November was a hectic month. Crazy hectic!
This month I was busy:
- Looking for a new place to live as my roommates and I need to be out by December 31.
- Looking into classes at CSU, ASU and MCC
- Coordinating Christmas Vacation... re coordinating Christmas vacation.
This month, my Nana broker her hip, my dear friends in CO (with the beautiful daughter with Cancer) asked me to come back for a bit in January, and a loved one close to me almost committed suicide.
With these three events, I have decided to go back to CO for Christmas and stay most of January. I am waiting to see if I qualify for FMLA (family medical leave act), and if I don't get it, I will be quitting my job to go back to CO for a month.
2 Corinthians says "my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia."
And that sums up how I feel. There are some hard things going on in CO and I can't be here without taking some time to be there for a bit. I have no rest, and it's time to go. It's a bit scary, because I may be quitting this job to get that peace...but God has always provided and I know he will continue to.
Prayers that I would get FMLA would be lovely!
On to fun news!
Thanksgiving was AWESOME! I spent Thanksgiving day with about 35 people at one of my pastor's homes and we had so much fun together and the food was great! Then I had to go to work, and I was actually able to organize a bunch of things that had been on the back burner.
Then on Monday we had Thanksgiving two at my other pastor's home. There were just a few of us but the food was still AMAZING and we had a good conversation afterwards.
I love my church and I love the fun things we do together. I love their love for each other and each individual heart for the Lord.
I didn't have much time to read this month, but am hoping to read some this month.
Christmas presents are bought and ready to be wrapped. So very excited :)
Tune in next month for December update and hopefully the resolution to the housing situation, job situation and whether or not I will be taking classes.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
October 2012
When you are single with no children, it's easy for each month to be exactly the same. It's sometimes hard, because you feel like you're in a rut, or you're behind. It's also hard when you have a monthly blog that people actually read to hear about your month...
This month, was much like the ones before it, but I will try to highlight some different things that happened, for all our sakes to break the monotony and for me to remember that I actually do things other than work.
I will however start with work...Work is busier and crazier than it's ever been. The main child care supervisor quit, which means I am effectively doing her job and mine, and that of a fired employee...And on Halloween, my supervisor let us know she has put in her resignation...meaning I will be getting added job duties...quadrupling my work load.
This has been tough, because now I am doing paperwork and watching babies all day. Don't get me wrong I LOVE BABIES, but I want to be able to be there for the women, get all my things done and make a difference. I don't feel like I'm making a difference right now...and it's hard. I am praying for leveled ground at work and a pay raise, or the job at the Children's hospital down the street that I applied for...that is unless money doesn't fall out of the sky to pay all my bills and let me go back to school (but as it hardly rains water here, I think my chances of that are slim).
In other news, this month was my Cousin's birthday, and it was a hard one to miss. She is my best friend and I love her and miss her and her kiddos. Can't wait for Christmas.
It was also my roommate's birthday. Dear Andrea is such a gift from God to me! Our friends KJ, and Joel came out to celebrate and we had lots of fun. The time with them was too short though. I didn't get any pictures of us and am going to refocus on getting pictures for the blog again.
I also took Andrea to my secret spot out here. It's a great place, and she loves it as much as I do...I actually remembered to get pictures there, and they are added into the slide show.
I've also been working on being more crafty with my time. It's finally cooling of in AZ, and football season is in full swing, so I made a fall wreath in honor of all things fall. Fall colors, football ribbon, and straw. It was pretty fun :) I included the picture of that too.
I worked on Halloween, so nothing exciting there.
Nothing big planned for November, I work on Thanksgiving, but am planning on spending the morning with friends before heading in. Check in next month for the happenings and hopefully some new photos :)
Books this month: 1000 Gifts (still reading through this one, and I highly recommend it!)
Song this month: Every Storm (Gary Allan) -- really good country song!
This month, was much like the ones before it, but I will try to highlight some different things that happened, for all our sakes to break the monotony and for me to remember that I actually do things other than work.
I will however start with work...Work is busier and crazier than it's ever been. The main child care supervisor quit, which means I am effectively doing her job and mine, and that of a fired employee...And on Halloween, my supervisor let us know she has put in her resignation...meaning I will be getting added job duties...quadrupling my work load.
This has been tough, because now I am doing paperwork and watching babies all day. Don't get me wrong I LOVE BABIES, but I want to be able to be there for the women, get all my things done and make a difference. I don't feel like I'm making a difference right now...and it's hard. I am praying for leveled ground at work and a pay raise, or the job at the Children's hospital down the street that I applied for...that is unless money doesn't fall out of the sky to pay all my bills and let me go back to school (but as it hardly rains water here, I think my chances of that are slim).
In other news, this month was my Cousin's birthday, and it was a hard one to miss. She is my best friend and I love her and miss her and her kiddos. Can't wait for Christmas.
It was also my roommate's birthday. Dear Andrea is such a gift from God to me! Our friends KJ, and Joel came out to celebrate and we had lots of fun. The time with them was too short though. I didn't get any pictures of us and am going to refocus on getting pictures for the blog again.
I also took Andrea to my secret spot out here. It's a great place, and she loves it as much as I do...I actually remembered to get pictures there, and they are added into the slide show.
I've also been working on being more crafty with my time. It's finally cooling of in AZ, and football season is in full swing, so I made a fall wreath in honor of all things fall. Fall colors, football ribbon, and straw. It was pretty fun :) I included the picture of that too.
I worked on Halloween, so nothing exciting there.
Nothing big planned for November, I work on Thanksgiving, but am planning on spending the morning with friends before heading in. Check in next month for the happenings and hopefully some new photos :)
Books this month: 1000 Gifts (still reading through this one, and I highly recommend it!)
Song this month: Every Storm (Gary Allan) -- really good country song!
Monday, October 8, 2012
September 2012
Sorry for such a late post. I have been incredibly busy at work and thusly exhausted at home...and really busy on the weekends too.
September was mostly just work again. BUSY, BUSY! We are super short staffed with more budget cuts (and possibly positions) on the way. I still love my job, but it's a bit strained at the moment.
The beginning of the month was AMAZING, because Katie and her boys came to visit me. We got to spend some time together and play. I miss my whole family, but those boys have a special place inm y heart and it was wonderful to get to see my first friend and her boys. Can't wait to see them again!
September means Football (American Football)...I LOVE FOOTBALL! A few friends and I went to a sports bar to watch the afternoon games. The Broncos (my team) and the Cardinals (everyone in Arizona's team) we playing at the same time (but not against each other) So it was nice for us all to get to watch our games and cheer with each other for their team. It was super fun. I am also on a fantasy football league, with several guys back in Colorado, so getting to watch a bunch of football simultaneously was also great to see how my players were doing. I'm not doing amazingly in the fantasy league, but I'm holding my own :)
September also meant buying a new car. I had one from some friends, but they needed it back Oct 7...and my dad refused to let me just buy a bike (Love you Papa)...so several of my guy friends down here volunteered and helped me find a car. I put a picture of her in the slide show...and she's basically the same thing as my old car.
I was supposed to go to Colorado for the last wedding of the season, but with us being so short staffed and so busy, my vacation request was denied...So no Colorado until Christmas (assuming I get that holiday off).
In other news, Esther, the sweet little girl with Cancer, is doing well. She's completed 4 rounds of Chemo and surgery. She still has quite the road ahead of her, so please keep her in your prayers. I added an updated pic of her too...and again, here's the link to her parents' blog.
spendandbespent.blogspot.com
Nothing big planned for October. Halloween games, singles movie nights, and work...work...work :) Meeting more single ladies out here though, and it's nice to be able to get together with them.
Books this month: The Secret Garden (got stalled in it) and Out of the Comfort Zone
Songs this month: 10,000 Reasons Matt Redman, and the country music genre
See you next month :)
September was mostly just work again. BUSY, BUSY! We are super short staffed with more budget cuts (and possibly positions) on the way. I still love my job, but it's a bit strained at the moment.
The beginning of the month was AMAZING, because Katie and her boys came to visit me. We got to spend some time together and play. I miss my whole family, but those boys have a special place inm y heart and it was wonderful to get to see my first friend and her boys. Can't wait to see them again!
September means Football (American Football)...I LOVE FOOTBALL! A few friends and I went to a sports bar to watch the afternoon games. The Broncos (my team) and the Cardinals (everyone in Arizona's team) we playing at the same time (but not against each other) So it was nice for us all to get to watch our games and cheer with each other for their team. It was super fun. I am also on a fantasy football league, with several guys back in Colorado, so getting to watch a bunch of football simultaneously was also great to see how my players were doing. I'm not doing amazingly in the fantasy league, but I'm holding my own :)
September also meant buying a new car. I had one from some friends, but they needed it back Oct 7...and my dad refused to let me just buy a bike (Love you Papa)...so several of my guy friends down here volunteered and helped me find a car. I put a picture of her in the slide show...and she's basically the same thing as my old car.
I was supposed to go to Colorado for the last wedding of the season, but with us being so short staffed and so busy, my vacation request was denied...So no Colorado until Christmas (assuming I get that holiday off).
In other news, Esther, the sweet little girl with Cancer, is doing well. She's completed 4 rounds of Chemo and surgery. She still has quite the road ahead of her, so please keep her in your prayers. I added an updated pic of her too...and again, here's the link to her parents' blog.
spendandbespent.blogspot.com
Nothing big planned for October. Halloween games, singles movie nights, and work...work...work :) Meeting more single ladies out here though, and it's nice to be able to get together with them.
Books this month: The Secret Garden (got stalled in it) and Out of the Comfort Zone
Songs this month: 10,000 Reasons Matt Redman, and the country music genre
See you next month :)
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
August 2012
August came and went in a hurry. Work was busy and fun...lots of new babies and I love holding them and cuddling them. We also started a new rotation of daily groups for the women, which means that I have a whole new class of women to teach parenting skills to.
This month, Megan turned 22 and Austin turned 7. It was weird being so far away from it all. I'm not used to missing birthday celebrations and have missed so many this year already.
In other news, my car was totaled this month. My dear roommate borrowed it for a road trip and crashed it on her last leg home. Thankfully, she is completely okay and was close enough to home to get someone to pick her up. Insurance has been great, but it has lead me to a whole new line of questions...
But I digress. I am working on figuring out my next steps and best financial decisions.
I spent the rest of the month working out logistics with insurance and anticipating a visit from Katie and the boys. I cheated and posted a few pictures from their trip (although it was technically in September).
As for last months update. Esther has completed 3 rounds of Chemo and it's been radio silence from her family. They appear well supported and I've become very necessary at my work, so all appears settled.
I am hoping to take a quick trip home in September to see family, but it's not looking good at this point with the way things are at work...Hopefully I will be able to leave early on a Saturday and fly home for my days off.
Church is going well, we were relocated for the summer due to construction, but we are finally back in our home location. The church has shrunk some since the beginning of the year and a few folks are moving away, so that's sad. But at the same time that we've shrunk some, we've also gained a few newbies. A couple has moved from home and another couple joined us from Hawaii. We also have a few men coming around. All in all it's encouraging and I love my people here :) grateful for this place and God's kindness in it all.
Not a whole lot else to report.
Song this month: 10000 Reasons by Matt Redman
Books this month: The Secret Garden, 1000 Gifts
This month, Megan turned 22 and Austin turned 7. It was weird being so far away from it all. I'm not used to missing birthday celebrations and have missed so many this year already.
In other news, my car was totaled this month. My dear roommate borrowed it for a road trip and crashed it on her last leg home. Thankfully, she is completely okay and was close enough to home to get someone to pick her up. Insurance has been great, but it has lead me to a whole new line of questions...
But I digress. I am working on figuring out my next steps and best financial decisions.
I spent the rest of the month working out logistics with insurance and anticipating a visit from Katie and the boys. I cheated and posted a few pictures from their trip (although it was technically in September).
As for last months update. Esther has completed 3 rounds of Chemo and it's been radio silence from her family. They appear well supported and I've become very necessary at my work, so all appears settled.
I am hoping to take a quick trip home in September to see family, but it's not looking good at this point with the way things are at work...Hopefully I will be able to leave early on a Saturday and fly home for my days off.
Church is going well, we were relocated for the summer due to construction, but we are finally back in our home location. The church has shrunk some since the beginning of the year and a few folks are moving away, so that's sad. But at the same time that we've shrunk some, we've also gained a few newbies. A couple has moved from home and another couple joined us from Hawaii. We also have a few men coming around. All in all it's encouraging and I love my people here :) grateful for this place and God's kindness in it all.
Not a whole lot else to report.
Song this month: 10000 Reasons by Matt Redman
Books this month: The Secret Garden, 1000 Gifts
Monday, August 6, 2012
July 2012
July went by far too quickly.
My counter part started at work and we've still been unbelievable busy. I'm grateful to have her because I can't imagine how busy I would be with out her. I still really love my job, and will be grateful when we are finally caught up on all the assessments we need to get done.
The highlight of my month was getting to go on a trip with my mom and my Nana to Fargo North Dakota and then up to Canada to visit my great aunt. Living in the desert it was a great break to leave for a week in July and enjoy the cooler temperatures, rains and lovely lake up north. But it was also nice, because I now live over 800 miles from my mom and have never gotten to vacation with my Nana. I had fun being with my mom, reading, exploring, talking...and my family did a great job putting up with all my picture taking (only a few are to the side).
spendandbespent.blogspot.com
That's the link to Esther's family. I've been praying, and waiting. Still no decisions yet. But, I would appreciate others praying for them as well. I have seen it move mountains!
No big plans for August, just looking forward to digging in here for a while.
My counter part started at work and we've still been unbelievable busy. I'm grateful to have her because I can't imagine how busy I would be with out her. I still really love my job, and will be grateful when we are finally caught up on all the assessments we need to get done.
The highlight of my month was getting to go on a trip with my mom and my Nana to Fargo North Dakota and then up to Canada to visit my great aunt. Living in the desert it was a great break to leave for a week in July and enjoy the cooler temperatures, rains and lovely lake up north. But it was also nice, because I now live over 800 miles from my mom and have never gotten to vacation with my Nana. I had fun being with my mom, reading, exploring, talking...and my family did a great job putting up with all my picture taking (only a few are to the side).
spendandbespent.blogspot.com
That's the link to Esther's family. I've been praying, and waiting. Still no decisions yet. But, I would appreciate others praying for them as well. I have seen it move mountains!
No big plans for August, just looking forward to digging in here for a while.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
June 2012
This is an up then down post. It's one of my longest, but it was a big month...
This was a month of weddings! I am grateful to my friend Kelly Jean for hosting me so much of the month, as I had been joking that I should have gotten an apartment for the month...and really it wouldn't have been a bad idea if she hadn't hosted me.
I went to Colorado the beginning of the month to spend time with friends, family and help with any wedding prep necessary for my friend Helenka and my cousin Megan. Helenka got married on Saturday morning and the wedding and reception were beautiful. It was such a delight to see two people so in love, and so innocent in that love and knowing that they are making vows that they mean and that they are in it for life. They will be an excellent pair, great doctors, and a true city on a hill. I enjoyed every part of that day and my time with them. Congrats you two!
Then on Sunday, I went to church and then headed to Megan's salon (which is amazing!! All of you in Fort Collins, please look up and call Acacia Salon and make an appointment...hair, nails, massage...they are awesome at them all...Megan does massage there, and I am picky about massage...she is by far the best I have ever had and I highly recommend her)...but I digress....We had a blast getting ready for her wedding and it was beautiful and amazing. Her now husband, Jordan, is a great man and I am honored to have him in the family now and am grateful for such a man of honor to be the caretaker for my dear cousin. I couldn't have imagined a better man or a more beautiful wedding and reception for my girl.
After these weddings I returned to AZ and worked 8 of 9 days...It was full of trainings and was busy, but good...Have I mentioned that I love my job and am so grateful for my coworkers and all that I get to do?
On Monday the 18th, I received an email from the family I lived with a few years ago. I have adopted them as my own and adore each and every one of them (there are pictures of us dancing on the side). The email stated that they had just gotten an MRI on their youngest (the little one in the Cinderella dress and crown in the slideshow). The MRI had revealed a tumor on her head that goes through the skull. They family asked for prayers as she was to have a biopsy that Friday. I am thankful to God for his timing, because I was able to fly in that Friday (as already scheduled), and go straight to that biopsy. Unfortunately, God did not see fit to hear our cries for a benign tumor. Esther was diagnosed with Cancer on Friday. I went straight from the results of that to a wedding rehearsal, dinner, sleep over and then wedding. It was an emotional time, and I did all I could to put my deep sadness, questions and fears aside to enjoy another beautiful wedding. I was able to be genuinely happy for Amanda, as her and Matt were made for each other. It was a beautiful day
I flew home and caught up on housework and waited for the lab results of the biopsy to determine what kind of Cancer... Esther has stage IV Neuroblastoma, which will require chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, a bone marrow transplant and a new treatment called MIBG therapy. The decision is now to be made as to whether I stay here, or if I go back to help out. I admit that I am no longer really present here in AZ, so I am just waiting and trying to find ways to serve to help me be present and in the moment while I am here, especially as I wait (I'm horrible at waiting).
Not much else to report. I get to go to Canada next month (hopefully)...so tune in next month for pictures and another update.
This was a month of weddings! I am grateful to my friend Kelly Jean for hosting me so much of the month, as I had been joking that I should have gotten an apartment for the month...and really it wouldn't have been a bad idea if she hadn't hosted me.
I went to Colorado the beginning of the month to spend time with friends, family and help with any wedding prep necessary for my friend Helenka and my cousin Megan. Helenka got married on Saturday morning and the wedding and reception were beautiful. It was such a delight to see two people so in love, and so innocent in that love and knowing that they are making vows that they mean and that they are in it for life. They will be an excellent pair, great doctors, and a true city on a hill. I enjoyed every part of that day and my time with them. Congrats you two!
Then on Sunday, I went to church and then headed to Megan's salon (which is amazing!! All of you in Fort Collins, please look up and call Acacia Salon and make an appointment...hair, nails, massage...they are awesome at them all...Megan does massage there, and I am picky about massage...she is by far the best I have ever had and I highly recommend her)...but I digress....We had a blast getting ready for her wedding and it was beautiful and amazing. Her now husband, Jordan, is a great man and I am honored to have him in the family now and am grateful for such a man of honor to be the caretaker for my dear cousin. I couldn't have imagined a better man or a more beautiful wedding and reception for my girl.
After these weddings I returned to AZ and worked 8 of 9 days...It was full of trainings and was busy, but good...Have I mentioned that I love my job and am so grateful for my coworkers and all that I get to do?
On Monday the 18th, I received an email from the family I lived with a few years ago. I have adopted them as my own and adore each and every one of them (there are pictures of us dancing on the side). The email stated that they had just gotten an MRI on their youngest (the little one in the Cinderella dress and crown in the slideshow). The MRI had revealed a tumor on her head that goes through the skull. They family asked for prayers as she was to have a biopsy that Friday. I am thankful to God for his timing, because I was able to fly in that Friday (as already scheduled), and go straight to that biopsy. Unfortunately, God did not see fit to hear our cries for a benign tumor. Esther was diagnosed with Cancer on Friday. I went straight from the results of that to a wedding rehearsal, dinner, sleep over and then wedding. It was an emotional time, and I did all I could to put my deep sadness, questions and fears aside to enjoy another beautiful wedding. I was able to be genuinely happy for Amanda, as her and Matt were made for each other. It was a beautiful day
I flew home and caught up on housework and waited for the lab results of the biopsy to determine what kind of Cancer... Esther has stage IV Neuroblastoma, which will require chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, a bone marrow transplant and a new treatment called MIBG therapy. The decision is now to be made as to whether I stay here, or if I go back to help out. I admit that I am no longer really present here in AZ, so I am just waiting and trying to find ways to serve to help me be present and in the moment while I am here, especially as I wait (I'm horrible at waiting).
Not much else to report. I get to go to Canada next month (hopefully)...so tune in next month for pictures and another update.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
May 2012
Sorry for such a late update! I was busy the beginning of June with my cousin's wedding (pictures on the side).
May was slightly busy.
My counterpart at work quit, meaning I have almost twice as much to do in the same amount of time...so work's been a bit hectic.
I was blessed to get to housesit at the beginning of May about half an hour north of my house in a well-to-do neighborhood. It was a nice break and a good retreat...the stars are beautiful from up there (less light pollution).
In super exciting news: a dear friend of mine moved down in the middle of May, so once house sitting was complete, I spent my free time making room in the apartment for her.
I spent the second half of May settling in with my new roomie, Andrea, and then packing and preparing to head back to CO for a good friend's wedding and for my cousin Megan's wedding (I'll update on those next month).
I've been looking into going back to school for nursing and will hopefully have some more information and maybe even a plan next month.
June is wedding month, I go to CO twice for 3 weddings. Hopefully, I will have good news about my job, adventures to tell of my travels and if I get my dream, another woman or few will move out here.
Thanks for checking in :)
May was slightly busy.
My counterpart at work quit, meaning I have almost twice as much to do in the same amount of time...so work's been a bit hectic.
I was blessed to get to housesit at the beginning of May about half an hour north of my house in a well-to-do neighborhood. It was a nice break and a good retreat...the stars are beautiful from up there (less light pollution).
In super exciting news: a dear friend of mine moved down in the middle of May, so once house sitting was complete, I spent my free time making room in the apartment for her.
I spent the second half of May settling in with my new roomie, Andrea, and then packing and preparing to head back to CO for a good friend's wedding and for my cousin Megan's wedding (I'll update on those next month).
I've been looking into going back to school for nursing and will hopefully have some more information and maybe even a plan next month.
June is wedding month, I go to CO twice for 3 weddings. Hopefully, I will have good news about my job, adventures to tell of my travels and if I get my dream, another woman or few will move out here.
Thanks for checking in :)
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