurpee's! So, we would hit the first one, and then bring it along in the car, and we would have to finish that one, before we got to the next store! lol!!! We got some brain freeze and got a little sick, but it was so much fun!

I drank all 11 Slurpee's, we figured out, that we each drank 5 1/4 pounds of slurpee.....over a half a gallon! (is that right Jessie?) Yah, I was sick, but I decided to make the most of my first slurpee hopping day! =)

Thanks Haylee for letting me stay with you guys all day, even though I was out of it and full of slurpees!!! And thanks Jessie for the pictures!!! I will also be putting a picture of the pyramid of all our slurpee cups! =)

A pic!

2007-07-13T11:58:00.000-04:00

Brittany and I!!!! With my new camera!

Mi likem yu susa! =)

Even more pictures!

2007-07-09T22:55:00.000-04:00

Loading up the van in El Paso!!
On the ride down!

Thats where Sarah, Hannah, and I stayed, on the far left, and Josh and Kim stayed in the far right appartment!
Us being tourists! =)

El Chiko loves chihuahuas!!! =)

A little girl at the orphanage!

A boy at the brick yard!

Also at the brick yard!

El Chiko loves sunsets!

Another beautiful sunset!

All of us in the room we insulated and drywalled!

Josh........=)

Putting up drywall!

Worship time! I loved it!

All of us!

Josh and Kim........our wonderful leaders! =)

Copper Canyon, Mexico!!....and again!!!

The boarder!! Were back!!! =)

Some pictures!

2007-07-08T17:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Ranch Siloe!!!! Where we spent 2 weeks!!!
Shane, Hannah, Matt, and I doing a puppet show at the orphanage! (the one we served breakfast at)!
We also did a puppet show at the Brick Yard during the Bible Club!
Isn't he adorable!
Josh and the rubics cube during our 4 hour layover in Houston!!!!

Jessie, Haylee, Stephen, Hannah, David, and I happy to be in El Paso!
There are some more pics I am gonna put on, but facebook isn't working for me at the moment!

http://www.youtube.com/v/e8LN85BE49I <---the video slide show of Mexico!

Yay......no more math!!

2007-07-07T22:46:00.000-04:00

Oh yah, I have exciting news, it hasn't sunk in yet, but I am finished with math for the rest of my life.......well, until collage! I finished my last math today! yay!! Well, that's it.....lol.......just thought I would share that!!! =)

Just two pictures!

2007-07-07T21:44:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Mexico!!! Yay!!!
The most amazing little mexican family!!!
And there is a little baby in her bag thingy!!
Arn't they so cute?!? =)

Please be praying.......

2007-07-07T01:24:00.000-04:00

Hey, ummm.....could you guys please pray for me? I am having a really hard time adjusting back, sort of weird, but Mexico was the closest thing to PNG that I have seen in over three years, so it reminded me how much I missed it! That would be awesome!!!! Thanks guys!!

1st Thessalonians 5:16-18--

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus.

Chiko and I working on drywall!!! Thought I would end it with this!!! =)

Yay!!!! Even more pictures!!! =)

2007-07-05T00:15:00.000-04:00

All of us in Copper Canyon, Mexico!!
A little baby in pink and me during the bible club at the brick yard!!
Jessie and the little kids in bunny ears at the orphanage!
Snyder, Walter, Matt, and Sarah at the orphanage! Ranch Siloe!!! You can see us in the background weeding and fixing the volleyball court!
and the boy got a taste of pulling weeds, so the missionaries could put down cement! =)

Stephen and Madalina(I believe)!! This picture is amazing! How cute!! So adorable! Jessie and Jasmine! =)

Don't mess with Texas!! lol......right!!! Kim, Shane, Sarita, and Paul!

Yup........wasn't hard fitting in at all!! lol! =)

Yay......we went out to eat! It was the most amazing food ever!! Mini tacos!!!

David.......did you get a steak instead?!?! lol!! =)

Oh yah.....and there is our wonderful driver....Monte!!! (in the front row, with the hat and sunglasses!)

Snyder, Stephen, Josh, and Matt!! Lovely screen doors boys!!! =)

Gun show?!? lol......Paul.....and I think he is copying me! lol!! =)

Jessie, Haylee, Hannah, and I in Houston, right after Haylee and Josh got to the gate!

Tired?!? lol! Matt, Chiko, and David on the long car rides! =

Madalina......and I have a picture of us two when we first met! I will put it on! =)Group pic......the building most of us worked on the whole time! =)
Babies?!? =) Paul and Chiko!!All of us in Tampa before we left, in the play area! Everyone get on!! =)

Chiko was putting his frap on my head! lol!! But it is hard to see in this picture!
Me.........after weeding the volleyball court!! =)

Josh says,"working hard.......or photo shoot!" lol!

Yay!!!!

2007-07-04T17:56:00.000-04:00

HaPpY bIrThDaY gRaNdMa!!! I love you!!! =)
And hApPy 4tH oF jUlY!!!

hmmm.........

2007-07-04T17:48:00.000-04:00

I will be getting more pictures up soon!!!! Probably next week!! Thats when we are gonna get the huge bunch of everyones pictures!!! I can't wait!!!

Some pics from Jessie!!! =)

2007-07-02T23:30:00.000-04:00

Hannah, Jessie, and I!!! <3
Hannah and I in Tampa!! =)
Jessie, Hannah, Kim, and I at our cabin at the KOA campground! =)
Hannah, Kim, and I! <3
Shane, Snyder, Jessie, Hannah, and I heading to Perkins our first night during orientation! =)

..........and again.....lol......=)

A couple pics Hannah sent me!

2007-07-02T12:44:00.001-04:00

Me standing on the rock! =)

Sitting on the rock!! Totally awesome! =)

Me on my favorite steps! =)

They were absolutly amazing!!

Kissing my prince! =)

Me and Junie B!!(A horny toad!) =)

Thanks Chema for finding it for us!!! =)

Some pics!!! =)

2007-07-01T22:29:00.000-04:00

Jessie, Hannah, Haylee, Stephen, David, and I at the El Paso Airport! =)

Yay.........but we still had a long 4 hour car ride!!!

David and Stephen!! They happened to be sitting right in front of Hannah and I!!! =)

And we passed notes the whole time, it was a blast!!!

My drinking my special spicy tomato juice!!! =)

My "spicy' tomato juice!!! =)

Ok, here is the story behind this picture! Tyler Burgett has a fit that I drink V8, and so I decided to get some on the plane, and get a picture of it! So, I asked for tomato juice, and the guy said,"oh, I am sorry, we just have the spicy kind!" I was like,"ohhh...thats alright, I guess I will just take that then!" So, I am drinking it, and it was really spicy, but the lady beside hannah, was starting to fall asleep, and I really really had to use the bathroom! So I am sitting there, with a whole thing of "spicy tomato juice" and water, and so I gulped them both down, and I hurried to the bathroom!! Well, Stephen kept saying that it was a bloody mary......and I was like,"oh no....it couldn't be!" So, Snyder smelt it, and said it didn't smell like his tomato juice that he had on the plane! Then, they were all like, are you ok?? are you feeling funny?? lol!!! So, we found out that it was a bloody mary, (Mr. and Mrs. T's Bloody Mary Mix to be exact!!!) But don't worry, it had NO alcohol in it!!! Phew.......but it sure tasted funny! =) And Stephen said that drugs come with alcohol, and he would help me through it!!!! But my question is......how does he know that?!?! lol!! =)

Paul, David, and Matt!!! =)

David looks excited!!!

Hannah, Snyder, Matt, and I!!! =)

Matt and I with our tickets! yay! Mexico, Here We Come! =)

America and I! She is so adorable!! =)
The Brick Yard was amazing......but sad!

Hey!

2007-07-01T22:25:00.000-04:00

I was using my livejournal, but I am going to be using this now! If you want to see previous blogs, you can go to http://my-mk-life.livejournal.com/
thanks, sorry about the switch!

I am back!!!! It was an amazing trip!!!

2007-07-01T22:20:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone…...well…….I am back!!! Thank you all for your prayers and support through all this!! Alrighty…..where should I even start, well, I guess the part that we left for Tampa Bay! Ok, so the 8th, we headed for the KOA camp ground, and we had our orientation! The speaker was Sean Cooper, and he talked about his experiences overseas, and he mentioned “stop and pray”……instead of saying,”I will be praying for you!” we should say, “lets pray now!” That was awesome, cause when we got to the airport Sunday the 10th, there were about 4 of us (Haylee, Josh, Hannah, and I) that didn’t have boarding passes, cause they overbooked! They were about to have Haylee and Josh get on, but he had Hannah and I get on instead! So while we were in the plane, Hannah and I were sitting by each other, and so we stopped and prayed! A little while later, Josh came walking on, and we were all excited, but we found out that he came on to give Kim the tickets for the next plane, and to tell us that they were going to make it on different plane! So 14 of us made it to Houston, Texas! We had a 4 hour layover…….and that was so much fun, we found ways to entertain ourselves…….juggling like monkeys, Donnie doing the rubiks cube in under a minute, playing games, writing in our journals, and talking! Then we hung out at Chili’s and had some really good food! We had a couple minutes till we had to board the plane to El Paso! Haylee and Josh’s plane was supposed to get in the same time ours was suppose to leave! So we stopped and prayed! Snyder (matt) prayed that somehow, they would make it on this flight! And during the prayer, a ladies voice came over the loud speaker, we all stood there quietly listening……….and she said that our flight was delayed 45 minutes because all the flight crew wasn’t there! We all sighed and clapped!!! We didn’t even think of the other people that needed to get to El Paso on time! Then we thanked God for answering our prayer so quickly! So then, like, 10 minutes later, Haylee and Josh neared our gate, Haylee came around the corner running, leaving the crippled(Josh, he recently had surgery on his leg) behind! And we all cheered and clapped which Josh heard from down the hall! So after Josh made it, we had to tell them the story! Then right after they came, another announcement over the loudspeaker said that they were boarding right then!! The flight was delayed for a perfect amount of time! It was amazing! It definitely taught us to rely on God! Everything was out of our control, and He stepped in and showed just how big He is!

So, we got to El Paso, and the missionary (Monty) picked us up! It was a very long drive, about 4 hours! If not more! But Monye could make it there in 3.5 hours easy! Lol! Finally, we got to Ranch Siloe!! And we met another missionary couple!! They were the sweetest people ever, they knew all our names that night! And they wanted to know all about us!

The first two days, Sarah, Stephen, Hannah, and I weeded! We felt like there were more important things that could be done, but I know that missionaries have no time to weed! =) We also weeded and fixed a volleyball court and a soccer court! And it was a great learning experience…….it definitely taught us to obey authority and to have patience! Many others put in dry wall, insulation, white washing ( it looked awesome Hannah and Sarah), spackling(you did a great job Stephen)! On Tuesday afternoon, we went to the Brick Yard! That was amazing! We just got there, and we were meeting the kids, and it started to rain……it was pouring! And so most of us played in the rain with the kids! That was amazing! We didn’t have to speak their language to show Gods love and to play in the mud!!! It was absolutely awesome! On Wednesday and Thursday me and Matt put up foam in the ceiling…..that was also a learning experience! On Friday, Jessie and I did the laundry! It took all day! Like, 12 loads of laundry!! She is officially my laundry buddy!!

Then it was the weekend! Woohoo……and that doesn’t mean sleeping in….. we left for the orphanage pretty early and we played with the kids and we made them pancakes, sang songs, and I helped with a puppet show! That was awesome…..they loved it! And they ate so much, it seemed like they never saw that much food! Then we went into town and shopped for quite awhile, we also took a quick tour of the governor’s mansion in downtown Chihuahua, and then we went out to eat!! Yummy spicy Mexican food!! =) We came home and relaxed!

Then On Sunday, it was fathers day! And we went a Spanish church that the missionaries go to! It was really hard on your brain to try and understand the songs, announcements, and the sermon! But even though the language barrier was there, you could feel Gods love between the believers! It was amazing! Then we celebrated fathers day with a missionary family, and we went to a buffet, and then out to Dairy Queen (yes, they have one, and the ice cream is just as good at the US)!!

Then, after that restful day, it was back to work on Monday! Stephen and I put insulation in the ceiling!! That was an all morning thing! Then around 4, we had a water battle! We had water balloons, launchers, and good ol’ buckets! The missionary said that we could also aim some water balloons at their sheep! That was fun, then it was back to our fight, and this time, we got the hoses out! Then we finished our day doing our daily bible study and having a wonderful dinner! Then, on Tuesday I did insulation again with Stephen and we went to the brick yard from 3-6! That was a hard day, cause we were saying goodbye to all our new friends we made! It was just like PNG, they have so little, and they live in little worn down houses, and they are so content and happy with what they have!

On Wednesday, it was our last work day, and I helped a group with dry walling, that was the funnest job there for sure! I loved it!!

Then, that night, we went to a missionaries house, and we had a Mexican BBQ, and we played horse shoes! That was amazing! And then it started to rain, and so Jessie and I played in the rain while everyone else stood on the tiny porch! Then Shane and Stephen came out and so us four played horse shoes! Then the missionary told us to get to the van quick, and he was telling us to hurry! We found out that if it rained to much, it might flood the road back to the ranch, and we wouldn’t be able to get back! So Haylee was holding my plate with my taco that I wasn’t able to finish so she gave that to me, and the gravel road back to Ranch Silo is really bumpy, and there was a group of us that always sits in the back, and he goes so fast, that you hit your heads on the ceiling! And the fisrt bump came at a surprise, and me and my taco went flying up, and the taco went everywhere(on me) and so the rest of the way, I am trying to hold whats left of the taco on my plate, and also, make sure I don’t break my neck on the ceiling! lol! So, we got back, and Jessie let me go first, and I dislocated my knee, it is a super long story, but I got it popped back in myself! It killed! But the rain was SO hard, that I ran and got changed and we played in the rain!!! It was the hardest rain I have been in since PNG, it actually hurt you!! J But the storm came so close, that we all decided to come in, and so we wrapped in towels in the kitchen telling stories during the pouring rain on the tin roofs, and thunder and lightning! Oh, and a couple of us girls got locked in the bathroom that night, and a couple girls said it would be romantic if the lights went out, and the guys had to rescue us, but after we thought of all the cockroaches that come out after dark, we immediately wanted out! lol! So, Hannah, Jessie, and I, stopped and prayed, and RIGHT after the prayer, Sarita just opened the door, without a problem!! :)

On Thursday, we went into the mountains, I forget what they are called, but it is bigger then the grand canyon! It was amazing! My knee hurt, but it was totally worth it going to the very top! Definitely!! The drive there and back wasn’t the best, the road was constantly turning! I don’t think I will ever get car sick again driving in America! lol! Then, we spent the night in this nice little hotel, and we had our debriefing meetings! Then we went shopping on Friday, and headed back to the ranch!
Then, Friday night, we played a Stealth game in the dark, a guy would walk around the base, with a light, and when he saw someone and he knew their name, he would shine the light on them, and say their name! and you had to try and tag him, with out him saying your name! It was really fun! A couple of us stayed up late singing worship songs! We kept saying, ”one more!” Which led to a couple more hours! J
Then, on Saturday, it was time to leave, so we headed out at 7:30 I think! And we finally got to the airport and headed home! The only difficulties we had flying was shane and I didn’t have seat numbers for the next flight, so Josh took us ahead of the group, and we hurried to the next gate!! We ended up getting seats! Which was awesome!

We got home at 2:00 am! And it was so nice to be able to sleep in!
When I was sitting with Stephen on the way there, we were flying over Texas, and I was saying how I could never live in Mexico, cause it was all desert! And I am planning on being a missionary somewhere when I am older, and I was open to go anywhere in the world, I really didn’t care where…except Mexico! I really didn’t think I wanted to go to Mexico as a missionary! But now I love it there, I don’t know it that is where God wants me to go, but now, I am truly open to anywhere in the world! And this trip definitely confirmed to me, that I am going to be a missionary!

Thank you all for your prayers and support! I love you all!
Love, Megan Marie J

*Auntie Mae*