Knee Deep In The...............

For an entire week, I was in my personal favorite type of therapy..............white sand, ocean, and heat!:)  I was able to go to Florida with Amber Ehnle and her parents!! We spent the week in the Siesta Keys, where her grandma stays for several weeks during the winter.  We were right on the ocean and the place we stayed was perfect!:)  I have always had a fascination with the ocean and dolphins, and miss it soo much (especially since moving back from Haiti) and find such peace, calm, safety, amazement, awesomeness, and beauty in the ocean!  It really is awesome therapy for me! I loved going down to the beach every morning to do my devotions and then watching the sun set in the evening!

Most of the time was just spent relaxing and swimming.  We did some boogie boarding on the last day, because the waves were finally perfect for it!! We also went kayaking and parasailing!!  I thoroughly loved spending time with Amber and her family!!! And meeting some other people!:)  Funso, Tessa, and Tessa's roommate Dana came down to visit me on Sunday. It was awesome and I am so glad they came!!! We ate lunch at an Italian restaurant, took a long walk on the beach, and did a little swimming!:)

Some other exciting news is that my mom came to visit me down/over in Indiana!!!! She arrived last Friday, the exact same time I arrived back from Florida!:)  We had the Parent Appreciation supper on Saturday, Sunday after church mom and I went up to Fort Wayne, made some returns, and ate supper.  Monday and Tuesday while I was at work, mom had fun with her friends down here...:)  Monday we went to Dan & Jacki Kershner's for supper and the evening, then Tuesday we to Jeff & Val Leman's. I loved having her here and being able to meet some people and kinda see where I am at.:)

Amber & I

Ready for church:)

Funso, Tessa, and I

Tessa, Dana, and I

Ready to go parasailing!!!!!

A dolphin:) The ocean was so clear!! We saw a few turtles, a dolphin, and a couple stingrays!

My most recent accomplishment.....;)

A couple of really cute valentines I got from a couple of my kids....:)

We had a very blessed weekend here in Bluffton.  As we got to witness the baptisms of five young souls!!!  It was so good for me to also think back to when I was able to give my testimony and was baptized! God is so good!!  Here a couple verses that I really like....

"14. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.  15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

In all the choices and decisions you have to make from the little daily things, to the larger items, choose this day who you will serve!

My life in the New Year

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say on the Lord." Psalm 27:14

Well...this is officially my first post in 2014! Seems so crazy!!  The young group got together for a New Year's Eve Party, then I went to church New Year's Day morning.  After which I went over to Gerber's and played hockey/sat in the hot tub/and just relaxed with their family!  It was really fun and so blessed to have people who have opened their arms to me here! The Saturday following New Year's, I went skiing with a Shaunda Bedwell and her sister.  It was very last minute, but so much fun!! So glad I was able to go with them! I really enjoyed getting to know them better!  The next Saturday, there was about 15 or so from the young group that went skiing/snowboarding too.  So I went again!!:) (this time snowboarding)  It had been raining though, so they had lost quite a bit of snow from the previous weekend, but there was still a good base and once you got used to it being icy and kinda slushy, it really wasn't that bad!!!

This past weekend, I had an amazing time in Princeville, IL!!! They had an invite-a-friend, and Amber Ehnle invited me out.  She also kept my sister and my cousin Abby.  It was so great to be able to spend some time with them again!!! I miss them so much!  There were six of us from Bluffton that went....Hannah Rauch, Alivia Topp, Alyssa Eisenmann, Korrin, and Kailey Kershner.

Bluffton/BN Young Group!!! Where am I??:)

 Shaunda & I.....I expect you to all recognize her if you ever meet her!!

Abby & me!!!!:)

The Triple A's

Bluffton Girls!!

Amber & I

Home for Christmas

My trip back to Minnesota started on a very foggy Friday evening before Christmas.  The first two hours of my drive were kind of nerve racking. But once I got on interstate it was smooth sailing! I spent the night with an aunt & uncle in IL.  Once I got of interstate to head to their place, the roads were solid ice!!!  It was really crazy, I in fact missed one of their turns due to the fact that my car seized to stop on time.  Then once I got to their place, I literally had to shuffle to get up their driveway!!!  I drove the rest of the way Saturday.  That evening I got to be a part of another awesome jam session!!  Then Monday night we played at Skyview for the residents.

Most of the week, I just hung out with my family and spent time lounging around at home.  Plus, I got to enjoy the wonderful presence of a cold the entire time I was home..(and one I am still enjoyingL).  Thursday  there was ten of us that went up to Andes Tower Hills and went skiing/snowboarding!! It was a ton of fun!!!!  I chose to go snowboarding this time, and even tried some jumps!!! HahaJ!!  To say the least….I was a little sore the next couple of days….;)

Friday evening we had our family Christmas.  We had our traditional supper, then opened gifts, and then played games.  Oh…and, of course, ate some snacks…. J

Saturday I drove all the way back to Bluffton and had beautiful weather and roads the entire way!!  I am so thankful for God’s protection over me!!!  (Especially traveling, by myself, without a phone(most of the way).

I just want to share with you something.  Lately I have just been overpowered with this feeling of wonder and amazement of God.  What I have to say is really nothing new, but yet it is still incredible to think just how big and all-knowing God is!! Here I am, just a girl who has tested her “luck” so many times.  Yet, for some reason, God has kept me alive.  Why?  Because He still has a purpose and a plan for me!  He still wants to use me for His glory, to reach out to those who are hurting, lonely, needy,  and most of all to those who need Him.  It really is so amazing that He wants to use you and me to help do His work here!!  But it doesn’t just stop at the point where we need to take care of others…..no, He also said” I will take care of you!”  And He does in the most incredible ways!!  This may all sound simple to some of you, but looking back on my life on where I have come from and what I have all gone through, and seeing what God has done with my life just blows me away.  Then I look at the here and now, and into the near future, and I can’t help but feel this overwhelming sense of awe for my Lord!!!  I hope each one of you will remember your purpose here in life!! No matter what you are going through, God wants to use you!!! Don’t be afraid to be used by Him…in whatever way that might be!!!! Go light your world!!!

Here are the words to a song I recently wrote….

Today I had to stop and think just how much You’ve changed me

I can’t explain the way You work or the plans You have for me.

But I trust You, Lord. You have proven Yourself to me time and time again.

And now I want to give thanks and praise Your Holy Name!

(Chorus)

You bring the light to my soul shoving the darkness away

You carry me when I cannot walk.

You put me through the fire to refine me as gold

And teach me something every step of the way.

There’re days, You know, when Satan comes and tries to trip me up.

He comes ever so cunningly and says I’m just not good enough.

But You know me Lord, You see and understand me from the depths of my heart

And that is why I give thanks and praise Your Holy Name!

 Taking a pic with all my garb on....

 Then this is what happens when you feel the need for some randomness....:)

Singing carols before opening gifts

 What happens when your brother hogs the couch.....

Playing Settlers

When I find Kelsy's camera....;)

Ascheman's came over to play games one evening!!!:)

Skiing/Snowboarding

 Erin & I

So Here's The Deal.....

First of all....you should all be impressed that it took only ten days for me to come out with another post!!!:)

Last Friday, I was able to go rock climbing in Indianapolis with around 15 other people. I have never actually been rock climbing...where I am like harnessed in and such. In the type of climbing I have always done, fear has been my safe guard.:) Anyway, I really enjoyed it and would most definitely go again!! The last picture is of what they call the snake....I only made it to where the black and gray meet....yah, definitely not strong enough to climb upside down...

Also, here are a few pictures I said I would give from Emily's wedding....

Then last night, the young group went caroling at a hospital in Fort Wayne. After which we went ice skating. It was a lot of fun!!! And I loved it!!! I have skated in a couple years....and needless to say, couldn't quite figure out the breaking system. So, to answer the question running through all your minds....yes, I had several "run-ins" with the wall....:) But a good time was had by all.:)

So after having my first Indiana snow....I am so tempted to pack up my bags and either head to MN where we know how to handle snow....or head back south, where we don't get snow. I tell you what, I am really annoyed with their snow handling skills here....they are in need of much improvement.

Hope you all had a great weekend so far! The Bluffton church had their sunday school christmas program in the afternoon today, it was really neat to watch all the kids sing! I would encourage everyone to keep the real reason we celebrate Christmas in the front of your minds throughout this holiday season, and not get so caught up in how the world views it today!

Carry Your Candle And Go Light Your World!!!

My last two months....

Ok....ok....I already know that I am horrible with keeping everyone updated.:)  Yes, I have gotten comments from people letting me know that they do really like to hear about my crazy/boring life (whichever you want to think of my life as).  Anyway, as of December 2nd, it has been exactly two months since I moved to Indiana!! Almost a month ago, now, I got a job working at a daycare here in Bluffton.  I am working mostly in the 3 year old room.  It is quite lively most of the time...except nap time (which works as an amazing time to regain and refuel my energy!) So most of my weekends since moving have been taking up with Stephanie's wedding and shower, Emily's Milford reception, a couple family Christmases, and spending time with Beth & Bekah Klopfenstein while they are back in the states...:)

I have gotten to know some of the young group here and really enjoy spending time with all of them!! They have really taken me in!!  Impressive....I know....who would do that to me?  Oh wait.....they don't know me very well yet....;) hahaha!!!!  They do a lot of things here...since the group is so big, so I usually have things going on in the evenings atleast half the week...if not more!  My spare time is spent playing my instruments, reading, updating my blog...:) (haha), and working on my guitar songs.

Over Thanksgiving, I was able to go home and spend time with my family and the Schmidgall family (since we had our Schmidgall Christmas...which is like a four day event!:))  I took Wednesday off of work and drove all day.  Thursday after the Thanksgiving service, we had the Massner's over for lunch, played ping-pong, played guitars, and sang.  Then went to Rob & Kax's for supper & the evening. Friday all the ladies & girl cousin's had lunch at Bello's (an italian restraunt), some of the men did a little black friday shopping.  Later we went to sing for grandma in the alzheimer's unit, then did our usual Pizza Ranch supper with bowling following, then Tony & Peggy's for another late night.  The girl cousins spent the night at our place.  Saturday some of the guys went hunting, then we renting out a gym for part of the afternoon and played lots of basketball.:)  Which even though I love playing it....it is slightly depressing when you are playing with people who are all like 5' 7" and taller!!!  Anyway, our Christmas supper was Saturday night, had a gift grab, played games, & talked.  So basically that is the weekend in a nutshell....:)  I left Sunday morning early and drove  all....the....way...back.:)  So glad I find myself entertaining at times...because otherwise the trip would get awful long.....;)

Anyway, to keep this from being a long post, I am not going to fill you in on all the details of the past two months...but instead I am really going to try to do better going forward!  Please feel free to keep me accountable....haha:)

Eating our delicious grasshoppers.....always the highlight of our Christmas supper!:)

 Eating at Pizza Ranch....Ross kept trying to photo bomb;)

Bowling!!!

 Sunset after the storm that came through(the same storm system that hit Washington)

 Came back from working in the field one day to find my car vandalized!!!!

Olivia fell asleep....what can we say...there was pen right there!!!

Here are some pics from Stephanie's wedding!!  Hopefully I will be able to post a couple of Emily's wedding soon!

Plans

Well, I thought it was about time to update everyone on my life and plans!!  As of this current second I am still living with my parents, but in a couple days, I will be moving to Bluffton, IN.  I will be living with Steve & Joyce Fischer.  My plans are to work for a year or so, and then hopefully go to college at IPFW for music therapy.  As far as how I ended up there....is a VERY long story...:)  But I will try to give it a "brief" summary.

While I was still living in Haiti, I had started thinking about going back to college for early childhood education. Either online(if I went back down) or on campus(if I stayed in the states).  I had been doing a lot of research, but I couldn't really decide if that was what I really should be going for, if I really enjoyed it, or if I would really be that good at it.  I LOVE kids and working with them, but I am way more of a one-on-one person, or small group.  And wasn't really sure about a classroom setting.

During this time, I had also started going through the process to return to Haiti after the summer.  A couple weeks after I returned from Haiti, I had started losing my peace about going back. There was a lot of things going on behind-the-scenes, but I was just really wondering if that was really where I was suppose to go, and if now was really the time to go.  I also after awhile, decided to start researching other careers that I might like.  I knew that I needed to go back to college, but didn't know what for.  One day I decided to research careers in music.  Because it is one of my passions and talents that God has given me.  But didn't know if there was anything out there other than production of music, etc.  While I was researching I came across this Music Therapy and after I started looking into that, it seemed like something that I would really enjoy!

The next step was decided which college I wanted to go to.  Yah, talk about too many options!  See I really wanted to go to either Boston, MA to Berklee College of Music or go to Florida either Tallahassee or Miami.  But after considering the tuition of some, and other things, I decided that even though it was a dream of mine to go there.....I didn't feel like that was what I was suppose to do. So I had to let go of some of my dreams.  Anyway, long story short I ended up picking IPFW.  Honestly I don't really know how it really came about...but :)

So enough about me.....;)  Just had a wonderful weekend in Winthrop, MN as I got to witness and be a part of the wedding of Emily Steiner and John Frauhiger!!  Abby(a cousin of mine) and I went down Friday night and arrived at the Steiner's late....and stayed up even later talking.... :)  Saturday morning was pretty casual...John's family came over.  Then pictures were in the afternoon.  Unfortunately it was rainy in the morning and cold and windy all day.  So we took a lot of inside pictures...but did get some outside too!! Emily & John ended up taking some outside pics of just them early this morning too.  Today turned out to be a gorgeous day!! And the wedding went really well!!  I had a lot of fun meeting and getting to know some people from Bluffton area too!! Anyway....pics to come later...hopefully:)

I am now signing off as I can barely keep my eyes opened.... ;)