The beginning of Their Life Together Has Begun

Well, Jessica and James are officially married and are now on their honeymoon in Niagara Falls.

The weddings day was great. Jess looked so beautiful and James so handsome. The ceremony fit them well, and the reception did too. Very classy and well put together. Everything went pretty smoothly except for the part where Jess's Dad stepped on her train and ripped it off right as we were getting ready to walk in. It was a definite moment of panick, but luckily the wedding coordinator (Carmen-- the pastors wife) saved the day.

Megan was at the reception which was fun. We had a really good time dancing the night away. I went to Megan's mom's house that night to sleep. It was nice to catch up with her and to see Jeff too.

Sunday Krista came to visit and we had a wonderful time, even if it was short. It was so good to look at her face again... aww! We went out to Arby's for dinner and then had ice cream and a meeting with my family for her ministry with IV next year. It was hard to say goodbye to her, but we set up another date for us to get together soon! A whole day of fiendishness!!

This week is our last week of summer camp. We have the teens this week until Wednesday and then Clean-up until Friday. After that I will hopefully be helping people pack up and move to their new locations. I am looking forward to helping, although I will miss my friends very much when we all leave this place. The are precious to me and I don't want to lose them.

OK, well... Archery is in 30 minutes! WOOT! It should be a great time. I'll update soon hopefully about the rest of my week.

BUB dudes!

The Ongoing Wedding Update

I will be updating as things happen today just because I can!

Last night we had the bridal party party and rehearsal dinner. The girls went for manicures while the guys went out to the movies. It was a good time. After that we went to the church for the reahearsal.

Adrian and I are walking down the isle together which is very exciting. We wanted to walk arm-in-arm, but the pastor convinced J&J that we shouldn't. He thought it would look funny. I'm still bitter. Why are people so stupid about things?? Anyway, we are walking side-by-side now because according to the pastor it looks "more attractive" that way. Let's just say Adrian and I have an ongoing joke under our breath about how attractive we look. hee hee...

After the rehearsal we went to Cranberries to eat some delicious dinner! I ate myself sick, as did everyone. We had Spinach Dip, warm bread, as well as fried pickles and mushrooms for appetizers. I had fish for dinner.... and Adrian and I had Truffle Cake for desert!!! OOOO!!! It was sooo good!

Adrian and I went to Ann Arbor to pick up her boyfriend Dan. We got back at almost 1:00. I went to bed and didn't realize it was morning until 8:00. It was wonderful!!!! SCORE!!! I had weird dreams, but it was so restful at the same time.

This morning we all got up and had Baked French Toast, bacon and sausage. Now James and his Dad are jamming in the livingroom. It feels so good to be around good random music. I miss jamming with friends.

Soon it will be time to take a shower and go to the salon to get our hair done. I am very excited for the day. I want to make it fun and giggle a lot!

I was dreading coming home, but so far things are going exceptionally well and I am enjoying myself very much. I am still wondering how camp is. This morning the kids are going home, so I am thinking of everyone during dismissal.

More on the wedding later!!!

List of Things that Make me Smile

I was inspired by my dear Krista to make a list of things that make me smile. She said to do 10 things, but I just kept on going!!

--giving a massage
--playing with peoples hair
--washing a dirty dish
--playing with a dog's ears
--squeezing my boyfriend pillow
--laughing until it hurts
--playing on a playground
--riding way too long on a bike
--getting my skin tickle scratched...mmm...
--eating ice cream
--worshiping with my hands up tears streaming down my face and grooving to the tunes
--seeing someone I love succeed/perform
--Being totally obnoxious at the right moments
--new socks
--helping people just the way they need it
--long tight hugs
--snuggling during a nap
--smelling and kissing a babies head
--holding hands
--cooking with a friend
--letting people be Skippy of the Bo
--studying the Bible with a friend/group
--photo shoots
--spontaneously breaking out in song and dance
--kisses
--peanut butter M&Ms
--Google searching
--walking on the beach and feeling how soft my feet are afterwards
--playing in the rain
--Mom G's chocolate chip oatmeal and Christmas cookies
--talking on the phone for hours about nothing and everything all at once
--Caesar pitas from Pita Pit
--hand massages
--smacking butts
--driving with the windows open and music pumping, especially at intersections
--road trips
--Cedar Campus
--wrapping up in a blanket and squeezing my boyfriend pillow

South Haven and Friends

Last weekend I went to Kalamazoo to visit my dear friends Jessica and James. They are getting ready for their wedding. When I saw them they were on day 13 of the countdown and it is now day 8 of the countdown!! WOOT WOOT!! I am so excited I get to share in this joyous event with them! Yay for marriage!

Here are some pictures of our trip to South Haven last Sunday afternoon:

This is me floating away in a large cement pipe

Jessica and I under the metal thingy

Me holding an orange rock

The three of us enjoying the beach and each other's company.

One Lump or Two

It's questions like these that get my mind spinning... and of course I have not the time to explain... perhaps later... or if it rains.

Life Before Youth Haven

This morning I woke up and remembered that my life didn't start on May 17th when I arrived here at Youth Haven Ranch. I have a whole life behind me, a whole set of friends and experiences that in the midst of camp I had forgotten existed. I may not have forgotten completely, but the details were blurry and fading. This morning though it all came flooding back to me.

I miss you my dear friends. I was reading some letters and notes from you and it made me long to see your faces. Luckily this weekend some of us will be re-united once again. I want to know how you are doing and what you are doing, and I want to laugh with you and be dumb together.

Megan, I miss you. I miss our Thursdays. I miss cooking and eating with you and Jeff. I miss sitting on the couch together, the three of us, all cuddled together in one spot when there is room enough for all of us to sprawl out. I miss the way you smell, and the comfort of looking into your eyes; eyes that have seen me at my best and worst, that know me so well I don't have to speak a word to communicate.

Jess Relitz I miss you too. I want to come see you soon! I want to embrace! hee hee

Sara Monson, I miss spending time with you, and I miss knowing what you are doing.

Joylynn, I miss making you giggle, and listening to you sing... oh how your voice melts me.

Amber, dude.... I need you... and I need to stay up late with you and talk about nothing and everything at the same time.

Krista, I miss getting my butt whooped in skippy.

Kristin, I miss talking to you online and distracting you from the things you should be doing, including sleep.

Michelle, I miss sharing my fluffy bed with you, and making you laugh so hard you convulse.

Tricia, where are you?? I miss our dinners and random drop-ins.

J-Garv, I miss playing the bongos with you.

Nicko, I miss your pimp self.

Sarahhh, I miss living with you. How's China?

Lisa, I miss your playful nature and oogling boys with you... lol

Johnson Man, I miss your 1800's ways.

Annie, I miss making you blush.

Brandon, I miss hearing about the weather.

Erin, I miss your voice and our lunch dates.

Lauren, I miss your sarcasm and studying the Bible with you.

Josh, I miss the way you talk and your guitar playing.

Brian, I miss making you wraps.

Rob, I miss our hang-out time.

Laura, I miss being your roomie, watching movies, getting our fortune told by the red fish, and you sticking your hand on my seat right before I sit down.

For everyone else in my life I miss you too. I just keep coming up with people, but I have to go and do Archery with one of the teams so I have not time to feature you all here. You are in my heart though, and I am thinking of you today.

Today is a funny day here at camp. We have a short week at camp this week and so today is a combination of what we do on Wednesdays and Thursdays. All-camp will be really good because we will have team-leader hunt, the kids love it and the team-leaders do too. Then tonight we will be doing Skit Night. That is usually pretty fun as well. I am praying for a good day!

Ok my litt froo-froos. I adore you and cherish you all!

The Begining of the End

This morning is the begining of the end of WEEK 4! That's the halfway mark! This week was intense, really really intense!

The kids leave soon! I'll update more after they are gone!!!

Week 3

Today is the beginning of week 3 of summer camp. I'm finally feeling comfortable in knowing what to generally expect for the week. We had weather to deal with last week, so now I know how things go with that issue. We had naughty children to talk to on day 1 last week. I am starting to see the importance of my role here, especially in discipline and supporting the team leaders. I am praying that this week goes much smoother and that the team leaders don't have breakdowns or freak outs.

Just like I learned last year with InterVarsity, prayer has to be HUGE here. It is such a battle ground here around the grounds and in each individual. Good things are happening here and Satan is ticked off. We had a lot of children running up to us so excited that they had ask Jesus to be ruler over their life, it was astounding! I loved it, to see the pride and joy in their faces and knowing that there was a party in heaven. So many of them were so happy to be part of a family and be able to call us brother and sister. The faith of a child is certainly something to learn from and hold on to.

This weekend was pretty good for me. I went on a 20+ mile bike ride with Rebecca, Carrie, and Donnalee. It was so beautiful and just the right temperature. Even though we got lost and had to ride up a million hills it was worth it! I stayed at Rebeccas that night after a dip in the pool. Yesterday a bunch of us went to church, and God really spoke to me there.

I feel like it's a similar vibe that I got from God last time I wrote. I feel like God was telling me to hold tight to Him. I really feel like if I am going to do the work and serve God in the ways He has built me to serve that I need more reliance on Him. I need to be clinging to His Word and His passion for the hurting and lost. So often my heart breaks for people, but I forget that God's heart must be breaking a million times more. I want to take those times when my heart breaks and turn them into times of service and prayer instead of mourning and sadness. Jesus came for the hurting and weak, the discouraged and downtrodden. I too will serve those around me who are in need. I will serve them, but I have to make sure I am looking to God first! Only He can be my guide, and I long so much to be guided by God.

So.... that was Sunday morning. after that Rebecca and I did our laundry at the mat, and got quesadilla stuff for lunch. We made our delicious lunch and talked for a while. I went back to my cabin and started cleaning. Then I went to the pool and hung out, took a power-nap on the picnic table, went out to the Fort where everyone was having a cook-out, prayed for this week with Jen and Anna, then returned to Rebeccas for what was supposed to be a movie, but turned into talking. I went to bed and stayed in bed until 9:00, usually I can't stay in bed past 7 or 8. It was, as my Sarah would say, GLORIOUS!!!

And now, my dearest of dears I must go. In 15 minutes my week officially starts and I think I need to take a few deep breaths in preparation. Hopefully I'll get to keep updating regularly! Leave me comments so I know you are reading!

BUB!

Another Day

Today is another day, it's similar to the day before in that the Sun came up, and we are doing the same things we did yesterday here at camp, but it feels different. I feel much, much better than I did yesterday.

Every time I start focusing on myself I lose sight of my real purpose. I know I feel called to be a strong support of the people here, but sometimes I just feel tired and worn and down. All I want is for some one to hold me and take care of me. Thankfully yesterday God was like "Dude, it's not about what you want... even if someone held you all day long and gave you kisses, told you how valuable you are it would only be a temporary fix. I am your real fix, I am the one who will fulfill you." I was like "Crap! I know! Sorry God, that was loserish of me."

I think everyday this issue will be a struggle: me trying to find the love I think I want, or deserve, or long for only to be dissapointed by people and realize I was looking in the wrong place. I think God gives us all people, but He gives us Himself first. I need to remember that!

Sorry for being so deep, it's just what I am thinking about this week. I feel like I am rambling on, so I am going to stop now before I get every one confused, myself included!

To all my friends: I love and cherish you. I miss you while I am here and I think of you often. I am praying for you. I have to go to the Zipline now, I'll pray for you while I am catching little children!! :)

STUCK

Have you ever felt so stuck in something that you can't even see any hint of another thing for miles in any direction?

That's what I feel like today. I feel surrounded by a darkness, like a black storm cloud. Every time I try to poke my head out, I just move into another foggy black cloud, just the same as the one before. I am searching for a ray of light, and sometimes I think I get a glimpse, only to have it snagged away and I'm back wading through the heavy darkness once again. It's so thick that it's hard to breathe, it's hard to think, and hard to keep my eyes open. This darkness feels impenetrable. I feel as if I am sinking into quick sand and the more I struggle to get out the deeper it takes me in. I hate this feeling! UGH! I just want it to go away. Please, Jesus make it stop! Be my light! Take me out of the quick sand with a really big stick or something! ANYTHING! I want out!

And that my friends is how I really feel today.

New Things

I am doing some new things this week, things I've never done before and it's very exciting!

First of all I am feeling much better than I have in about 4 months! It's totally amazing. When I wake up in the morning I actually WANT to get out of bed instead of feeling exhausted overwhelmed, and ill. I didn't even realize it until today. I'm sure glad I feel better, I was worried there for a while! Thank you to all who have been praying about my health! It's working! WOOT WOOT!! YAY JESUS!

This week is our first week of children at the ranch. So far it's going really well. At times I don't feel confident, but as the week goes on I am getting the hang of things. The staff that I work most closely with are really great and I have been enjoying working right along side them. The kids are great too, I've had a few problem children, but for the most part my talking to them ends on a positive note.

Tonight we have skit night, tomorrow is the carnival and then Saturday the kids go home. I think I will always remember these first kids and this first week. I have already learned so much from them and from watching my co-workers interact with them. There are times that I am so so tired, but the joy of seeing these children grow and be stretched and experience real love really overcomes all that. Hopefully this joy can last all summer! :)

Let's see... anything else new in my life?? YES! I am offically moved out of my apt. in Mt. Pleasant as of last Saturday. It was a long long day with only my dad and I moving all my stuff. I wanted to just throw it all away instead of move it. I'm sure I'll be glad I have it once I move out on my own again... whenever that will be I don't know. I think I am hoping more for sooner than later. I just love having my own place; cooking, cleaning, my fluffly bed, walking around naked, having people over, reading a book on my lumpy and gross couch... I miss it all.

I think that's about all the important new news. I could go on for hours about details of camp and my visit home with the kids, but frankly I just don't have enough time! I'd love some calls from all of you, or an e-mail or something. I've heard from some of you, but I am longing to know how you are doing!!! So either get a blog and update it or call me yo! lol don't call me "yo", just call me. hee hee

Ok, so I gotta go for real! Hope to see some of you soon! Maybe sooner than the Wowzer wedding!

Amber, I was thinking about you today. I miss you a million! I want to squeeze you!
I miss everyone else too!!
Shout out to my out of state cuties! *Snuggle Snuggle*

I'll end with this poem for my new friend:

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
Sarah Hoover, you're my friend
I love you!!

THE END.

CFW/ Summer Kick-off!!

CFW was pretty sweet. Of course, Cedar Campus is beautiful, so that enhanced the week even more. It rained a little, but we did have some good sunny days in the begining of the week.

This year I worked on crew. It gave me quite a different experience than I am used to with InterVarsity events. I worked on a playground they are making on Mariners Cove side. I got to work with power tools like saws, a router, a sander, and screw-drivers and stuff. It was pretty darn sweet. Here is where you can see the plans of what it is supposed to look like when it's finished: http://www.intervarsity.org/cedar/news.php?id=2298.
At the end of the week, I worked on the Pool house; taking out the old filter, installing insulation, and general clean-up. On my last day I went out to the trails with the fellas and helped clear a path and put down limestone for the ski trails. It was pretty windy, but enjoyable just the same. I really had a great week, full of good food, hard work, a few naps, a sweet massage, a lovely gift, lots of outside time, a sunburn, Skip-bo, awesome worship, tons of prayer, a frustrating/meaningful team-builder, pranks, and good networking... oh and not to mention a great road-trip and stop at a restaurant (2P)!!! It was definitely a great last CFW for me. I will keep it close to my heart always.

Today is my first day at my internship. I am very much looking forward to the summer. I moved my stuff in, and I am excited to pimp-out my "living space". I am going to make the most of that 5ish sq. ft!!!! I already have the tallest bed, so it can't get much better than that! I'll post pictures soon if I get a chance.

If anyone would like to write to me here is my address:

P.O. Box 97
Rives Junction MI, 49277

I also enjoy e-mails and facebook messages!!!

Here are a few pics from CFW







Awww!! Me and my Amber

These are my really hott pajamas. We are powering-up the glow-in-the-dark feature!

I got the watch and Nick doesn't have the time, or a calculator!

Kristin looks too natural in that mustache!

Me and the girls, my frist time on the BEAR!

Summer Goals

OK, so in my Turbo Kick class we were encouraged to set some goals for ourselves for the summer time. At Midterms we set one goal, one thing that we'd like to change. My goal was to not buy junk food from the grocery store and to eat fruit first if I wanted a snack and then if I was still hungry I could have something else. It worked out pretty well, so I am excited for these new goals!

Janet (my instructor and pretty much the coolest kid I know), explained that wellness has 6 demensions; physical, intellectual, occupational, emotional, social, and spiritual. All of these elements compliment eachother and have to work together to acheive true wellness. She said to think of it as a wheel, all the parts come together to work just as a wheel should running smoothly and quietly along a path. If one demension is weakened then the wheel will lose air making for a very bumpy and uncomfortable ride.

So that being said, hear are the things I am going to do/keep in mind this summer as I try to make my wheel run smoothly. Some of these things are new things that I need to start doing and some are old things I just need to keep up on that I at times let slide.

Physical

Engage in 30 minutes of rigorous activity daily

Stretch to stay flexible

Do a zillion cruches every night to gain the abs of my dreams!

Watch my caloric intake as well as the quality of foods I am eating

Intellectual

Read at least one chapter dailyof the Bible

Read at least one chapter daily of a book for pleasure

Engage in mind strengthing/logic games weekly such as Soduko

Occupational

Meet all goals for my internship going above and beyond when possible

Finish my BIG paper on time and with excellent quality

Emotional

Take time to myself weekly to do something I enjoy

Identify a person on camp grounds that I can confide in during times of trial and stress

Social

Reach out and make new friends, having me be the one who is inviting and warm

Keep in touch with CMU/IV/family/everyone over the summer regualrly either through snail-mail, e-mail, or phone

Spiritual

Find a church in my summer location that I can be fed by

Give my 1st and last word to God EVERYDAY!

Spend time in silence/meditation listening, praising, learning, just engaging with God daily

Ok, so that's it! Those are my goals. Some of them are going to be really hard! I am starting today with a work out at the SAC!!! YES!!! Then I'll come home for some delicious lunch! I am packing today for my departure of this wonderful town. I need to figure out what I need for Cedar, what I need for camp, and hopefully everything else will fit into the boxes I have... if not I might have to start giving things away!! hee hee

The sunshine today is making me happy, and feeling productive. I think I'll open the windows and blast my music when I get home! YES!!! AND I am so excited to start wearing shorts!! SCORE!

Darn My Human Heart!

Why is it, that when everything's going just fine, I find a way to screw it all up with a stupid comment from the depths of my pathetic soul?

Seriously, why do our minds and hearts work the way they do, and how is it that when you are hoping to not screw things up in an important and fragile relationship that one manages to say something idiotic to throw things off balance?

OR, how is it that the one who says something stupid thinks that everything is screwed up, it's all doomed and then the other one says, "It's ok, no biggie" AH! How does that happen, forgiveness when it's not due, a smooth and untainted reaction to what could potentially be a disaster.

For real, how is one to know which scenario will occur at any given moment?

I suppose this is just the reason that one should always be thinking before they speak, because it's not worth saying something stupid and maybe hurting someone, or just sounding rediculous.

GAH! I think I should run away to another country, I feel that will solve all of life's stresses, worries, problems, and crap like that. I'll just run! That's Healthy, just run far away! heh...

A Visitor!!

I had a very special visitor this weekend! it was my brother! He came on Friday, went to Open House, helped with Servant Day, went to church this morning, and basically just hung out and chilled out all weekend with me! It was so great to have him here. I am taking him half-way home where my dad will pick him up at the "Flying J". I wish he could just stay here a little longer. I like him.

In other news, I am in a very thoughtful mood today. I find myself evaluating my life so often, and mostly evaluating my interactions with friends. People are so interesting, and it intruiges me to observe patterns in behavior and reactions between friends and couples. I find it interesting that people know the cover-ups that others use and are hurt or annoyed by them, but still use ones that are similar or the same themselves, as if it were normal... hmmm... I just don't know. People are weird-- myself included.

Here's a question: What's one of the best things a friend has done for you?

I value most the time that people have spent with me, just to spend it with me... It was becuase they enjoyed me and wanted to spend time with me! I love having that person that I can spend days on end with and it feels right, and then when both of are ready for some space it's right in tune with the other. It doesn't happen often, but when it does it's so fulfilling!

Here are some pics from the weekend!!



Here's the Whole Groups being funny after lunch on Saturday















I told Krista to hop into my arms...

Michelle and Lauren at the last Open House!

I'm giving Amber a Ride

Awww!!!

This is Ryanne, she... I mean he is very special!

The Semester is Almost Over/ Baby Charlie Photos

I can't fathom what the next few weeks will look like. I just can't imagine! The year has gone by so fast, and yet seemed to go on and on at times. So weird... now that the end is near I have no idea how I got here.

As I prepare for the end of the school year I am also preparing for my last semester with student status, my last 15 weeks to make stupid mistakes and they'll be excused because I am a college student! I better make all the ones I've been holding off on pretty quick here!!

Soon I'll be packing up all of my things and saying goodbye to my lovely apartment while saying hello to my small probably over-heated, possibly cramped quarters at Youth Haven Ranch in Rives Junction Michigan. I am so looking forward to my summer there. This will be my internship/summer job before I am sent off into the "real world" to be a "real adult". I must say that being a student in bliss!! I wish I could do it forever... on the other hand I don't want to go to grad school.

If you'd like to see where I am going this summer you can visit www.youthhaven.org

If you'd like to see more photos of my easter and the new baby you can visit www.dropshots.com

If you would like to own a really sweet T-shirt go here: http://www.cafepress.com/buy/you+don

I think I am going to go now, I am distracted from my journaling with good conversations. I'm going to miss my friends when they move!!!

PS. I think that I did "the craziest thing I've ever done" last night!! YES!!! I am ready for more exciting adventures now!!

Here are pics of the baby and little Maria:

This is my baby boy Charles Edward... he is very squishy... and yes, I'm calling him fat! lol

Here you can see his kissable cheek! He is still fuzzy and soft cause he's so fresh! Only 5 days old in this picture

He loves sleeping in his boppy pillow
Maria is coloring eggs for the first time, she had a really great time!

Maria likes looking right into the camera, she knows what it's all about... little ham!!
Maria loves balloons, except for when she freaks out because they scare her... very strange but true. I think watching a balloon be blown up freaks her out, but if they are already inflated they are harmless. She is wearing her Easter dress here. We got to spend a lot of good time together which I enjoyed very much!!

PEACE!

Grandma

WOW!! The past two hours was filled with very serious and intense conversations with my grandmother... I feel very tired now.

Some of the topics included:

Heaven
Living Simply
Grandma's Will
The partnership with her and my dad at the orchard being dissolved
My Aunts spending habits
Tiddly Winks
The jewelry that I used to play dress-up with when I was little
Cookies

Easter Dinner choices

Internship

Summer Weddings

WOW!! And that's just a pinch of the randomness that I just experienced!!

Now I have to go and get pizza. I'll update about the rest of my weekend later, hopefully with pics!!

More Pictures!!

The Ultimate Twister Match... it lasted FOREVER!!

The Finals!!

AWW!!!

This was a pretty dirty match... biting and everything!!

We're Happy!!!


Monkey Hat!!!

Again with the Ants!

AHHH!! More ants came from somewhere in my belongings or my pants, shoes... somwhere... I think it's a sign, I just don't know what it means!!

I am feeling deep today... contemplating my life, God, and everything else inbetween. What keeps me going and what stops me from going? What are my desires, my dreams, and what are fleeting thoughts?

I want to be a faithful servant of my Lord, I want to be where I am supposed to be, say what He would have me say, do what God would have me do... I am trying to find the ideal in these situations.