Renaissance Festival...

... was held on a 30-acre permanent village that has been authentically and historically re-created in the flavor of 16th Century England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. There was a full day of entertainment including full-armored Jousting the way it was done over 400 years ago by real Knights in shining armor, dozens of Renaissance musicians, dancers, comedians, jugglers, sword-fighters, storytellers and hundreds of costumed performers.

(I found my knight in shining armor!)


















This was one of the best side attractions. Donal Hinely uses fluted glasses of differing sizes and water to create the musical scale. It is very pretty music and an amazing talent that he has perfected.


I almost had to pinch myself at the joust; it felt like I had stepped into a time machine. Very very cool sport!



Yeah, fancy camera. Her pictures are way cooler than mine. Sigh! :D


I had so much fun all day. It was relaxing and enjoyable. And affordable since it was 'buy one get one free tickets'. Thanks guys for taking me!! (now you need to find your skirt so I can actually work for my ticket lol)

catching up

I know right now that this will be a long post. So if you have the patience for it.... here goes :)

=================

Two weeks ago my lil sis decided to leave me for married life. Sigh.

She looked soo beautiful!




And she is definitely VERY happy!




My dad did an incredible job on her wedding cake!



Congratulations, dear! I love you! And I am glad I can still spend time with you since you are close :D

=======================

The next pictures are 3 out of 60+ that I took of my other lil sis. I was goofing with the lighting on my camera and was in her face just for the fun of it. She just kept right on doing whatever it was on the computer while I was snapping away. She's so cool!

=======================

The summer seemed to fly by and ended with a happy bang! My family enjoyed a very nice meal and good time of fellowship with our friends the night before I had to come back to school. Many thanks to the BranchRanch! :D

The dessert not only looked good but was delicious!! (that's yummy blackberry pie hiding under there!)


I like this pic :) his shirt cracks me up. It says "I do all my own stunts" but he is wearing a brace for a recently cracked collarbone. (oh and look at Steph... that will be me someday... short and looking up at my husband hehehe)




last night before school....

=========================

So, yes I am back at school now and all settled into my room, but not without help! I think this year my mom and youngest sis did more work than I did and had my room unpacked faster than it ever has been before. I'm kicking myself (ouch!) for not taking some pictures of the process and of the dears working so hard! (wow I just really love all my sisters!!!!!)

This morning I spent a good deal of time on the phone. I made 41 calls and have 4 observations scheduled. Not a wonderful ratio but I do expect to hear back from the many voicemails I left. (There were also numbers that had been disconnected and some schools that have closed.) So for the next two weeks I am going to be driving all over Cincy with google map directions, and hopefully not getting lost!! After that I will start my student teaching here on campus in our Aldersgate Academy and HighSchool. fun fun.

I'm also looking forward to babysitting again. I am sure all 'my kids' have grown up and I can't wait to see them. I also could use some gas money for all these traveling adventures!

So there it is... what I've been doing, what I'm doing now, and what I'm gonna do in the near future :D

grrr

it's late and i am tired

wanted to blog

but pix refuse to work tonight

so here is my blog...

i go back to school tomorrow

so take luck, good care and have a great life.

wait school isn't death

so i'll be around

probably with even more insane posts than this one

if that is possible.




+++
why do you insist on stressing me out?!
is this just teenage drama?
is your situation as bad as you think?
choose what you want
this is your life
but i'm here... praying and worrying and hoping for the best
i love you
i'm sure your parents do too
they just don't know how to show it
try obeying them
life may turn around
but if you choose the streets, call me
i'll be here... praying and worrying and hoping for the best
i really do love you

In the Waiting

Pain
The gift nobody longs for, still it comes
And somehow leaves us stronger
When it's gone away

Pray
I try and pray for Your will to be done
But I confess it's never fast enough for me

It seems
the hardest part is waiting on You
When what I really want
Is just to see Your hand move

I want a peace beyond my understanding
I want to feel it fall like rain
In the middle of my hurting
I want to feel Your arms as they surround me
And let me know that it's okay
To be here in this place
Resting in the peace that only comes
In the waiting

Time
Time to let it go and just believe
Trusting in what no one else but You can see

Free
Freedom from the fears that close me in
When I can't get beyond where I have been, but then

Again
The silence doesn't mean that I'm alone
As long as I can hear
That I am still Your own

~Greg Long

This has been my song for the last couple weeks and I wanted to share it. I have tried to get the music on here for it... but none of my options have worked so far. Oh, well. Enjoy the lyrics

Pix

I am too lazy to upload pix on here... so here is a link to the whole album. With very random annoying captions :P lol. Well, at least you can experience a small taste of NewMexico through my eyes.

New Mexico 2008

I went for a walk...

...alone last night. My senses were at peak. Many memories and random thoughts flooded my mind.

nose at work...

woodsmoke ~ camping in NM mountains

smelling mildew from the outside of someone's house ~ I can only imagine my allergies if I were to step inside their house!

freshly cut grass ~ my first time mowing lawn as a kid

lilacs ~ Susan's bushes that we played under everyday of the summer growing up

swampy water ~ an outing my HS Senior class took to a river

cigarette smoke ~ attending hundreds of wakes on Rosebud Rez

eyes at work...

moon ~ wherever you are you see the moon and it makes me feel closer to you

aquarium through a window ~ wiped a dry tear in memory of dear Zippy

swingset ~ 4 years old and playing with Kimberly and Emily in SC

padiddle ~ fun memories of my friend Clarissa ;)

cracked sidewalk ~ my ocd tendencies... i suddenly was very aware of my steps

I am very blessed. I have a good life. Thank you, God.

++

"Trials they come and friends they may go. All that matters is you, my Lord." ~ Rebecca St. James

brief reminiscence

These crosses are on the mesa by the Rock Springs Church. I love the sunset behind them and got this pic with my cell phone.

I made it home yesterday exhausted physically AND mentally/emotionally. I crashed into my bed and was shocked to wake up 18 hours later! I knew I was tired, but wow! I didn't realize I was THAT tired haha.



It is really hard to summarize everything that happened in two weeks into one semi-bearably-long post :) There will probably be multiple posts with more random bits as I have time and my memory recalls events. I managed to forget my photo card from my camera in NM so I will not have any pictures to post for awhile. But hopefully I will get it back soon.



There were times of goofy fun, hard work, and powerful ministry. I was overwhelmed with sadness to find out that two of 'our girls' from camp last year both have a baby now. One of them is 17 now and the other girl is just getting ready to turn 15! This gave me even more determination to make a difference in the lives that I could this year. It is so sad what hurting, lost people will do to try to make themselves happy, or to get money. If you think of it, please help me pray for these people. The teens all really need consistentancy in their life and they need someone to truly love them and be there for them. I am hoping to be part of that consistency by keeping contact and writing throughout the year.



Aside from the people, one of the biggest things I already miss is the weather and sky!!! It is amazing! Out there the altitude is higher, the sky is cleaner, the weather is drier! The stars at night are awesome. Almost every night I saw at least 2 shooting stars and a satellite. As soon as I stepped out of the airport yesterday I sighed and longed for some dry air. lol. It is going to take awhile to get used to the muggy humidity again!



Well, I need to close for now. There are a lot of things to be done. My lil sis is getting married in 4 days! I'll be around here somewhere and hopefully posting pix soon :)