I HAVE PICTURES! Oh, yeah, and updates...

Yay, update! I haven't been doing this regularly, and I'm not entirely sure why. Nonetheless, I'm doing it now. There's not a whole lot to post about, but I do have a few pictures and an update or two, so here we go.

-- Applebee's didn't work out. It's a little scary since the economy is so sad-looking, but I have to trust that God will provide me with another job.

-- Joshua has been working at Kroger for a few weeks now, and it's been quite an adjustment to me. Granted, he works the night shift when I'm sleeping, but he's sleeping when I'm awake. Not having many friends to hang out with, this has become an issue. I've felt lonely and bored recently, leading to a slight depression. God was gracious enough to provide me with an old friend I thought I'd lost. I spoke to her a couple days ago on the phone and laughed like I haven't laughed in a long time. God is good. :)

-- Joshua got me flowers! I don't think anyone's ever bought me flowers. Aren't they pretty? I guess that job's not so bad after all... :)

-- I crafted without paper yesterday! Anyone who knows me knows this isn't an everyday occurrence. I make cards with paper (and occasionally with fabric, but mostly paper). If I do craft without paper, I don't usually commit to finishing the project. I have several half-completed creations lying around my room at this very instant. Yesterday, however, I made my dad a Cubs win flag. NO PAPER INCLUDED!

When the Chicago Cubs win a game, they fly the Cubs win flag so that people in the city know the Cubs won. Brilliant! Well, my dad, a huge Cubs fan, is asked several thousand times a day how the baseball game ended. Mum came up with the idea of making Dad the flag for Father's Day, but I didn't think he could wait. Besides, I had all the supplies. So, here's the completed(!) flag:

I'd never hemmed anything other than culottes, and I'd never appliqued anything before yesterday, so I made quite a mess in trying to figure everything out. I had to take a picture because I couldn't describe to you the mess that usually occurs in my room when I craft. My workspace? My bed.


My projects are usually paper-based, so there are usually 100 times more paper scraps, a variety of different types of glue, rolls of tape, ribbons, scissors... it's scary. I usually wake up with paper scraps stuck to me. It's great. :)

Well, that's all I have. Hopefully I'll have more posts later. I like the picture thing, so I think I'll add them more often. 'Til next post (which is hopefully sooner than a month away...)!

Working for the LORD

For quite some time now, I've been looking for a job. There are lots of things I would love to do with a little extra cash - give to the church, help out my parents, save for my future, maybe buy some more craft supplies... :) However, I've been applying and interviewing to no avail.

About a week and a half ago a lady from my church called me with a tip that Applebee's is hiring and that I should try there. I'm not going to lie, I honestly didn't see the point. I'd tried so many times at so many places! What's the use? But I went in and applied, meeting one of the managers, and got an interview! Yay! One step closer!

This past Thursday, I went to my interview, and it went really, really well. Extraordinarily well, actually. I'm supposed to call Applebee's back if I haven't heard from them by 10:30 Saturday morning. Manager's orders.

I'm posting about this, not because I'm guaranteed I have a job, but because I learned something really important. I believe God waited as long as He did to get me this far because I didn't love Him like I should have. You see, had I gotten an interview before, I may have been tempted to say I'd work Wednesday evening, or even Sunday, which I know isn't something God wants for me. God shaped my heart before He gave me such an opportunity.

Thankfully, Applebee's seems really cool with me not working Wednesday evening or Sundays. Like I said, I haven't gotten the job or anything, but it's cool to see how far God will allow the doors to open when you do what pleases Him.

Crafty Cards!!

A couple of my cards:

I made this card for my cousin who was born on St. Patrick's Day. I got the idea for the card out of a book I got from the library. They used red as the main color, and had a pair of high heels where my clover is, but that didn't work for my 9-year-old recipient, so I changed it. Obviously her favorite color is green! LOL

This is the card I made for Katherine, my friend from the nursing home our church visits. The ribbon ties the card and picture frame I made for her together into a gift-like package. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get it to her. I hope and pray God will give me the opportunity to do so soon!

Those are just a couple I've made. I plan on making lots more. I love to make cards. Absolutely LOVE it. My pastor's wife tells me that God will use my passion for paper to bring glory to Him, and I pray she's right. How cool would that be?! Doing something I love to bring glory to the One I love most! Awesome! I hope to have more cards to post soon.^^

I'M ALIVE!!!

I was scolded by my mother for not updating in a while, so I figured that a month is long enough to wait. ^^

I haven't updated in a while for a few reasons, but the main reason is I was misusing it. You see, I was filling the needs of others, not because it was something Jesus wanted me to do, but because I didn't want to look bad on my blog. I know, lame. And stupid. So, I took a break and worked on getting my priorities straight. Which I think has been going quite well. :)

I've been enjoying my Bible reading rather than treating it like a chore, and I've been talking to God with the utmost of honesty about absolutely everything. Turns out, God knows how much I want my own house to clean and decorate and take care of. He knows how much I want to start my own family. He understands that I don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing, and He's been helping me get through it all. He's finally becoming my best friend. ^_^

Something else I noticed is I've been making more cards. I love to make cards, and, ironically enough, after I stopped blogging about filling needs, I actually started filling more of them. After I put God in the number one slot where He belongs, He started showing me how I could reach out with my passsion for paper. I made a card for a lady who's come to our church a couple times, but, being busy as a foster mom, she hasn't come in a while. I aslo made a card for Mary Katherine, a wonderful lady I met on our trips to a local nursing home. I plan on taking it to her Tuesday. I was going to mail it, but I don't know her last name, and I don't know if it would get to her or not. >.<

Sssooo, that's that. My updated blog post. LOL I'll post again SOON!

'Til next time!

*This post is dedicated to me mumsy, who apparently likes my blog :) *

The Tarp Post

It's been a minute since I've updated, so I thought I'd post today. Plus I have time! Yay! LOL

My mum was reading my blog the other day, and she pointed out that I posted about Dad going to the hospital, but I didn't post when he came home. Just to clarify, my dad did come home last Wednesday. He's doing TONS better. Thank you all for your prayers. He's doing so well. It's such a relief to have my dad back. Love you, Daddy!^^

As for Filling Needs for February (I like the alliteration. Such a nerd...), I gave a bag of clothes to my neighbor who lost her house. I had a whole bunch of things I'd outgrown, so I washed it and took it over.

I've also been taking my chores more seriously. Mum gave me Kitchen Duty, and I've been doing my best to take care of it like I would my own kitchen. I'm not going to lie, it's hard not being out on my own sometimes, so I "play house" here. LOL The kitchen has been kept up quite well though, and so has my laundry, which I usually slack on.

I cooked some eggrolls for Dad the other day, and he said it was so good that he threatened to eat his hands because they smelled like eggroll. LOL This may not seem like a big deal to you, but I'm considered the Microwave Queen, the Un-Chef, and the Oven Mitt Mutilator (I caught one on fire once!). It was nice to cook something and really have my dad enjoy it.^^

Lastly, I'd like to ask for your prayers on my own behalf. I've been having a hard time with my little brother. I've been losing my temper with him a lot, and it's not helping our relationship. I realize that I need to keep my cool even when things get crazy, and I need to love him like Jesus loves him, so please pray that I will be able to do that. Thanks so much!

'Til next post!

PICTURES!!!

The sun setting over Deleware Lake

The tiniest maple leaf ever!

Pretty yellow berries

At the park was a giant hill that had eroded until it was just half a hill. It was totally awesome-looking, so Joshua walked into four inches of pretty chilly water to get a picture. >.<

This is the sledding hill that he thought would be a good idea to hike up. It was slushy, muddy, and steep. I was in my only decent pair of sneakers, but I agreed to it anyway. The picture doesn't quite do it justice. It was reeeeeeeeeeealy steep.

Top of the sledding hill



Josh thought it would be funny to take a picture of the "Reddick Shelter" sign because I thought it said "Redneck Shelter". Dork.

Then he found a lost relic and decided to take a picture.

My photographic skills^^

It's hard to see because of the lighting, but it's a torn open wasps' nest. Or some kind of flying, stinging insect nest. >.<



I was joking with Joshua that this tree was big enough to stuff him in if he kept taking the camera/phone from me.

This one's a bridge. Obviously.^^

I'm out of pictures for now, but I'll probably post more some other time. I'm new at the whole picture-taking, picture-posting process, but I'll get the hang of it.^^ 'Til next time!

And Then The Roller Coaster Took a Sharp Left...

Last night my neighbor's trailer burned to the ground. Everyone got out okay, but now a family of six is without their home. At the moment they're staying with family, just to the left of my house.

I cried as I watched it burn, repeating over and over again that it wasn't fair. This family has faced so many heartaches these past couple years. There is something I've noticed about them though - they don't give up. They stick together like a real family should, they pray, and they persevere. At this very moment, a woman, her son, her daughter, her son-in-law, her four grandchildren, and several of her friends, are sitting next door laughing. They're enjoying each others' company, sharing stories, and getting through the tough times with a whole lot of hope and faith that things will get better.

Though the family isn't of my denomination, though they're not of my race, they're amazing people who have taught me so much. I love you and your family, Esther. I'll be praying for you all.