Well, I'd say this was a very normal week. Nothing out of the ordinary happening. On Wednesday I had my normal day off and it was maybe abnormal compared to what I have had the last many days off. For once I was a little bit more free than normal. Too often I plan things and then I don't even get to sleep in! Well, I got to sleep in and I went to get my license with Mom. That was in the same complex as Goodwill so we shopped in there as well. I miss our Ephrata Goodwill. I like Salvation Army better because they have half price items every Wednesday but I don't get there as often as I'd like because it's farther. The Ephrata Goodwill had a fire a couple months ago and I sure wish they'd open up again. I have found good stuff there. They are not as organized as Salvation Army or as big but I like em just the same! There fire was just in the back of the storage but I'm assuming it set sprinklers off and if it did, then I can understand that they'd have alot of water marks, i.e. stinky clothes to wash. Things might smell like smoke too.
Wednesday night was preparatory service instead of discipleship class. Then of course on Sunday was Communion. I like the way they do Communion. They have a pew at a time come up and get their bread and drink the wine (grape juice). It doesn't take long. Sunday afternoon I hung out with the Brills and my brother. Oh, what a nice time we had. Oh, and Saturday night I was at the Brills for a cookout. That was a great time as well. Sunday night Bethany and Sharon Martin came and we played Bible Challenge. I have really begun to like the game. My friend Amy Bryant was kind enough to read the directions and teach me how to play. I don't like reading the directions, it drives me crazy. So I am grateful to Amy because now I know how to play the game and others love it too. First we played "oh, my word" and then Bible challenge. We had so much fun that the last girl left at 12:10.
Tonight, Monday, I was at a birthday party for Trivette Rhoads. He turned 3. What a cutie he is. His parents had cake and icecream and a little party for him.
Tuesday night is the work banquet for King's employees. I look forward to that. I usually have fun at those.
Wednesday night is discipleship class and Thursday night I have free and Friday night I get Johann Brill for the weekend. We'll see how he likes working with me at King's cause I have to work that day. I got tickets for a Ken Davis night and I look forward to that. Saturday night I'll probably go out to eat with him.
Well, have a good week everybody!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Talents, Inspirations, Discipline!
Oh, boy, where do I begin? I'll start with that I've been struggling with this past LONG while! Can you guess? Discipline! Who can tell me the importance of discipline? What must I do to learn it? Must a great calamity fall upon me so I get the drift? God forbid, but let me learn an easier way! But how can I teach it to myself? Let me explain what I mean by discipline! Eating is one of them. Our body is supposed to be subject to us, not us to it. So I should teach it that it does not get whatever it wants, when it wants it, right? Why is it that I have a huge problem with that? It seems like I cannot stand it when my stomach is growling, I just have to eat! But sometimes it should not be hungry, it just thinks it is! Why can't I ignore it and not eat? The other huge thing is bedtime. It's only gotten worse this past while and I'm so annoyed with myself. I know that our body is the temple of the Holy God and as a Christian, it is my duty to take as best care of it as I possibly can. So why can't I hike off to bed when it's time and my body is saying it's tired? It's like I'm possessed with an insane urge to finish certain things first and night after night after night it gets way too late for a girl like me to be up! It'd be one thing if I'd be up that late praying. But no, that's the sad thing, I get into bed and it's so very late and I just crash, I don't have time to say much of a prayer, just a short one for a few of my favorite people. GRRR! But if I go to bed without geting certain things done, I'd probably lie there and not be able to sleep because I know that work is still waiting to get done. Oh, can someone help me discipline myself. I don't want to get mono or some other sickness, if I do I will be so sorry that I did not take better care of my body. Maybe I should be accountable to someone. Sigh, but that's a bother too! Oh, and excercise is another fault of mine. It's not a first priority, and how do I make it one? I need to burn more calories but I will be honest and say I just really don't enjoy exercising. It's just not very fun and there's oh, so much other stuff to do that is more appealing. Can someone scare me or convict me or something so that I put my priorities on the right place and use self discipline before God takes it into His hands!
Okay, the other thing is talents. I am so inspired today, being at Uncle Dick's memorial. He was such a wonderful man. If I live to be 79, will others be able to say as many good things about me as they did about him? He was talented in so many things. The list is just long. But, he used every one of his talents, he milked em for all they were worth. I feel so little and useless compared to him. He would not want me to feel that way at all, I know that. He would hate that. But at the rate I'm going right now, what will I have to show for my life by the time I'm 79? What do I have to show for being 27? Have I used the talents that God gave me to their fullest or am I just floating along with the breeze, enjoying what happens to come my way? Am I grumbling that I don't have more talents or that I don't have the talents that I wish I had? There was not a lazy bone in Dick's body. He worked like an animal, yet somehow he had time for all his friends. I am a workaholic, but I don't always take time for my friends, and that's scary because friends do not stay friends if you do not nurture relationships. I tend to spend time with them when it suits me best, and if they call and I have other things planned I say no. I don't think Dick was that way at all, if someone wanted to visit him I believe he dropped his things and spent time with them. I know I have writing talent and I do use that, but I don't think I'm using it as much as I could be. I don't know, I'm just feeling pretty small right now and wondering where to even start! I just really have not done as much for others as I wish I would have by now. How can I know when it's time to just let my work sit and go make some old lady's day by visiting her, or let my work sit and go help a busy mom who's in despair with her workload? I have the ability to go farther in school. Why didn't I? I loved school and I could have gone to college. But I didn't want to spend the money, I wanted to earn money instead. Was I selfish? But do you have to do everything you are capable of doing just because you have the capability to do it? No! LOL! I know that much! I guess I just need to get prayed up some more and ask Jesus to show me where I am not using my talents to the fullest and to help me be in the center of His will, not just on the outskirts!
Does anyone else struggle with any of these things? Am I alone? No, I won't believe I'm alone! The devil likes to isolate people in their problems, but that strategy doesn't work with me because I know better. If no one leaves comments then I will know you all are just not admitting to anything:):):)
Sometime I have some other questions that I want folks to answer on but right now this is enough. I want to hear your advice and suggestions on this first! So, now your job is to let me know what you think!!!!!!!
Okay, the other thing is talents. I am so inspired today, being at Uncle Dick's memorial. He was such a wonderful man. If I live to be 79, will others be able to say as many good things about me as they did about him? He was talented in so many things. The list is just long. But, he used every one of his talents, he milked em for all they were worth. I feel so little and useless compared to him. He would not want me to feel that way at all, I know that. He would hate that. But at the rate I'm going right now, what will I have to show for my life by the time I'm 79? What do I have to show for being 27? Have I used the talents that God gave me to their fullest or am I just floating along with the breeze, enjoying what happens to come my way? Am I grumbling that I don't have more talents or that I don't have the talents that I wish I had? There was not a lazy bone in Dick's body. He worked like an animal, yet somehow he had time for all his friends. I am a workaholic, but I don't always take time for my friends, and that's scary because friends do not stay friends if you do not nurture relationships. I tend to spend time with them when it suits me best, and if they call and I have other things planned I say no. I don't think Dick was that way at all, if someone wanted to visit him I believe he dropped his things and spent time with them. I know I have writing talent and I do use that, but I don't think I'm using it as much as I could be. I don't know, I'm just feeling pretty small right now and wondering where to even start! I just really have not done as much for others as I wish I would have by now. How can I know when it's time to just let my work sit and go make some old lady's day by visiting her, or let my work sit and go help a busy mom who's in despair with her workload? I have the ability to go farther in school. Why didn't I? I loved school and I could have gone to college. But I didn't want to spend the money, I wanted to earn money instead. Was I selfish? But do you have to do everything you are capable of doing just because you have the capability to do it? No! LOL! I know that much! I guess I just need to get prayed up some more and ask Jesus to show me where I am not using my talents to the fullest and to help me be in the center of His will, not just on the outskirts!
Does anyone else struggle with any of these things? Am I alone? No, I won't believe I'm alone! The devil likes to isolate people in their problems, but that strategy doesn't work with me because I know better. If no one leaves comments then I will know you all are just not admitting to anything:):):)
Sometime I have some other questions that I want folks to answer on but right now this is enough. I want to hear your advice and suggestions on this first! So, now your job is to let me know what you think!!!!!!!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Another week of God's Grace
Well........I keep wanting to post another question for my readers to comment on but time keeps running away from me:( One of these days........so in the meantime I'll just write normal stuff that doesn't take much thought or many brains.....
Last night I got word that Dick James may not live more than a week.....or a day for that matter. Sounds like he's doing very poorly. I know it sounds awfully cruel to pray that someone could just die, but that's what I pray because the poor man has been suffering so much from his cancer. I hope he just dies in his sleep and very soon, too. He is not eating really anything and hospice is helping him to be comfortable as much as they can. His poor wife Pat is run ragged. She doesn't sleep much when she hears him stir or moan. Their dear daughter Cindy is there alot, pretty much every night, God bless her. Cindy's reward will be great in heaven because she has helped out the Jameses so much as well as taken care of her inlaws. I'm just waiting to get a call any day now that Dick has moved to his new home.
I was sick all day yesterday. So far I feel good today........do I dare to even say that???? Oh, well, I do not believe in superstition so I may say what I wish and that will not change anything! I do not normally get stomach flues, hardly even once a year, but I sure had something yesterday. I had a bitter taste in my mouth all day and didn't know if I dared to eat but I managed to keep food down. I wasn't sure if I should sing with Steve's in the evening but I did that too. I felt very refreshed to sing and wished we could have sung longer. I miss choir so badly, wish I could be in it this time.
Speaking of choir reminds me why I am not in it this time around. The church I attend, Living Waters, is having their discipleship courses every Wednesday night for anyone transferring membership. So I am married to that, every Wednesday night. So far we've had an introductory one and lesson 1. 11 more Wednesdays to go, which will take us into the first week of December. Yuck, December, let's not think on that:( I don't want winter to be here yet. Sigh! I am forever bothered by how fast time flies, and no one encourages me, but they rather discourage me because they all say it gets worse as you get older........wah!
On Saturday if nothing changes, I think I shall just be lazy and scrapbook my heart out again! Well, that's not really lazy at all, it's just working as you're sitting down:) So I hope I can do that because I need to get my pictures in so badly! I have not done any pics for this year yet besides Israel pics. I have not even put in my moving pictures......I was working on that when I went to Israel and now I've been doing Israel pics ever since. Work fast, Dawn, work!:) But I want it to be really neat and full of new ideas so I'm taking my good old time. Rather neat and slow than fast and sloppy.
Sunday I have a tea party to attend. I am SOOOOOO looking forward to that. I love dressing up Victorian and it just sounds like a pile of fun. Then in the evening, I have a baptism to attend. Johann Brill gets baptized. So my weekend is cut out for me, not a chance of boredom.
Well, that's all for now, maybe next time I will actually get to write my debateable material for you all to comment on!
Last night I got word that Dick James may not live more than a week.....or a day for that matter. Sounds like he's doing very poorly. I know it sounds awfully cruel to pray that someone could just die, but that's what I pray because the poor man has been suffering so much from his cancer. I hope he just dies in his sleep and very soon, too. He is not eating really anything and hospice is helping him to be comfortable as much as they can. His poor wife Pat is run ragged. She doesn't sleep much when she hears him stir or moan. Their dear daughter Cindy is there alot, pretty much every night, God bless her. Cindy's reward will be great in heaven because she has helped out the Jameses so much as well as taken care of her inlaws. I'm just waiting to get a call any day now that Dick has moved to his new home.
I was sick all day yesterday. So far I feel good today........do I dare to even say that???? Oh, well, I do not believe in superstition so I may say what I wish and that will not change anything! I do not normally get stomach flues, hardly even once a year, but I sure had something yesterday. I had a bitter taste in my mouth all day and didn't know if I dared to eat but I managed to keep food down. I wasn't sure if I should sing with Steve's in the evening but I did that too. I felt very refreshed to sing and wished we could have sung longer. I miss choir so badly, wish I could be in it this time.
Speaking of choir reminds me why I am not in it this time around. The church I attend, Living Waters, is having their discipleship courses every Wednesday night for anyone transferring membership. So I am married to that, every Wednesday night. So far we've had an introductory one and lesson 1. 11 more Wednesdays to go, which will take us into the first week of December. Yuck, December, let's not think on that:( I don't want winter to be here yet. Sigh! I am forever bothered by how fast time flies, and no one encourages me, but they rather discourage me because they all say it gets worse as you get older........wah!
On Saturday if nothing changes, I think I shall just be lazy and scrapbook my heart out again! Well, that's not really lazy at all, it's just working as you're sitting down:) So I hope I can do that because I need to get my pictures in so badly! I have not done any pics for this year yet besides Israel pics. I have not even put in my moving pictures......I was working on that when I went to Israel and now I've been doing Israel pics ever since. Work fast, Dawn, work!:) But I want it to be really neat and full of new ideas so I'm taking my good old time. Rather neat and slow than fast and sloppy.
Sunday I have a tea party to attend. I am SOOOOOO looking forward to that. I love dressing up Victorian and it just sounds like a pile of fun. Then in the evening, I have a baptism to attend. Johann Brill gets baptized. So my weekend is cut out for me, not a chance of boredom.
Well, that's all for now, maybe next time I will actually get to write my debateable material for you all to comment on!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Longwood Garden, Misc.
Well, it seems like awhile since I wrote. Well, this weekend from Thursday til Sunday morning, I had a guest at my house. My friend/adopted sis Amy Bryant stayed at my house. It was great to see her again. We had fun shopping at the Tanger Outlets on Friday. Amy got some goodies. On Saturday we went to the BEAUTIFUL Longwood Gardens. I had not been there for a little while. I saw it over Christmastime twice and saw it in the summer once when I got my pictures taken there. So this was at least the 4th time I have been there. Oh, but it is so worth the money. Now that I have my own house, I appreciate it even more when I see all the work that goes into a flower garden. It’s time consuming and tough to keep everything in tip-top shape! We enjoyed the water fountains in the Italian garden, especially. I could write poems to that sound, if only I was left to myself at that spot. And, I would love to spend time there with God, just me and Him. I need to find that sign that they have on metal, you know, to put in a garden. The sign reads: The ___ of the ___ for pardon, the kiss of the sun for mirth, one’s nearer to God in a garden, than anyplace else on earth! I forget some of the words but anyway I love the saying. After we got done at the gardens, we ate at Applebee’s and then we went to Lancaster to a furniture shop. We found an ice cream place where they actually make the ice cream on the premises. It’s really a cute place and all kinds of unique flavors. I had a banana nut bread ice cream, so yummy! I tasted a mint sample and that was very refreshing. Next, we went to Salvation Army and Ollies. Then we went home and I had the Brill boys for the evening. We ordered Papa John’s pizza. It was a lovely evening. Amy liked the Brills like I thought she would.
This week was normal. Today I worked for my aunt. It’s been ages since I’ve been there. I cleaned her pantry. I love organizing stuff so that was right down my alley. I shopped at Horning’s a little. Found some pears for $6.50 a basket. Found some cream of chicken soup for 3/$1. I wish the bent and dent places down this way would be as cheap as Horning’s. It seems like food is more plentiful and better priced up through. GRRR!
By the way, I love living at my house. I am so thrilled we get to stay another year. God is so good! I did not want to move and it just seems like an awful lot of work to only live there a year. What will happen after that? I’m not gonna worry about that. That would be borrowing tomorrow’s trouble and I have enough in the current time to add to that! Now that Sharon’s dating, I could perhaps have to find another housemate til then but I’m not going to think about that either. For all I know, maybe I’ll be courted by my future husband til then too! Part of the adventure of serving God is that you never know what the future holds. It could be mighty exciting, or it could have a lot of grief, or some of both. But, this one thing I know: my God is bigger than life itself and because I am one of His kids, I get to inherit a mansion in the end so whatever it takes to get there is okay. I already know He is in control and He promised to take care of me and give me the best. What more could I ask for? I feel bad for those who don’t claim Him as their Daddy. They’re missing out BIG TIME!
I really had a stressful day yesterday. This is a holiday weekend and we expect to get some extra business at the store. So yesterday I was putting out the Christmas stuff. Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s ridiculous how early we have to put seasonal stuff out. I don’t like it at all. I get tired of the season before it’s even here. And, you know how fast time goes? Well, it seems to even hurry the year along! And, we got tons of stuff in and I was so tired til I was able to come home. And we had gotten a lot of Dunn plaques and picture in and there’s a bunch of walls to do Sigh! My feet were sore by lunch time already from working so hard.
Wednesday night we went to church. It was the first of 12 more meetings for the discipleship program they use for transferring membership. That will be every Wednesday night til December. I have to skip choir this time around, which really disappoints me but that’s part of life I guess.
Well, that’s all for now.
This week was normal. Today I worked for my aunt. It’s been ages since I’ve been there. I cleaned her pantry. I love organizing stuff so that was right down my alley. I shopped at Horning’s a little. Found some pears for $6.50 a basket. Found some cream of chicken soup for 3/$1. I wish the bent and dent places down this way would be as cheap as Horning’s. It seems like food is more plentiful and better priced up through. GRRR!
By the way, I love living at my house. I am so thrilled we get to stay another year. God is so good! I did not want to move and it just seems like an awful lot of work to only live there a year. What will happen after that? I’m not gonna worry about that. That would be borrowing tomorrow’s trouble and I have enough in the current time to add to that! Now that Sharon’s dating, I could perhaps have to find another housemate til then but I’m not going to think about that either. For all I know, maybe I’ll be courted by my future husband til then too! Part of the adventure of serving God is that you never know what the future holds. It could be mighty exciting, or it could have a lot of grief, or some of both. But, this one thing I know: my God is bigger than life itself and because I am one of His kids, I get to inherit a mansion in the end so whatever it takes to get there is okay. I already know He is in control and He promised to take care of me and give me the best. What more could I ask for? I feel bad for those who don’t claim Him as their Daddy. They’re missing out BIG TIME!
I really had a stressful day yesterday. This is a holiday weekend and we expect to get some extra business at the store. So yesterday I was putting out the Christmas stuff. Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s ridiculous how early we have to put seasonal stuff out. I don’t like it at all. I get tired of the season before it’s even here. And, you know how fast time goes? Well, it seems to even hurry the year along! And, we got tons of stuff in and I was so tired til I was able to come home. And we had gotten a lot of Dunn plaques and picture in and there’s a bunch of walls to do Sigh! My feet were sore by lunch time already from working so hard.
Wednesday night we went to church. It was the first of 12 more meetings for the discipleship program they use for transferring membership. That will be every Wednesday night til December. I have to skip choir this time around, which really disappoints me but that’s part of life I guess.
Well, that’s all for now.
Monday, August 24, 2009
So Much to say, so Little Time!
Oh, goodness, me, where do I start. I was planning to start writing this quite some time ago today and I keep getting interrupted with other things. And, a certain person (you know who you are) threatened me that I had better get my blog updated or else! LOL! So, I can't back out even though it's late:) Oh, well, that's okay then it's done for the next few days!
I am excited to see my friend Amy Bryant from VA. She is coming on Thursday evening and staying til Sunday. I am already planning meals and what all we might do together. The main thing is to gab! We have so much to talk about! I have not see her since.......I don't know when. Could be 6 months. I first met her when I went to Israel the first time. We really hit it off. So that's my highlight for the week. I have to work til Thurs then I'll have off Friday-Sunday to be with her.
I just got back from a very enriching vacation. I was at Harvey Cedars at a Bible conference. I was there an entire 7 days. What a pleasure. We had solid meals every day and yippee, I didn't have to cook!:) I like cooking, but it's nice to have a break too. There was a session in the morning, and one in the evening but in between we had time to go to the beach, which was walking distance. You know, the place was so different from anywhere I've ever been. The place was just permeated with God. All my friends know how closely I lock things, I am so very private and I don't trust anyone for anything. Well, guess what, more often than not, I let my door unlocked to my bedroom and sometimes not even latched! So that tells you something about the place. So there was my purse with all my credit cards and wallet and my laptop and camera and I felt free to come and go as I pleased, never once worrying that it might not be there when I got back! And the beach, I don't know how to explain it, but I felt God there too, in a different way than any other beach. Instead of it just being a beauty show, or a "Let's see how close to nude we can get" show, the majority of the folks dressed decently, and some of they guys even wore shirts. I didn't sense the spirit of lust there.
Oh, what fun I had on the beach! The Brills are who I went with. Johann helped me learn how to boogie board better. He often told me when to jump on it and head in on the waves and most of the time he judged right! He taught me to body board. And this was the first time I ever jumped waves. We went to the beach every single day and I saw one full sunrise on it. Talk about feeling little and insignificant! Go watch it yourself if you need to be put on your face before the Lord! It's humbling and yet exciting to know that the God we serve is the one who paints such glorious sunrises! It gives me great joy to be able to say, "Hey, that's my Daddy!" If He can do that, why in the world am I afraid of anything? Surely if my Daddy can do such dazzling artwork then he can and he will take care of me. Which brings me to my favorite verses at the end of Romans 8: Nothing can separate us from the Lord....and we are MORE than conquerers. I just love dwelling on those verses!
The sermons at the conference were very inspiring and challenging. I love having church every day. If I could make a living by listening in church every day, well, you'd know where to find me!:) We had 2 different speakers and the funny thing is that the one with the least amount of training is who I liked best! He never went to any seminary school, etc. Yet the Spirit of the Lord just poured out through him. It was such a blessed retreat to meet God there every day and to be with the Brills every day, who I love very much. Oh, and the singing at the worship service was great! I love praise and worship songs. One evening we sat on the porch and sang. That was a highlight.
One day we went to the Barnegate Light. It was so beautiful. The waves were mesmerizing, almost hypnotizing, how they kept smacking against the rocks and spraying up in the air. I loved it! I stood there for an awfully long time just watching. Merci is a shell collector so she was busy finding treasures. The lighthouse was so nice to see too. I remember I went deep sea fishing here before, but oh, how sick I was then! I hope to never feel that sick again. I really didn't care if I died that time. I don't think I will ever try to deep sea fish again. So now I have a new memory of Barnegate light, one much more pleasant to remember.
Well, that will have to be enough for now because my bed is calling me. Goodbye til later!
I am excited to see my friend Amy Bryant from VA. She is coming on Thursday evening and staying til Sunday. I am already planning meals and what all we might do together. The main thing is to gab! We have so much to talk about! I have not see her since.......I don't know when. Could be 6 months. I first met her when I went to Israel the first time. We really hit it off. So that's my highlight for the week. I have to work til Thurs then I'll have off Friday-Sunday to be with her.
I just got back from a very enriching vacation. I was at Harvey Cedars at a Bible conference. I was there an entire 7 days. What a pleasure. We had solid meals every day and yippee, I didn't have to cook!:) I like cooking, but it's nice to have a break too. There was a session in the morning, and one in the evening but in between we had time to go to the beach, which was walking distance. You know, the place was so different from anywhere I've ever been. The place was just permeated with God. All my friends know how closely I lock things, I am so very private and I don't trust anyone for anything. Well, guess what, more often than not, I let my door unlocked to my bedroom and sometimes not even latched! So that tells you something about the place. So there was my purse with all my credit cards and wallet and my laptop and camera and I felt free to come and go as I pleased, never once worrying that it might not be there when I got back! And the beach, I don't know how to explain it, but I felt God there too, in a different way than any other beach. Instead of it just being a beauty show, or a "Let's see how close to nude we can get" show, the majority of the folks dressed decently, and some of they guys even wore shirts. I didn't sense the spirit of lust there.
Oh, what fun I had on the beach! The Brills are who I went with. Johann helped me learn how to boogie board better. He often told me when to jump on it and head in on the waves and most of the time he judged right! He taught me to body board. And this was the first time I ever jumped waves. We went to the beach every single day and I saw one full sunrise on it. Talk about feeling little and insignificant! Go watch it yourself if you need to be put on your face before the Lord! It's humbling and yet exciting to know that the God we serve is the one who paints such glorious sunrises! It gives me great joy to be able to say, "Hey, that's my Daddy!" If He can do that, why in the world am I afraid of anything? Surely if my Daddy can do such dazzling artwork then he can and he will take care of me. Which brings me to my favorite verses at the end of Romans 8: Nothing can separate us from the Lord....and we are MORE than conquerers. I just love dwelling on those verses!
The sermons at the conference were very inspiring and challenging. I love having church every day. If I could make a living by listening in church every day, well, you'd know where to find me!:) We had 2 different speakers and the funny thing is that the one with the least amount of training is who I liked best! He never went to any seminary school, etc. Yet the Spirit of the Lord just poured out through him. It was such a blessed retreat to meet God there every day and to be with the Brills every day, who I love very much. Oh, and the singing at the worship service was great! I love praise and worship songs. One evening we sat on the porch and sang. That was a highlight.
One day we went to the Barnegate Light. It was so beautiful. The waves were mesmerizing, almost hypnotizing, how they kept smacking against the rocks and spraying up in the air. I loved it! I stood there for an awfully long time just watching. Merci is a shell collector so she was busy finding treasures. The lighthouse was so nice to see too. I remember I went deep sea fishing here before, but oh, how sick I was then! I hope to never feel that sick again. I really didn't care if I died that time. I don't think I will ever try to deep sea fish again. So now I have a new memory of Barnegate light, one much more pleasant to remember.
Well, that will have to be enough for now because my bed is calling me. Goodbye til later!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Rubies continued
I can't figure out how to edit my former post.....my internet connection took a dump and I couldn't seem to get it back to add so I guess I'll just finish it on another post. Happened before and I always figured it out before but I'm feeling too dim to try it now. Well, I already did and I'm tired of it! So another thing they did for mini class was gel candles. They did not look forward to Ballfield activities. I think it was fun once they were out there but they'd never admit that. It was mostly relays. We all enjoyed swimming.
On Thursday night since it was the last night we had a party. I had taken chips, cookies, and soda and we played a candy game, with 30 different candies. A few of them were not familiar with the candies but some of them were. The ones that got alot shared with the others. Thursday night we helped with the Talent Show. We did a play on Tacky and the Emperor. I had never heard of that before but it seemed to be well known. My cabin was with April's and she was there for years so she knew how to organize our play. We also put on a program of songs for the parents when they picked up their girls.
4 of my 9 girls made a decision for Christ, including the two that I thought would have attitudes. So I really had a great time. God was good to me........again!
Well, I must get ready to go away.....even though it's storming. See you all later!
On Thursday night since it was the last night we had a party. I had taken chips, cookies, and soda and we played a candy game, with 30 different candies. A few of them were not familiar with the candies but some of them were. The ones that got alot shared with the others. Thursday night we helped with the Talent Show. We did a play on Tacky and the Emperor. I had never heard of that before but it seemed to be well known. My cabin was with April's and she was there for years so she knew how to organize our play. We also put on a program of songs for the parents when they picked up their girls.
4 of my 9 girls made a decision for Christ, including the two that I thought would have attitudes. So I really had a great time. God was good to me........again!
Well, I must get ready to go away.....even though it's storming. See you all later!
Rubies Camp
Well, what a week! I was at Rubies Girl Camp all week as a counselor! Here's an excerpt from my journal on Tuesday: Looks like I don't have internet access. Yesterday was okay. It looked like a terribly long week ahead of me:( We are having more cabin time than what I was informed of and over my years of traveling, I have learned to pack less and less, instead of taking the entire kitchen sink! So I had not really brought extra stuff to do along:( You can tell I'm not a teacher, because I did not take into consideration that the girls might be deathly quiet til they get to know eachother! Nor the fact that the silence would be very uncomfortable and that they would be all relying on me to make the conversation! I guess I am used to the city girls and they warm up fast, normally. Depends on their personality but usually they are talkative pronto. So, they had a small talk with us counselors and made us feel a little more in control. But then we got to our cabins and were to wait til the girls come in, little by little. I didn't wait long but it sure was uncomfortable.......one comes........you ask their name......they say but then silence.........you ask where they go to church.....then silence.......where they go to school.....silence.........what hobbies they have.......silence.....another girl comes in......same questions..........silence.....only answers and nothing else! Sigh! I had assumed alot would know eachother because alot of them have come here for years in a row. Well, I have two girls who are in a click, but all the others didn't really know eachother. How incredibly hard at first, to keep them occupied. I finally started the Apples to Apples game and even then I tried to encourage table talk and it was only me talking.......:( I really worried if they are even going to like me. City girls are the huggy type normally and when you ask them questions they get friendly right away and you can touch them and they're just a blast. Mennonite girls.....well, it felt like a bunch of icecubes that I didn't dare touch to make them melt! Silence and a few exchanged glances.....yikes, I wish it was Friday! Lord, can't it just be Friday already? Please? Oh, and I was slightly intimidated by the counselor closest to me......she was putting welcome gifts on each girls bed, a pack of gum with a little note. She was there for quite a few years so she's used to this. And today I saw all her girls carrying water canteens. I just hope my girls don't think I'm a dud. I seriously have to be tight right now and I think what I am giving them is enough but I know teen girls can get attitudes. I hope they don't look at the other counselor and wish they had her instead.
Well, we finally did a few things on the schedule but then we had more free time. Thank God I thought of Swat. That really got us to learn eachother's names. I am lacking greatly when it comes to memorizing names but I found out it was as hard for them to be in the middle as it was for me. We played it for almost a half hour and I say that really engraved the names in our minds. Before that, one of the organized games they had was to put on a frozen T-shirt. The shirt had been frozen (while it had been saturated with water) and we had to pull it out of a ziploc bag and unthaw it with our bodies and unfold it and have someone put it on. That was a challenge. My cabin was one of the winners. By this time they warmed up just a little.
By bedtime we actually had everyone talking. What a blessed relief! Maybe it will be fun after all and normal. I'm praying for 0 attitudes. The only ones I have to watch with eagle eyes are the two girls that know eachother. Sometimes they whisper or exchange looks so I have to somehow be a boss yet a friend simultaneously. Where do you draw that line?
It's tiring to me, to be so constant on watching the clock. Is that what teachers have to do all school term? Wow, tiring! It makes the day go fast but it's just plain tiring. Last night we really had fun talking and telling stories and I had to command them to stop talking finally! I would rather have that problem than silence.
Today has been good. Last night I gave them the pencils and I had a devotional on a pencil and how we are like pencils. Today during cabin freetime I have them the journals and stickers and got out my markers, pencils, etc. Some of them really seemed to like it but the two girls who know eachother kind of acted like maybe they thought it wasn't cool. They are the kind of girls who are COOL, and they have fashion and right from first sight of them I could tell they are the "clickish" kind of girls who can make fun of others they don't think are "in". So I have to be careful with them. So far it's been good though. One of them asked me if this is their gift then and I said it is. She didn't say anything so maybe she was just asking but I hope she wasn't thinking she wishes it was more. Okay, I have to stop trying to read into something that may not be there! You know I do that sometimes!:) I had them decorate them and one girl had the awesome idea to all sign eachothers on the back. So they all did that. Kelsey, one of the "click" girls even had me sign hers!
Now tonight I will have them use their new pencils and their new journals and they will have to each face a wall, looking at NO ONE and write down 10 things they would do if they only had a month to live. Then I have a devotion prepared that I got off an email.
Right now they are at mini class. I will look forward to mini class because we get free time then. Ah, bliss! It is good to rest! We get one Wednesday and Thurs. but not Friday. So all in all, I am having fun but I wonder if I will make it to work Saturday. I should not even be thinking of that already but I can't help it! They said the counselors will need 36 straight hours of sleep after they get home and I think maybe they are right............I am not used to being in total charge of 9 girls and their schedules. It's usually challenging enough to get myself ready in time! Is God preparing me for a family?
That's my excerpt. The rest of the week was alot the same, busy, busy, busy! The first night I made them be quiet at 10:30 but then we had the assistant counselor in our cabin the next two nights and they wanted to stay up late. Plus they claimed another cabin let them stay up til 1pm. So I gave in, decided I don't need to be such an ogre. So they stayed up til 12:30, then 12:30 again, then 12:15. Sigh! Is it any wonder I came home drained? And, they had all brought sleeping bags. I had brought a sheet set so all I had was a thin sheet to cover with. I was grateful for the AC but they cranked it down to 60. I am sure it never reached that because it was constantly running but it sure got colder than what I am used to at night. I woke up just SOOOOOO cold and my nose felt like ice. Normally I can't sleep when my nose is cold but I guess I was that exhausted that I slept anyway! What I should have done is turn the AC up a little when everyone fell asleep but how can you know when 9 girls are really sleeping.....probably someone would have heard the beeping and caught me, plus, I needed to sleep ASAP, not wait til I was sure everyone else was! So now I have this dreadful sore throat and I blame it on that!
It seemed like the girls liked their mini classes. To name a few: Slate painting, fresh flowers, calligraphy, frame your name, fabric painting, flag football,
Well, we finally did a few things on the schedule but then we had more free time. Thank God I thought of Swat. That really got us to learn eachother's names. I am lacking greatly when it comes to memorizing names but I found out it was as hard for them to be in the middle as it was for me. We played it for almost a half hour and I say that really engraved the names in our minds. Before that, one of the organized games they had was to put on a frozen T-shirt. The shirt had been frozen (while it had been saturated with water) and we had to pull it out of a ziploc bag and unthaw it with our bodies and unfold it and have someone put it on. That was a challenge. My cabin was one of the winners. By this time they warmed up just a little.
By bedtime we actually had everyone talking. What a blessed relief! Maybe it will be fun after all and normal. I'm praying for 0 attitudes. The only ones I have to watch with eagle eyes are the two girls that know eachother. Sometimes they whisper or exchange looks so I have to somehow be a boss yet a friend simultaneously. Where do you draw that line?
It's tiring to me, to be so constant on watching the clock. Is that what teachers have to do all school term? Wow, tiring! It makes the day go fast but it's just plain tiring. Last night we really had fun talking and telling stories and I had to command them to stop talking finally! I would rather have that problem than silence.
Today has been good. Last night I gave them the pencils and I had a devotional on a pencil and how we are like pencils. Today during cabin freetime I have them the journals and stickers and got out my markers, pencils, etc. Some of them really seemed to like it but the two girls who know eachother kind of acted like maybe they thought it wasn't cool. They are the kind of girls who are COOL, and they have fashion and right from first sight of them I could tell they are the "clickish" kind of girls who can make fun of others they don't think are "in". So I have to be careful with them. So far it's been good though. One of them asked me if this is their gift then and I said it is. She didn't say anything so maybe she was just asking but I hope she wasn't thinking she wishes it was more. Okay, I have to stop trying to read into something that may not be there! You know I do that sometimes!:) I had them decorate them and one girl had the awesome idea to all sign eachothers on the back. So they all did that. Kelsey, one of the "click" girls even had me sign hers!
Now tonight I will have them use their new pencils and their new journals and they will have to each face a wall, looking at NO ONE and write down 10 things they would do if they only had a month to live. Then I have a devotion prepared that I got off an email.
Right now they are at mini class. I will look forward to mini class because we get free time then. Ah, bliss! It is good to rest! We get one Wednesday and Thurs. but not Friday. So all in all, I am having fun but I wonder if I will make it to work Saturday. I should not even be thinking of that already but I can't help it! They said the counselors will need 36 straight hours of sleep after they get home and I think maybe they are right............I am not used to being in total charge of 9 girls and their schedules. It's usually challenging enough to get myself ready in time! Is God preparing me for a family?
That's my excerpt. The rest of the week was alot the same, busy, busy, busy! The first night I made them be quiet at 10:30 but then we had the assistant counselor in our cabin the next two nights and they wanted to stay up late. Plus they claimed another cabin let them stay up til 1pm. So I gave in, decided I don't need to be such an ogre. So they stayed up til 12:30, then 12:30 again, then 12:15. Sigh! Is it any wonder I came home drained? And, they had all brought sleeping bags. I had brought a sheet set so all I had was a thin sheet to cover with. I was grateful for the AC but they cranked it down to 60. I am sure it never reached that because it was constantly running but it sure got colder than what I am used to at night. I woke up just SOOOOOO cold and my nose felt like ice. Normally I can't sleep when my nose is cold but I guess I was that exhausted that I slept anyway! What I should have done is turn the AC up a little when everyone fell asleep but how can you know when 9 girls are really sleeping.....probably someone would have heard the beeping and caught me, plus, I needed to sleep ASAP, not wait til I was sure everyone else was! So now I have this dreadful sore throat and I blame it on that!
It seemed like the girls liked their mini classes. To name a few: Slate painting, fresh flowers, calligraphy, frame your name, fabric painting, flag football,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)