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

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