If you only have a lemon to give.....

   "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, of the parable of the Good Samaritan, that the first question that the priest asked, was 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?'  But then the Good Samaritan came by, and he reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?'

   A day is coming, and may be here, when we will no longer look to the social activist to lead us.  A day is coming, and may be here, when we will look for small things to do tirelessly within our own sphere, the small things that could make life-changing differences for the people all around us.  Not as much 'what would Jesus do?'....but rather, what will I do?

   When the opportunity to help arises, if it's a lemon, if it's just a lemon, if that is all we can do -- let us do it.  In that moment, we make mankind our business."

The previous paragraphs are all from the book The Sentinels of Andersonville by Tracy Groot.  It is about a prison during the civil war (really good book for all you that love to read!!...it is completely packed with history, but is written in such a way that it doesn't feel like your brain is being stuffed with information.:))  Anyway these paragraphs have just really stuck with me.  We often feel like we can't make that big of a difference so what's the point?  How in the world is one lemon to one of the thousands of starving guys really going to make a difference?  We need to be doing what we can do, to reach out and help those around us.  Don't be worried about what is going to happen to you, or wonder how your small act of kindness is really going to make a difference.  We have a choice...we can turn our heads and walk by; or we can stop, help with what we can, and make mankind our business...and to follow what God calls us to do.

I have actually done quite a bit of traveling lately!! I went home to Minnesota the last weekend in May for Kelsy's graduation!  I hadn't been home since Christmas...so it was really nice to be able to see so many friends and family again!!  Audrey Reinhard rode up with me....and I am surprised to say that I didn't even scare her off!!! I figured one time traveling with me would be enough....especially for a 25 hour trip!!:)  But the very next weekend, we drove out to Peoria, IL for Bill Frauhiger & Bethany Reinhard's wedding.  It was a very beautiful wedding!  I stayed with Olivia Steffen Saturday night, then spent Sunday evening & night with Erin Scheiler, then on Monday several friends from Haiti and I went ice skating!!:)

Someone posted this on fb recently, and I really like it!! I think  mostly because I have been much been feeling like this lately! There is humor in it, yet definitely truth to it!:)

Kyler & Aubrey.....awesome friends:)

This is what happens when someone takes your phone and takes 100 pics.....yes....I will now have awesome black mailing material.....:)

 Audrey & I at an overlook in Peoria!:)

ICE SKATING!!!!:)

Some cupcakes I learned how to decorate at a class:)  My talent is lacking in this area.....

Spent some time with Rich & Amber Pfister today!!  Rich & the kids took us out and showed us there new ride....Rich's invention.:)  It was pretty awesome!! 

My painting project I did one day...free style....so not straight or same size by any means...but a good start:)  Now I just gotta figure out what else I want to do with it.....:) 

Lindsey & I ....after we unlocked the car...with jumper cables:)  Yes....we are definitely awesome....:)

Ran a 6k the other weekend with Lindsey and Sarena.  It was to raise money to build wells in Africa!

I think that about sums up my life right now....for the most part:)  If I got too much more detailed I would have no more readers.....:)  Hope you are all having a great start to your summer!!!

"The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."  Psalm 18:2

The most fabulous post in the world...........

Yep..............

I am sitting here, thinking that I am overdue for another post, except one problem....I can't think of anything to write about. :(  That seems totally absurd to me though, because I am always doing something and my life is far from boring!

So in order to keep this post from being completely pointless(or if it still is....at least all y'all will know I a still alive somewhere on this great earth) I will share a couple different things.

First of all here is a song I wrote awhile ago, actually I wrote it while I was living in Haiti.  Even though it is so stricken with poverty and  the sight of hurting/needy people is hard to take in; the country itself is so beautiful!!!! God's stunning creation abounds all around and it is impossible for me to view it and not feel God's amazing love and power.

Lord, Your beauty surrounds me
As I sit on the mountain top
Your power and majesty showing everywhere
Makes my heart shout praise to Your name!

(Chorus)
And I sing holy is He who has created this
Worthy of honor and praise!
I will forever sing praise to Your name
And worship You all of my days! (repeat last line)

Lord, I see You in the sunrise
Shoving the darkness away.
The trees glint Your hue and the birds begin to sing
As the fog lifts from the river flowing free!

Lord, Your power engulfs me
As I lay starring at the sky
The stars in the millions in the black of the night
(And because I am not a very good song writer....I have forgotten the last line.....:)....opps)

I have been challenged so much over the last month! Through many different things.   Some of them being the Bluffton Invite, Power night, a few sermons, and my new job.  Here are a few things that I have really had on my heart and am learning.

1. PRAYER!!!!  So extremely important and it WORKS!!! Yah, crazy huh....:)  It is so important to pray about everything! Not just the big things, EVERYthing!  Also, when we tell people we are going to pray for them, is it just words coming out of our mouths to their ears for comfort? Or are we truly spending time everyday praying for that person?  Take is seriously when you tell someone you are praying for them!

2. PRAISE!!!! Praise God everyday, in everyway!  Praise Him for the sun, praise Him for the rain, the day that goes amazing and the day that is filled with struggles/temptations/trying of your patience.    Praise Him for His creation.....yah, truly incredible....take the time to enjoy it, His gifts of love to us, and how often do we just ignore it?  Remember that no matter what happens.....IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE!!!!!!!!

3. SERVICE!!!!  Our lives are not meant to be lived for ourselves, for our comfort, to keep to ourselves....  God gives you talents, passions, gifts, etc to be used for His glory and praise.  Used to show His love to others and share Him with everyone!  One of the biggest gifts He gives us is our past!  I have been in such amazement over the last several months at how much He has done in my life!!!!! Seriously....EVERYTHING that has happened to me, that I have gone through has been to create, form, mold me and prepare me for today and to prepare me for tomorrow!  If one thing would have happened differently, I wouldn't be where I am today!  I would have missed out on so many amazing opportunities....to meet people, to build friendships, to help people, etc....the list goes on and on.  If I wouldn't have grown up the way I did, I wouldn't be able to be as helpful/understanding/etc to serve the people God wants me to serve!  So don't hide the things you have been taught...be willing to reach out to people, to make yourself vulnerable to them, to share, and most importantly to just simply let God work through you!!!  That is the most amazing part of the whole thing.....we don't need to do hardly anything if we simply surrender ourselves to God and let Him do the work through us!!! ALWAYS REMEMBER TO GIVE ANY AND ALL CREDIT TO GOD.  WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT HIM, LITERALLY!!!!!

Anyway, this post has now officially became very long:)  Well as you can now read I am still alive and kicking.....and am still full of breath;)

Also, we have openings at Gateway Woods for Houseparents.  If you know of anyone who would be interested or you, yourselves.....please share with others the need, and seriously pray and consider it!!

This doesn't hardly to justice to the amazing sunbeams yesterday evening!

 In the safe of an old bank....from the Bluffton Invite

Life up North

Well, I have officially survived my first week at Gateway Woods!!  It actually really wasn't that bad...:)  I spent most of the time doing self-training...like watching videos and reading books.  But I was able to spend some time in the Hickory House(the one I will be working in) and really enjoyed getting to know everyone a little bit.  I am getting settled into my new apartment too, kinda glad that my roommate was gone all this week....because it may have looked like a little bit of a disaster for most of this week.....opps.....;)  But she comes back tonight, and I have gotten most of the things back in order!:)  My roommate is Kristi Baran (she is from Detroit originally....if I remember correctly), I am really excited to get to know her....that is when our paths finally cross and we are both there at the same time....:)

Anyway, other than my mind being stuffed and overflowed with information, it has went very well and I think I am really going to like working here!

Not much else is new with me.....but thought I would inform you all that I am still alive and kickin'!  Maybe someday soon I will take a couple pics of my apartment and show y'all my place of abode!:)

OH, by the way....I have been informed that the name I have given my pet rock is actually someone's full name(a person I know and having a pet named after him just seems kinda akward...(not that I get akward at all...)). Anyway, so I have a special request for all my readers....please think of some good names for my pet rock and let me know so I can get some more ideas!  I don't think really weird names, but I do like slightly different names.  Idk, I really liked his old name...but it is to be no longer...  If I figure out a new name soon enough, I think it will still be easy for my rock to make the transition into its' new name.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

The moment you've all been waiting for......

Well I had a wonderful birthday and am now legal.....not to worry though...I have been able to keep it all under control. ;)

So, not going to lie, but in order to help me remember what I have even been doing the last couple of weeks.....I had to look at my planner. :-o  Very sad, I know....lets just say I keep myself too busy. The most exciting and fun thing that I did recently was go to Winter Jam (a Christian concert with several different singers).  It was awesome!!! I went with the Gerber girls, Ella Stoller, and Maria Ramirez.  We had a blast!! Last week on my day off, I went and spent the afternoon with Alyssa Eisenmann, who will soon be leaving for Southeast Asia for three months.  So please pray for her!!  Also, this past Sunday, I actually helped teach Sunday School, filling in for a friend.  I didn't give the lesson, I was just the helper...which was a good thing, since I didn't really know what I was doing.  But it all went well and we all survived!:)

Me, Erika, and Alyssa (or what we call an Alyssa Sandwich)

And now....the moment you've all been waiting for.....

I have accepted a job at Gateway Woods (a children's home in Leo, IN) as an Assistant House Parent.  I am really excited and can't wait to see what God has in store for me there!! It will be challenging and will push me to learn and grow!!  I ask for your prayers and support in this new transition! Also, for those wondering if I will now be making Leo my "home church".  The answer is no, I am acutally planning on keeping Bluffton Country my home church and will come back to Bluffton quite a bit on my days off.  I am hoping to take some Sundays off every month and days I know the yg will be doing things....and come to Bluffton.  I decided on this for a few reasons.  First, when I moved to Bluffton, I moved with the intention of not moving again and setting down roots.  Establishing a home church and really becoming a part of a church body and community.  This is something that I have had a hard time with before.  Secondly, it actually happened!!!....I mean I haven't hardly traveled since moving here, and I am totally fine just being home and not traveling as much!  I feel like I have just finally started to establish friendships....past the outer layer... and want to keep those and grow them.

Anyway, I don't have a lot of other information yet, but will keep you updated!:)

P.S. After writing this title....I had to laugh and wonder how many of you would get excited thinking....she is getting married?!?!  hahaha....not to name any names....but I can think of a few people who would be thinking just that....;)

Blessings and Pets

So I ran across this verse the other week when I read the wrong verses for a Bible study I am in, but it has really stuck with me.

"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:" Proverbs 3:3

I don't know how to explain it, but I picture the table of your heart as a stone tablet and the thought to have mercy and truth engraved in your heart's table, is so powerful.  To always have it with you, and part of who you are.  Anyway, if you continue reading in that chapter it continues....

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

No matter where life takes you and what challenges you are given, just trust God and acknowledge him in everything you do...and He will take care of you!  Trust is something that at least for me, is so hard, but so extremely important!! It also saves you so much stress and worry!

On February 22nd, my grandma Corrine Mae Schmidgall passed away.  She hasn't had her mind for several years now, and we all knew it was going to happen at some point, but it still shocked me when I found out.  That weekend was definitely a rough one. She passed away on Saturday afternoon, I found out on my way to the LSM benefit supper/auction, so I babysat at that, then went to the call after the auction.  I had made plans then to drive up to MN on Sunday and then drive back after the funeral on Tuesday.  Then Saturday night after I got home, I ended up throwing up all night and felt horrible all day Sunday. So after talking to my mom, we decided it was best if I didn't come up.  It was really hard at first to think of everything going on back home and being so far away.  But I had to realize and choose to trust that God had a plan and His plan involved me not being home for the funeral....and off the roads.

Other than that my life has been busy and hectic as always:)  Several girls went to a Casting Crowns concert the end of February, which was totally awesome!!  I also went to the Purdue Singing, which was also a great time!:)  The drive there and back were definitely highlights of the trip!:)  It was so awesome to see some people I knew and spend time with them and praising our Lord!

So Thursday night, several girls had a surprise birthday party for me!! It was soo awesome and I totally wasn't expecting it!  We ate at Pizza Hut and then afterwards most of us went to the Kindgom Academy's play.  I seriously realized just how blessed I am to have so many amazing friendships!! These people have welcomed me in and have been such great people to get to know, work with, and spend time with.  It is something that I have taken for granted so many times! Oh, and I received a pet for my birthday!!! Yes, can any of you see me with a pet? Yep....not really the pet type, ESPECIALLY house pet type....but I am going to take a step out of the box and branch out.  So I am now the proud owner of Randall.  So far he has been a great addition, because his needs are so few and he is an amazing listener!! Plus I am working on teaching him some tricks!!!  Yes, I believe Randall the rock with be a great addition to my life.

Anyway, I have wrote enough for today....until next time:)

Casting Crowns, For King & Country, Laura Story

Grandpa & Grandma Schmidgall

Parent Appreciation supper....:)

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