Seeking Adventure!!

This summer, God has blessed me so abundantly. He has given me a wonderful job that I enjoy and am good at. He has provided for me to see Phil and Sam often. He has provided for security in planning for next semester and on. This job that I have is one that I plan to keep even after I graduate from college -- (well, I at least plan to stay with the company. I will probably move to Rochester and try to find a job as an assistant director of a ChildTime there). I do count myself very blessed, and in so many areas of my life. So I don't want the rest of this post to sound ungrateful, because I am so thankful for the way that God has provided for me, not only this summer, but my whole life!

I feel restless. I feel like I will never be free. I will always go on doing what is expected of me and doing what is practical. I feel that I won't ever get a chance to have an adventure and just go out into the world with no plan and no security. I'm sure that practically that's a good thing, but it's something that I crave. I want to feel like I'm living!! I want to feel like I'm useful to the world. I want to go out and make a difference -- not just for a day or a week or a month, but for a lifetime! I want... I don't know what I want. All I know is that right now as I think about my life, I don't have any experiences when I just went out and did what I felt called to do.

For instance, for about 7 or 8 months now I've been feeling guilty for going to college. Spending money that I don't have and all of the money that I do have, and what for? For my education. Now, I value education as much as the next person, but to think about how $30,000 a year could change a community! It makes me ache to think about the food that I'm taking out of the mouths of children in other countries where they are starving... so that I can learn how to be a better teacher.

I'm taking a semester off of school. I will be going to school for Fall of '08 and Spring of '09 I'm taking off so that I can work and make some money. I've been thinking lately - yes, God has provided me with a secure and wonderful job here in Liverpool. He has been so good to me and everything has worked out so smoothly... but what if there's something more that I need to do? This is the time to do it!! Spring semester of '09 -- I'm going to have 8 months of no commitments (except work) in which time all I have to do is make sure that I make money. What if this is the last time I'll be able to have an adventure? I'm passing it up for the more practical plan - stay in Liverpool and keep the job I have.

Nothing will come of this. It's just how I feel. And writing helps.

And my prayer today is a song by BarlowGirl: "Surrender"

My hands hold safely to my dreams
Clutching tightly not one has fallen
So many years I've shaped each one
Reflecting my heart showing who I am
Now you're asking me to show
What I'm holding oh so tightly
Can't open my hands can't let go
Does it matter? Should I show you? Can't you let me go?

Surrender, surrender you whisper gently
You say I will be freeI know but can't you see?
My dreams are me. My dreams are me

You say you have a plan for me
And that you want the best for my life
Told me the world had yet to see
What you can do with one
That's committed to Your calling
I know of course what I should do
That I can't hold these dreams forever
If I give them now to You
Will You take them away forever?
Or can I dream again?

there's a first time for everything

today i called in sick to work for the first time. i hated doing it, especially since my director had told us that we can't take any time off in august because too many people were leaving. i hope she doesn't think that i was just trying to take a long weekend... but anyways i've been running a fever in the 100's all weekend. it was actually pretty cool, though, because when it came time for kc camp yesterday i felt fine. my throat hurt a little bit, but i didn't feel feverish and i was able to have the energy and awareness that you need when working with kids.

i just hope i feel better before tomorrow, because i don't think my concious can handle calling in sick again. plus, i forgot to clock out on friday night (oops!) haha i really must not have been feeling well

Five Months

**WARNING: this one's gushy

Today marks the day that Phillip and I have been dating for five months. It's crazy to think about it, especially since it's been so much longer than that!

I was telling a friend the story of how we met and started dating, and I was surprised to find that I was very glad to tell her that we were friends for a good year and a half before we started dating. So, five months doesn't really mean much to me, to be honest. Because there are more important dates in our relationship.

It's been about 1 year and 10 months since we met.

It's been about 1 year and 6 months since we became really close friends.

It's been about 7 months since we started to consider dating.

At 4:30pm today it will be exactly 5 months since we started officially dating.


I am just so happy that we don't only have a dating relationship, but we have a strong friendship. That is what has kept us together, and what I believe is going to keep us together for a long time, if not forever. I can't express how happy I am to be celebrating 5 official months with my best friend! I love you, Phil!







Me and Phil Freshman Year














Us Freshman year again












Still Freshman year, we're going to Spring Formal! Phil went with Ashley, I went without a date.














Sophomore year, long before we started dating.














Sophomore year, not long after we started dating.

The only thing better than a good friend is one with chocolate

That's what it says on a paperweight that Sam gave to me like two years ago. I still have it sitting on my desk. I just love my friends!! Sam came again this weekend for a visit. I can't express how blessed I am to have a friend like her in my life. She has been there for me so many times, and I just love being with her in general! I love my best friend!! :)

Michigan

My family has left for Michigan! And here I am, at home, getting ready to go to work... oh, well. I knew this wouldn't be a summer vacation.

Surprisingly, I am looking forward to having the house to myself. I am not scared about it at all. I will enjoy the time I get to spend alone and I think I'll get a lot done too!

Sam and Phil left this morning after a simply perfect weekend. I honestly was nervous about how it would go, since they have never come up together before. But we really had a good time, and I got to spend some alone time with both Sam and Phil individually.

KC Camp started yesterday, and it couldn't have gone better! We had 20 kids, which really helped it go well. And I got another volunteer!! Yay!! I just need to buy more prizes now, if there are going to be that many kids on a Sunday morning!

Well, I need to finish getting ready and head in to work. Bye bye for now!

I Have a Story!

So this morning I woke up to a rusting in my wall. My first instinct was to look around to see who was messing around in my room, but then I realized that it was coming from the wall! So I figured it was a moutoo tired to be freaked out by that idea (as long as it wasn't a robber or some other scary person, I was going back to sleep). But then it kept making noises, so it made me look around again... and I saw the shaddow of a bird at my window! There is a bird making a nest in my window!! It's in the window with my air conditioner, so I can't see it, but I can see its shaddow. I'm so excited!! I'll get to come home from work one day and see this bird's eggs hatch! :-D I know this probably isn't something to be excited about, since it is in my window, but I just don't care. It made my day!

Just thought I'd share :) Happy 4th of July!

My Very First July Post!

Hurray for July!!

Well, not much has been going on here... I got my first paycheck that was exciting. And Cuevas will be here tonight sometime! I don't know if I'll get to see them today or not, I'll bet they'll be tired. I can't wait to see them all again, though! I have the day off today and then I work a full day tomorrow... and then Sam and Phillip come to visit for the long weekend!! I can't wait!

I really don't have anything to write about right now, I just felt like I should update. Hmm... Well, I went for a run with Samson this morning and guess what he did... he pooped in the middle of the road! Rachel asked me what road he pooped on and when I told her she said, "Me too!! Well, I mean, I didn't poop on that road, but Samson did once when he was with me." Just thought that was a funny quote to share.

Today I'm getting ready for KC Camp to begin. It starts on Sunday!! I can't wait... actually, I can. I'm not quite ready yet... Rachel and I are planning on going over to the church to start setting up for Sunday. I'm thankful that she's going to come with me to help, because she's a lot more creatively inclined than I am.

Until next time... Elizabeth ;)