ho hum...

I said I would try to keep this blog updated so even though I don't have anything really new and exciting(other than a new nephew, but that goes for all of us :) ) I felt like writing something today. Maybe this is because I have been feeling homesick lately. Not for home where mom and dad live(sorry, but I don't think I could be payed to live in WY again!), but for my siblings and neices and nephews.
Things have been so crazy in my life lately and this summer has been really hard in alot of ways. There are days when I don't want to be a grown-up anymore. Life throws all kinds of things at us and there have been times I just want to let them crush me instead of fighting to get through it. Thank God I have the people surrounding me here that I do, but they are going through it too so I feel like I am fighting for myself but also fighting for them in my prayers. I know that I know that I know that God is going to bring us to the other side of this though. Most of you know what is going on and I'm happy to say that for now, the Haven House is not in foreclosure and we aren't going to have to move. We still need support badly though and are working on getting partners to support us monthly. Keep my pastor and his family in your prayers too, they are losing everything it seems. It has been amazing to watch them fight and stand in their faith throughout this process, but I know it is wearing on them and am praying that the end comes soon.
On a brighter note...I had a great birthday. Shalaunda bought me some amazing jewelry from Ten Thousand Villages that I had been coveting, but never dreamt I'd be able to buy or that someone would buy it for me. One of those pieces is a real pearl necklace that is absolutely gorgeous and earrings to match! I love pearls almost more than diamonds and so I was so excited to get these! I still can't believe she spent that much money on me(she would get mad if she knew I said that too.) I'll have to post pictures because they are so beautiful. Also, they surprised me by taking me out to dinner at Olive Garden with all of my favorite people: PG and his family, Shalaunda, Robert & Susie(Gave me a car & I'll be working in their sons chiropractor office when I'm done!), and a sweet lady named Polly that I met through Mercy. We had a great dinner and I got to do my favorite thing: spend time with the people I love.
As far as school goes...I am praying this next week and a half go by very fast because the class I'm in is just plain boring and confusing. It is Chinese medicine so we are learning all about yin and yang, taoism, acupuncture, tui na, and all kinds of things that mom and dad would probably faint if they knew I was being taught. Some of it is very strange and I don't agree with at all and would never get into it, but we have to go through this class so I'm just waiting it out. After this I have three more classes and then clinic! I think I will be almost completely finished before Christmas and then I graduate January 16th! I'm really starting to get excited about the prospect of making more money because things have been so tight this summer and I'm looking forward to being able to breathe and not eat tuna for every meal. :)
All in all, I am doing good, I really am even though things are hard. I have alot of things to look forward to, alot to be thankful for, and alot to be happy about. And...I'm excited about getting to come home for Thanksgiving! I can't wait to see everyone and hope that we all can make it so it isn't another two years before we are all together.
I better go.. I love you all and am praying for everyone.

The Sisters Visit...

These pictures are from a few weeks ago when Janette and Debi visited. It was so good to have some family here and just be able to relax, laugh, and enjoy eachother like we never could when we all lived together because we were always on the verge of killing each other! We shopped until we dropped, ate at some great restaurants, saw movies, laughed alot, and just had a blast. We surprised Janette and persuaded mom and dad to let her stay a week longer. She got to go to dinner in her first "little black dress" and heels, but we didn't get a picture. :(


The most sinfully wonderful cake on earth















Stoned on chocolate















Eating our hair















Preparing to take a picture...















Debi getting a bug out of her eye..not really.:)















Obviously it's impossible for us to all look at the
camera at the same time.















Janette fixing a wedgie?















Laughing at Shalaunda trying not to get hit
by a car...















Janette trying to look cool...and failing miserably
I accidentally cut Shalaunda's head off. : /















Group hug to cheer up Jen before she got on the plane















Typical picture of her and I.















aww.















Janette with Pastor Greg and Marvelle the
morning we left.

Some recent pictures..

In June Shalaunda, my pastor's wife and daughter and their two neices went to Florida for a week! It was so much fun! We spent three whole days in Orlanda at Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Disney World(might post some of those pictures later). Thursday we went to the beach with the intention of taking pictures and then changing to lay out, but as soon as we got done with the pictures it started raining! We ended up going home and relaxing for the rest of the evening, but the picture taking was fun and made for good memories.

Shalaunda and I

From the left: Julie(PG's niece, Shalaunda, Brooke(Marvelle's neice),

Marvelle(PG's wife), Me, and Lyndsey(PG's daughter)

The wind was blowing and the sun was in our eyes even

though it looks really cloudy. :(

Playing in the water

She looks so loving here but she threw me off!