Snow Day #2

I didn't think it could even happen. BUT, again, my favorite person called me this morning. (I have now entered her in my phone book as **SNOW DAY!!!*** ) She called earlier this time-5:26. I was still in bed and not the shower. Double bonus. :-) Went over and woke up Wendy again. Again, with the "ARE YOU SERIOUS!??!", a hug, a phone call to the next chain member, and back to bed.

Well...I tried to go back to sleep. My mind was all over, thinking about the joy of another snow day and what we would do. I also got an email from someone and was thinking about how I was going to respond. I woke up around 9 and then made pancake for roommate and I. No, I didn't forget the s. I only had enough to make a pancake for each of us, but when doctoring it up with chocolate chips, we were in heaven.

Left over chinese for lunch, another movie and then project: organization. We moved things around and set up a shelf in the closet and did our best to get things done.

All in all, it was another great day. :-) We iceskated to the mailbox and chipped the ice off of our cars. I'm glad I took the snow off the day before or it would NOT have been a fun task.

**SNOW DAY** didn't wake me up this morning, so we are all back at school, bright and early. It's just today (a LONG day, working extended care for someone until 6 and then dinner and orchestra) and tomorrow and then a weekend.

I could get use to this!

Snow Day!!!

I got a call at 6:02 from my favorite person. The person right above me in the phone chain that tells us if we have a snow day or not.

SNOW DAY!!!

I am supposed to call my roommate (yep, there are 2 diff. phone numbers, so we are two diff. people on the chain) so I walked over to her room and woke her up. She groaned as I said, guess what....(thinking she had overslept and was waaaay late) and then I said, we have snow day! She JUMPED out of bed SO fast and we did a huge dance and squealed and hugged, etc, etc. It's the Snow Day dance. One of our fellow teachers actually HURT herself doing the Snow Day dance. Sheesh! It was Wendy's first snow day as a teacher so it was so cute seeing her reaction. I don't think I'll ever get use to this. It's always so fun.

I just got out of the shower when she called so I dried my hair and jumped back in bed and slept until 10. Then I watched Annapolis which is a great movie, ate Mommy's homemade vegetable soup and then popped in good ole Titanic. I also reorganized my files in my really cool filing cabinet I got from Candy. Wendy and I also ordered Chinese because...that's what you do on a snow day. You order Chinese.

I also had the joy of cleaning off our cars. If you know me, you know I like doing things myself. I didn't like it tonight. I needed a guy to clean off my car. He needed to shovel and spread salt and do the manly work around the house. Not me. :-( I would have done a great job at making hot chocolate for him.

I should have taken pictures first. It's no "PA snow" but it's good enough for us! It's icy and supposed to be icy rain all night. YEAH!!!!! Let's hope for another one tomorrow!

I didn't do any school work or anything today. I've sat here with my laptop and wrote emails and caught up on things online. AND I don't regret a single CENT I spent on this laptop. It's amazing. I love that I am watching TV in my living room and emailing my friends. Priceless.

Pray for more snow! I'm going to wear my pjs inside out, sleep with spoons under my pillow and flush icecubes down the toilet...I hear that gets us a snow day....?

PS-You'll never guess what my fortune cookie said. "The days you work are the best days". Bahhh! Today I did no work and it was a "best day". :-)

Car ride Intercession

I've been told by my Sunday School teacher/ associate pastor that it's okay to take a drive and have it out with God as if He's in the passenger seat. He tells us that he looks over and yells and throws up his arms and really gets in God's face. Then, God talks back.

I had it out with God tonight. Yep.

I yelled at Him, yelled to Him, let Him know my thoughts and my wants dealing with this matter of my roommate leaving in the middle of the lease. I told Him my list of things that weren't fair. I told Him all of the things I want to happen. I told Him how I wanted it to go. I told Him when I want the new roommate to move in. I told Him all the things I'm going to say to her about this whole thing. I told Him that I was glad this was happening so she would get out of my life and I wouldn't have to deal with her anymore. I told Him that I didn't care if she was sick and that she lives in a different world and that she think illogically. Stinks to be her. But that shouldn't affect her getting a job and paying us for rent. Tears were rolling, heart was aching. It's hard to merge on the highway when tears are blurring your vision.

Then...God talked back.

He started bringing to mind ALL of the things I needed to praise Him for.

I have a job-Praise You
I have a place to live-Praise YOU
I have parents who could help me out if I needed it-Praise YOU
I have friends-Praise YOU
I have friends ALL OVER THE WORLD--Praise YOU
I have people who care about me-Praise YOU
I have money-Praise YOU
I have a grasp on reality and live in this world-Praise YOU
I'm not sick-Praise YOU
No one in my family is sick-Praise YOU
I HAVE A NEPHEW-Praise YOU
I have a car-Praise YOU
I have gas in my car-Praise YOU

The tears stopped. Peace fell on my heart.

Yeah, this thing really stinks. But, God knows. He knew this before time. He knew that she'd get sick. He knew that I'd get mad at her. Really mad. He knows who the next roommate will be. He knows how much stress this roommate has brought and how this is a way to end this chapter in my life. He knows that I might think that it's a pain if she leaves her bedroom furniture because there is no place to store it, but now I can advertise a fully furnished basement.

This isn't fair. True statement.

God isn't fair. True statement.

If He was fair, I'd be going to Hell.

God, thank You for not being fair and thank You for all of the understanding You have and are giving me through this.

Please pray.

I was reading a friend's blog today and thought this was great.

What a statement this would have been.

SO STinkin' CUTE!

Check out the new look of my blog. I have been jealous of other's blogs and wondering HOW in the world theirs could be so amazing and all I can use are the dumb boring ones offered by blogger.

AND THEN...I found out.

It all started out as a spiritual endeavor. I was reading someone's blog and clicked to follow the link to find out more of what this person had to say. And her blog was beautiful. The words I was reading and the LOOK of her blog. So, I snooped around her blog and found the link to www.thecutestblogontheblock.com.

The possibilities are endless! I had to just choose one without looking at all of them or I wouldn't have been able to choose!

Let me tell you, I can't wait until I get to change this one! (Too bad you don't get to see the prettiness when you are blogging yourself. It's this ugly box that you have to write in. Maybe Blogger can do something about that...)

Check it out! There is also a link up in the top left hand corner of my blog!

How do I do this?

Non-history teachers should NOT be teaching history.

1. History teachers LOVE history. Non-history teacher don't. IF they did, they would be history teachers.
2. History teachers KNOW history. Non-history teachers don't. IF they did, they would be history teachers.
3. History teachers can help their students LOVE history. Non-history teachers can't. IF they could, they would be history teachers.
4. History teachers CARE about history. Non-history teachers don't. IF they did, they would be history teachers.
5. History teachers WANT to teach history. Non-history teachers don't. IF they did, they would be history teachers.



I AM NOT A HISTORY TEACHER!!!!!!!!!

The Perfect Weekend. And I'm not exaggerating.

The perfect weekend. I haven't had a weekend like this EVER. Everything was just perfect. Let me just tell you how perfect.

My nephew was born this weekend. That alone makes it perfect, but he had the greatest timing ever. He wasn't due until Jan 26.

I had a 4 day weekend this weekend. Craig had a 3 day weekend. Aunt Zoe, Uncle Don and Josiah are leaving for Brasil on Thursday and will be gone for 1 1/2 years. The Steelers were playing for the Super Bowl and I wanted to be in the 'burgh where people cared about the Steelers. I was soooooo jealous of all of the snow in PA and the NON-snow in VA.

I was able to drive to PA from VA on Saturday, play in the snow (over a foot!) with Craig, watch the Steelers eat little birdies for dinner and I got to see my aunt and uncle for the last time for a long time. AND I GOT TO HOLD MY NEPHEW.

Samuel Everett Peffer came into the world at 10:18pm on January 17th. Abby's labor was only 40 mins long and Sam is perfect. 21.5 inches, 8lbs 12 oz. I'll write more later about the experience, but I want you to enjoy the pictures. They say so much.

Waiting, waiting, waiting. . .

All week I have been wishing for my sister-in-law to go into labor this weekend. It would have been a perfect weekend for it to happen. I have a four day weekend-MLK Day AND Inauguration Day off. It's also the AFC Championship for the Steelers and I wanted to be with Steeler fans when watching. I kept telling the girls at work that it was going to happen. The barometric pressure was dropping, a full moon, Aunt Zoe and I praying for it to happen so she could see the baby before they leave for Brasil (the 22nd), all those reasons why it would be wonderful.

Today I was shopping with Erin and Mom called. She asks, "Are your bags packed?" I wasn't sure what she's talking about.

Then....it hit me.


THE BABY IS COMING!!!! Abby's water broke 10 mins after I talked to Jay this morning on the phone and they induced her at 2pm.

SO...I packed my bags and jumped in my car and just finished the 5.5 hour drive to PA. I am soooo excited to see the snow. I just wish it would only fall on the yard and not on the road. If we had this much snow in VA, we wouldn't have school for a week!!!

So...we are just waiting. I hope to have pictures tomorrow!!!

Perspective

It's 12:07 and I should be in bed. After the way I felt today after getting 9 hours of sleep, I should be aiming for that again.

But I can't.

I'm talking to someone online.

And this isn't just any someone. This is a someone who's been through a WHOLE HECK of a lot. Adam Long. I went to high school with him. He was like a little brother, always teasing and trying to prove to me that he was a good kid. He knew where I stood with God and things and it was just really cool. This kid, age 21 was diagnosed with cancer and was so close to death that I was just waiting for the call from my mom to tell me he was gone. I prayed for him so much. While he was going through chemo and the fight for his life, his dad was diagnosed with cancer.

Adam's dad passed away Wednesday morning.

He sent me a message first. I was sooo surprised. Really? Adam is talking to me? A day after his dad died? It's so awkward. Death is always awkward and hard and strange and hurtful, and sad, and bllllahhhhhhhh. What do you say? How do you make him feel better through words on a screen? How long do you talk about his dad's death? How do you write things without making them sound all cheesy and bible answery? After you've talked to him about everything about his dad and about how AMAZING God is that he's still alive to comfort his mom while his dad has passed away...then what? What do I say that he hasn't heard a million times from everyone else?

He tells me that his dad asked God to take his life instead of Adam's. Now he is going to live life to the fullest for him and his dad. He says he had accepted it a couple months ago so he's doing okay right now. His mom isn't so good, but he says he has 2 good shoulders for her to cry on. He's there to help. That's the amazing part. He's here. He didn't die when everyone thought he was going to. He's here. Praise God. I think he's now officially in remission and making plans to attend nursing school to become a chemo nurse. He wants to help people who are going through what he went through. He also figures that he'll get a one-up on his resume--- been there, done that, and have the bald head to prove it.

And the greatest, most amazing thing about this is.....Adam's dad became a believer just days before he died.


Yesterday, I complained about stepping in a puddle and not having my chapel skit work right. And now I'm talking to a guy who's life was saved and whose dad just died.

Puts things into perspective. God is good. All the time.

It's 12:46, and I'm going to keep talkin' away until he says good night. I can't be there to give him a hug, but I can talk to him online.

Who needs sleep anyhow.....?

A funk

I've been posting for the past hour about the past three weeks of my life. The reason why I got on Blogspot was to write about my day TODAY. Not all the past stuff. So now, I don't even feel like writing about why I wanted to write in the first place!

I'm just in a funk. I think it's because I was thrown back into life here in VA so suddenly. I didn't get a chance to recoup or prepare myself for reentry into adulthood. I'm going through culture shock and I don't like it. I went from being at the Castle and getting very little sleep with very great amount of activity to my teaching life. It's not fun. At all.

I taught chapel today. I was so excited about what I was going to do and then everything about my plan when wrong. I forgot the DVD in PA. Then, I find out that I can't get it in an email, it has to be on YouTube. YouTube is blocked at school, so I have to work with that. Then, on Tuesday, I find out that we can't have chapel in the sanctuary because they are putting down new carpet. So, now i have to find a place that i can get internet, can have a projector and computer for powerpoint and that can fit 48 middle schoolers. It was such a headache.

I thought I had it all worked out. Then, in the middle of my lesson, the wireless internet lost its connection and we only saw 3 mins of the 9 min video. SO I have to remember what it was talking about and tell them all how the rest of the dialogue goes so I can use it for my lesson. I felt like it was all out of control but I hope the kids were blessed. I hope it really worked on their hearts. It was another reminder from God that it's not about me. It's about Him and His word.

I only ate a bowl of cereal, some goldfish crackers and an icecream sandwich all day. So, I was starving, cranky and not feeling so well. I went to Baja Fresh (so much for getting skinny) and parked in a puddle. I didn't find that out until I stepped in it. It was been raining torrents of rain all day. If this was all snow, we wouldn't have school for a week. It's been that much. Oh to live in VA.

And all I want to do now is talk to a boy on the phone. That's my desire right now. It seems like that would be the best solution for my funk. I'm so discontent. It may look like I'm totally fine, but I'm not. Not right now.

But...there's no boy to talk to on the phone........it's 9pm and I'm going to bed. Maybe I'll sleep the funk away.

A little delayed, but still a ton of fun!

Here are pictures from my trip to the National Tree! We went with our home group and it was so fun. It was 60 degrees on Dec. 20 when we went! It wasn't right!

Eric, Wendy, Jessica, Erin, Me, Jessie, Laura and Nate

The Tree in front of the Capitol

The White House Tree!

Friends through thick and thin! We were the only ones in the group who had gone before!

The Pennsylvania Tree

Roommates

Eric-the coolest guy around (at least that's what he thinks! :-)

The Castle-13 years running!

The Castle.

Say that to any random person on the street and they'll look at you funny. Say that to someone from the ages of 13-35 who attends or is friends with someone who attends Portersville Bible Church, you'll get a smile and you will release a flood gate of memories. Goofy times, hard times, fun times, and spiritually changing times.

It's an actual castle in Franklin, PA where we take a youth retreat for 7h each year during Christmas break. This year, if I've calculated right, was my 13th year in a row. 6 of them as a student, 7 of them as a counselor/helper/do whatever you need me to do. It's such an amazing time. I've been there with a myriad of youth leaders and helpers. We've done EVERYTHING under the sun to reach kids. Each year the Castle is the same....yet completely different. The food is the same, in the same order, Mary is the same, the building is the same, the trip is the same, the gym in the same, the rules are the same, the awkward PDA convo in the same (still awkward). . The kids are the same---the faithful, and different---the friends of the faithful. The kids are the same---their names, and different---matured and changed through Christ, or changed through other things-good or bad, over the years.

This year was so amazing for me. Tyler, my youngest brother, is a senior. I started helping at the Castle when the seniors were in 7th grade. I have watched them for six years. As I stood there and watched them worship, God brought me to tears. My precious 7th graders are now worshipping God and having great communion with Him. They are standing there, eyes closed, praising our Father. Amy is in deep prayer, asking God for direction in her life. Praising Him for who He is. I have been through so much with her. She is sooooo precious to me. I cannot wait to see how God is going to use her. Tyler is going forward to commit to serve. My little brother, in love with God, not caring to be the center of attention at school or wanting to do wrong things. The picture of my cousin Lee with his arms out and in all-out worship is burned into my memory. He used to be so little. Now he's so grown. He's going to change the world.

I cried a lot this year. I know....I'm a leader. I'm not the one who is supposed to be affected. Yet...I was.

I was put to the challenge to create a Prayer Room-Sanctuary- for the kids to get away and get quiet before God. Kristin gave me great ideas which I put into action. This was only completed with amazing help. I just pray that someone was blessed by this. It was totally God.

Come...all who are weary...and I will give you rest.

Know God.



Forgive and wash away the hurt and pain caused by people.



Look back at the commitments you've made in the past. Have you kept them? What's keeping you from them? Renew them today.


Look in the mirror. What do you see? What does God see? What do others see?

Look around you. Where can you serve? What can you do? You're not too poor, too young, too alone, too little to do something for Him.

I was the Senior High Girls counselor. They are amazing. I love working with that age group.

Trip to Ohio!

I'm so glad that Rachael's family lives in Ohio. It's SOO much closer to PA than Indiana. It has been at least 4 years in a row that I've spent part of Christmas break with the Stricklands. It was only about 12 hours this year, but they were precious hours.

Rachael is my kindred spirit. It was so amazing to see her. I wish we would have had time to have deep conversation, but anytime with her is good. Next time I see her, she might be HUGE or I might get to be holding the little one! I'm also this baby's aunt. Biologicially-No. Hand Chosen-Yes. :-)

Ben, Rachael, Baby Strickland and me!

Mommy and Baby Strickland!

I didn't get to see Joyce on this trip to Ohio. I miss her a ton too. Hopefully soon.

I'll be Home with Bells on...!

Christmas Break.

Almost the most precious words to a teacher.

The most precious words-Snow Day. I've yet to hear those most precious words, but there's always hoping. :-) Winter is far from over. I don't have as much of a chance as a did in Cleveland, but people down here---they freak out in bad weather. I can't even imagine what it would be like if I was REALLY in the south.

Christmas Break was amazing. I worked until 8:30 on Friday, getting things ready in my classroom so I didn't have to come back early. Then I packed and waited anxiously for my roommate and her NEW FIANCE to come back from the airport. It was such a sweet return. I'm soo happy for her!! And here I go again, searching for roommates once summer comes. I told them they could live upstairs and I would live in the basement, but Wendy didn't seem too anxious to sign the lease on that idea. I still have 6 months to convince her!

It was so nice to spend time with my family. I love going home. I love being able to slip back into the routine of being a kid, spoiled by mom's hugs and home cooking, and dad's beating me with a newspaper because I shocked his ears (...repeatedly....while he was trying to start the fire... :-) and his "complaining" to make me feel bad, but I know he really loves it when I bring car problems home and when I bug him to help me figure out how to buy my laptop. He loves to feel needed. I love to need him. I had two brothers to beat up-an outlet I've been needing. There's nothing like throwing your brother on the couch after a battle in the living room. My kitty got to snuggle with me and I got to be lazy. I got to see my sister-in-law, 8 months pregnant and so beautiful (though she says she looks like a house!). I can't wait to meet my nephew. 19 days and counting!!! My brother is SOOO pumped to be a daddy. I didn't really get to talk to him but I can tell. Can you tell?


Baby Everett. :-)


The Christmas Eve service was a step back into time. We do almost the same thing every year, seeing that you can't change history :-), but the characters just change. It's always interesting to see who are the chosen Mary and Joseph. Amy and Tyler were the chosen betrothed. Donkey ride and all. The candlelight service is my favorite. The glow of all of the candles and the sweet accapella version of Silent Night.

Christmas morning was so fun. Us big kids keeping traditions alive. Of course, we do it all for Tyler, the baby of the family. :-) Yeah...right. We they went to Gramma and Papa's for Christmas dinner. After dinner, and the MASSIVE amounts of silverware that had to be washed, games abounded all around the house. Gramma and Papa opened their gifts and then I asked Papa and Gramma about their Christmas memories. This is something that we rarely do. We don't really TALK. We play games and goof around....but I don't know how much relationship building we do when we get together. It's usually the kids and adults playing games, and Gramma watching or trying to talk to us while we are playing ;-) and Papa in the living room with his brother, watching TV. It kinda makes me sad. Times have completely changed since they were children. It was really good to listen. I loved it.



Tyler, Jay, Abby, Craig and Me. On the stairs for a Christmas picture. Another tradition. :-)