The Last Three Months

Well, since I haven't updated my page recently, I figured that it was time to do so (although, I am not sure that anyone actually reads this, but it is a good way to keep track of what I have been doing...)

So, here is what I have been doing the last 3 months....

Over Labor Day weekend, Tom and I went down to my parent's new condo on the Northern Neck of Virginia. The view from the living room was amazing, seeing as their condo is right on a creek that opens up to the Piankatank River. We had a nice relaxing weekend eating on their deck, driving around and seeing the scenery and of course, Tom and I enjoyed kayaking.

While in Indiana for Dusty's 'Celebration of Life' the Neumanns took a trip to Lake Michigan. We had a really good time playing in the waves, eating a picnic lunch and playing in the sand. Unfortunately, I was a little cold (as you can tell by the picture below) and I spent most of my time under a blanket reading my book, which was just fine by me! We had a nice time enjoying the company of our family before taking the train back to Pennsylvania. That was the first time that I had been on a train since I was a little girl and I really enjoyed traveling that way. It was nice to be with family during such a difficult time.
BUT.....

The most exciting thing that has happened is pictured below.....yes... that is a little baby, although hard to tell, that is my little baby... That is currently growing inside me and getting bigger and bigger. That picture was taken when I was about 9 weeks along. I am currently over 16 weeks and will be getting a new picture on December 21st!!! Tom and I are thrilled and can't wait to be parents. In case you can't tell, Twinkers (our baby's name) is facing you, with the head on the left. My mom says that it looks like Twink is wearing headphones and Tom calls him/her our gummy bear. How exciting!!

MAY 17th, HERE WE COME!!!

Rejoicing in Heaven

As hard as it may seem here, there is great rejoicing in Heaven. Another of God's children has been called home to Him and she is now sitting in Heaven. Late Sunday night my mother-in-law, Dusty, was taking home. She valiantly battled cancer for almost 3 years and could battle no longer. The word battle hardly seems appropriate or strong enough, but unfortunately our language is lacking in words to use (or maybe I cannot come up with them at this point...). It is a great thing to know that she is in Heaven and is happy with her dad, my grandma and my baby (Auggie, who I miscarried last December). She was a wonderful woman and we will miss her on earth, but look forward to seeing her in Heaven.
There should be no tears shed on earth, although I know there will be many. We can't be selfish when God takes his children home. I would love to have her still on this earth and get to meet her grand babies and help me raise my children, but I know that she is in a much, much better place and for that we need to smile and praise the Lord.

"and I will praise you in this storm..." (Casting Crowns)

All Day...

Well, at least for the next couple of days (the end of the week), I will not be working, so I am finding that I have all kinds of time to sit and do nothing, even though I have a whole lot of something to do... I should be finishing unpacking from camp or cleaning around the house... Oh well! For the time being, I am going to enjoy just being at home during the day. I know that this won't last much longer, so I am making the most of it! : ) Which, basically means that I am going to do a whole lot of nothing!!

Well, I guess that I actually better get some laundry started and then get some dishes cleaned... I guess I won't really get to sit around all day and do nothing... Oh well....

Well, after going here and there for the last 10 days, Tom and I are back at home. We had an amazing time at my sister's wedding. Everything was beautiful and fit her personality perfectly. The only problem was the heat!! The day of the wedding hit a record high with the heat index being well over 100... and of course the wedding was in a non-air conditioned church. That's ok. We all managed to survive, drank plenty of water and cooled off using the fan programs.

It was really great getting to see family and friends that we have not seen in a while. It was especially cool to see my mom's brother, Uncle Larry and Aunt Jana, whom we have not seen for over 17 years!! And, of course he came prepared to do some magic for us. I remember him always doing magic tricks with my mom when we were growing up and it was great getting to relive some of those memories.

The Shy family was also largely in attendance. It had been over 2 years since we last saw that part of the family as well. Most of the cousins have now grown up and the youngest of us in now in college. It was really good hearing how things were going for all the of them. I only wish we had more time to catch up. While the rest of the family was going for the family reunion to the Outer Banks, Tom and I were heading up to Camp Manatawny, so we did not get as much time as we would have liked. All in all, it was a great couple of days and the wedding was beautiful. The bride and groom are currently honeymooning in Puerto Rico for a couple more days and then they will be back in Williamsburg for a short time before going back to Kobe, Japan, where they will live for at least a year.

After the wedding, Tom and I headed back up to PA to work at Camp Manatawny again this summer. Our jobs changed slightly (for Tom) and big time (for me) this year. We were ready for the new challenges and had an amazing week. Tom got right back in the swing of things being 'Mr. Exercise' and lifeguarding. This year, he also started doing the rifles. He enjoyed getting to teach the kids to shoot and he enjoyed getting to so the same himself. For me, I still taught the pre-campers, like last year. Added on to my duties was being Head Canteen person. I was like a little store manager. It was quite challenging, but I had an absolute blast doing it. Unlike last year, I got to know the campers a little better and had more direct contact with them. Almost as good as that, I was in the air conditioning all week as well... :) I also was one of a few main picture takers and then I was responsible for compiling all the pictures and putting them together for a 35 minute slide show. We ended up with about 6 GB of pictures... That is a whole lot!!
Like always, our week there was over way too soon and now we have to wait a whole year before we get to spend that kind of time there again. The best part of the week was the 17 new souls that were added to God's kingdom during the week. It is an incredible thing to see so many people (one as old as in her40's) come to know Christ and turn their lives over to Him. What a great week!! The kids were amazing and the staff had a great time together.

(Tom had to have his own coffee--including pot and grinder... He was a big hit with staff...)


Now, time for me to find a new job........

Not long now!

What a time of change in my life! It is not long now until I head into work for my last day at GCCC. I left my job at the Christian daycare so that I can find a job that will enhance me professionally and that will better allow me to serve God and work on mission work (ie Mantawany).... I should be going to get ready for that job right now....

Tonight, I must finish packing for the next two big things that are coming up in my life... My sister is getting married on Saturday and we leave before the sun to go to Williamsburg for that. It should be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to this.

Right from the wedding, before the sun on Sunday, Tom and I will be driving up to Douglassville, PA to head to the always wonderful CAMP MANATAWANY!! We will be getting there a day after the kids, but it will still be a GREAT week! That means that tonight, before and after church, Tom and I will have to finish packing for both camp and the wedding and go shopping for all those last minute things that we need...

What a day this is going to be.... filled with LOTS of tears....