the busiest & best year of my life

Remember in my last post, almost a yr ago, i mentioned that i was going to date soon? well, I'm married to that man! I've never dated while in school, partly bc i always have to spend so much time studying.

I need to back up and tell u how we met. Last fall, my car didn't work. I prayed that it would bc if it didn't, I knew I would have to take the COTA bus to school. I dreaded that. Dad said, "You never know, you might meet ur husband on the bus!" I ignored it bc he and mom have said things like that before. When I got on the bus for the 1st time, I saw him....Knowing that a lot of people on the bus are creepy, I didn't talk to him. When he 1st saw me, he thought I was gorgeous. He didn't talk to me bc he didn't want to come across as being too forward. This went on for 2 weeks before God decided He was going to take action since we weren't. 1 day, the bus was so full, that I had to sit next to him. We started talking and haven't stopped. If we weren't treading very carefully and guarding our hearts, we would've known that we were meant to be together. We started dating on New Year's. We got engaged March 16 in a park. during the dating and part of the engagement, I was in school. I had no time. Of course, the closer our wedding date got, the busier we were with planning.

The wedding was very small and sweet. I slept well the night before. I didn't expect that. I also had 1 of my bridesmaids over for a sleepover the night before. I wasn't nervous at all the day of the wedding. That kind of surprised me. That next step in Paul's and my relationship seemed so natural. The wedding ceremony and reception were in a park. the weather was great! We wrote our own vows. The pix are on fb. The honeymoon was great! We went to Hocking Hills for a few days.

We have a Bible verse that fits our relationship. Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine...to him be the glory." We marvel at how God orchestrated our lives so we could meet! We're amazed at how perfect we are for each other!

Since the honeymoon, we've been adjusting to life as a married couple, living in my parents' basement. It's been hard, but good. Paul has a job at the kmart store. I'm looking for a job that'll give us enough money to move out. We know where we want to live. It's just down the st from where we are now.

Life's been very hectic lately. Our car's not working. We have a great mechanic, though! My mom broke her ankle a couple weeks ago. She was in the hospital for several days, then in rehab. She's coming home tomorrow.

Paul moved my dad's piano keyboard downstairs. It's on my desk, instead of a stand. Dad hasn't used it much lately. I'm getting back into playing it. I'm also studying the book of Job.

Dec '10/ Jan '11

Hey ya'll, I'm finally getting this out. I started it late last month. I went  on a retreat with my church called, Faithwalkers. I wanted my next post to include everything that I learned from there. Well, I thought you might want a post before that happens, since it could take at least a month! The drive there was amazing. The retreat is in Asheville, NC, so we had to dive through mountains. I'd never seen mountains, so i was in awe. The 1st night at the conference, I was sick. I had a migraine and was nauseated. I suspect that was from the 8 hr drive even though I took dramamine and the drive through the mountains, with the altitude change. The rest of the time there was amazing! The main thing I learned was a reminder: Satan knows our weak spots, which buttons to push on each of us. I'd been praying for a while about how to wear the spiritual armor. God answered that prayer while I was there. I was convicted of pride, also. I learned that when I decide to not pray and say I'll do it later, I'm really saying that I don't need prayer, that I can do it on my own. "...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6 NIV

On the way back, the girls in my car really helped me in another area I was struggling in. While talking about it, we drove through half the state of KY!

I had something to look forward to coming home: 1 of my best friends was going to ask me to date him on New Year's Day at midnight. I know it's kind of cheesy because so many people do it then, but we're both cheesy! In March of last year, my best girlfriend and my mom had challenged me to not look at every guy I saw as a possible hubby. I met my boyfriend in Oct. We've challenged each other in our faiths and to mature as people.

I need to back up and catch you up on something else! After Thanksgiving, we returned a dog we'd just adopted. She didn't fit in the family for many reasons. We, then, went to the Crawford County shelter after seeing their ad on craigslist. From there, we adopted a lab mix pup. Just recently, my cat, Maggie, has been sleeping in my room with my new dog, Feliz, and I. Now, Pumpkin, mom's cat, and Maggie have been upstairs with the dogs.

Thanksgiving 2010

Tues night, mom and I didn't get much sleep because we had to prepare for visiting her family at the beach house on the Outerbanks that her parents own. Our flight left Columbus in the morning for Chicago. We saw Lake Michigan from above it. We then went to Norfolk, Va. In the plane as we neared that airport, we saw the Atlantic Ocean. At the Norfolk airport, we were there from 12:30-8:30, waiting for my aunt to pick us up on her way down. It took so long because of things that were out of her control. We got to the beach house in time for bed, at 11. On the way back, we went from Norfolk, VA to Baltimore, MD to cbus. Sun evening, when we were descending into cbus, I realized that from the night sky, it's a very pretty city. I wonder what Vegas looks like! I like flying, but only when I have Dramamine in me! I don't know what I would've done without it! Some ascents were really bad on my ears, others were good. Some descents were really bad on my stomach, others were good. I think going to and from cbus was bad. I loved the view from the plane! The day we left, it was so cloudy that I could only see clouds for 1/2 the trip. The trip back wasn't as cloudy, so I was able to see the different layers of clouds. I really liked how it looks just like a satellite view on google, except in color! It was cool seeing bodies of water, land, and mountains from the sky. I'll fly again, but only if I have to. If I can afford it and it would make more sense to fly, I will. I didn't get groped or have to go through the x-ray neud! I think they only do that in certain large airports and in smaller ones when someone is suspiscious. Mom was picked randomly to have the palms of her hands scanned for chemicals. On 1 trip, some security people went around and did vapor tests on passengers' liquids. On so many flights, someone announced they were looking for people who weren't on their flight and holding the plane for them. We were on 1 of those planes. We were waiting on the plane and a little girl came on eventually.


Mom and I went on a few long walks on the beach, collecting lots of shells. I'm going to make a collage  of them. I saw sand dunes for the 1st time and jumped down them with my cousins. I had to learn to jump high enough. lol I saw wild horses. Those horses were brought to the US on slave ships that were shipwrecked a long time ago, I think. I drove a little on sand. I thought it'd be similar to driving in snow, but it's a completely different texture. I saw the lighthouse, but didn't go up it because no one would go with me, it's a long walk up MANY stairs and it's cold up there. Speaking of cold, our room was the quietest, but also the coldest. The last night, I kept changing the thermostat on the floor, then either my granddad or an uncle lowered it. It went on like that until I went to sleep and gave up. The room was freezing in the morning.

I'm working on putting pictures on facebook. When they're done, I'll put the link on here. Hopefully, if you don't have facebook, you'll be able to use the link to access them.

dogs

I hate to start this blog with bad news. Polly died a couple weeks ago. We did all we could to save her. We got her ashes a couple days ago. They're next to the ashes of another of our previous dog on the hutch. Eventually, mom wants to get a picture of each pet and put them behind the appropriate pet's ashes. 

We got 2 new dogs just before Mom and I left for a mini vacation with her family for Thanksgiving. The 2 dogs were from different places. We got them for very good holiday deals. They're our Christmas presents. Feliz is my dog. It's Spanish for happy. I haven't had my own dog for a few years, so he makes me happy. He's 7 months and not trained. I just had him neutered. He's a pure bred Cocker Spaniel. When we leave the house, he goes in a cage. He doesn't pee until he sees someone coming to let him out. Before he can get out, he pees. Some dogs just pee from excitement. I need to train that out of him. He needs to be around someone at all times. The 1st time I threw a ball for him to bring back, he brought it back without me telling him to! Our backyard is a perfect size for him! He LOVES to run around it, not paying attention if I throw the ball. The new family dog is Heidi. She's 1-2 years old. We think she's a Manchester Terrier mix. We got her from the shelter. She's so hyper! She's very smart, though! She already knows the name we gave her. She's learning to sit on command and fetch and return.We learned that she can roam the house while we're gone because she'd gotten out of her cage and didn't make a mess. The day after we got them, we had them meet . We took them to a park. They did great! So much better than we expected. This is due to the fact that neither had lived in the house before the other, so there weren't territorial issues and Heidi came from the shelter, so she's use to other dogs.

Polly's health issues & school

My dog, Polly, has autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). She needs a miracle to survive longer than a week. Miracles do happen. If you want details from the PCV & CBC or what the disease is, just ask.


This quarter has been really hard. I went from aiming to get at least a 3. GPA this quarter to aiming to at least pass my classes. I've had to study less for urinalysis so that I can study more for Clinical Applications 2. In class, we do different procedures in a rotation format. I was really concerned a few weeks ago because I had the dental rotation practical approaching. Dr. Olive, the hardest, but best professor, teaches it. I wasn't ready for it. I can't miss more than 5 points on the practicals. So far, I'm doing better than I expected, but I still have to study a ton to keep it up. I know what I have to do in order to do that. 


Dad still needs a better job & I still need a working car. 


Here's a link to an album on facebook of some of the procedures that I've done in school. In it are the pictures that I promised of the x-rays. As you look for them, you may not want to see some of the other pictures. They're not horrible, but some people may not want to see them. I'm not sure if this link will work. 


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=495285&id=506470458&l=c1aecbb4d0

photo contest

I just found out that if you vote for my cat, you'll have to give ur phone # & will get calls from them. Sry about that. I was going to delete the blog post, but i don't think that's possible.

photo contest

http://www.greatamericanphotocontests.com/voterindex3.aspx?referid=kobe_d1y&p=192288

I entered a pic of 1 of my cats, Cuddles. If I get enough votes, I'll win $1,000. The pic is named, Can't Wait.

NIV v. NASB

I wasn't going to update this until later in the month, if not next month, but an interesting & disturbing topic came up in discussion between my dad & I. I want you to read Psalm 77:1-15 in both the NIV & NASB. I'll put both translations here.

NIV

"I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; At night, I stretched out my untiring hands & my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered you, O God, & I groaned; I mused & my spirit grew faint. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused & my spirit inquired: 'Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?' Then I thought, 'To this I will appeal: The years of the right hand of the Most High.' I will remember the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works & consider all your mighty deeds.Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; You display your power among the peoples. With your mighty hand, you redeemed the descendants of Jacob & Joseph."

NASB
"My voice rises to God and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God & He will hear me. In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord; In the night, my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted. When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of long ago. I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, and my spirit ponders: Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again? Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has God forgotten to be gracious, or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Then I said, 'It is my grief that the right hand of the Most High has changed.' I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work and muse on Your deeds. Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. You have by Your power redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph."


I 1st read the NIV. Dad and I were talking about it. He referred to verse 10 in the NASB, which is his study Bible. I had no idea what he was talking about. We got out both translations and realized that the missing verse is crucial to the context of the this part of the chapter. Dad and I decided that, ideally, I should have a 4 translation Bible so that I can read the NIV, for comprehension, and the NASB, for things the NIV might leave out. 

I have no idea how this happened. Translators are suppose to know the importance of translating correctly, the importance of looking at context to understand the Bible. This just really bugs me.

fall/halloween decor

I forgot to mention that we have over 100 corn stalks. If you want/need any for fall/halloween decor, let me know!

Want a free urinalysis for your pet?

It took me 2 days (not consecutive) to write this. Perhaps I should start this post from my break between summer & fall quarters. Over break, I read, How to Stay Christian in College, and finally finished reading Joyce Meyer's book, Never Give Up. It took me sooo long to read (listen to on book on CD) that I almost gave up finishing it! I didn't listen to it everyday, so that's why it took a while. I'm about to start listening to Joyce's book on CD about prayer.

Also, while on break, I finally mastered driving a manual car in the city. I'm not great at it, but I don't stall hardly at all & don't screech the tires much when starting. I'm not ready to drive in the country yet, where the hills are steeper. This is a little bit of an issue since my best friend/sister, her hubby/my bro, & their daughter/my niece live in union county.

I taught sunday school at Linworth last month for the 2nd time. It went much better than the 1st time. I found some music and was much more prepared.

My fish died the last week or so of last quarter. I've only had fish for a year, so I'm new at it and learning from mistakes. If you want to know why they died, ask me. It's kinda gross. I got a male beta, named Principe, which is Spanish for prince. I also got a few bloodfin tetras. 1 of those died.

In school, I'm taking 2 classes. 1 in which I do procedures w/a group of classmates under the supervision and instruction of professors and TA's. So far, I've placed an endotracheal tube in a dog and cat. I placed a urinary catheter in a male dog and cat. On the cat, I also placed an IV catheter, which was much harder. I finally got it in on the 4th or 5th try. That day, I also set up the IV bag. I worked together with my classmates to do physical exams on the dog and cat before putting them under anesthesia. I worked w/my classmates to monitor those patients under anesthesia. We worked w/the dog 1 day and the cat the next. I got to listen to the cat's heart w/the esophageal stethoscope. When a classmate was listening to the dog's heart w/it, Dr. J accidentally pounded on the dog's abdomen, which was very loud in the stethoscope. I was also able to listen to the cat's heart using the doppler. Cat heart rates are really high, meaning they naturally have a fast heart rate. Using the doppler to listen to the heart was the only way I could count the beats. Today (Tues), even though I felt horrible (very weak and tired), I went to class. God surprised me by helping me remember things that I'd reviewed over the weekend that I'd learned over a year ago. My group of classmates took x-rays on a dog today. We did a barium study, where the dog is given barium orally. This test is used out in practice if a pet has a possible foreign body (the pet ingested something it wasn't suppose to). We also took pictures of the dog's knees and shoulder. Both kneecaps (patellas) were luxating (popping in and out of their groove). I was able to feel that and see it on x-ray. I'll put pix on fb of those. I passed an orogastric tube. The school now has an automatic x-ray processor. When I took radiology and clinical applications 1 (I'm now in clinical applications 2) over a year ago, we were taught in lecture about manual and automatic processing, but we practiced manual processing. The school didn't have an automatic processor.

The other class I'm in is urinalysis, where we look at urine under microscopes. We have to provide our own urine. We have to either get some urine from our pets, an animal in the kennel on campus, or get ours. If you would like a free urinalysis, let me know. We examine the urine, then a TA or prof confirms our findings.

Today, (Thurs), I drew blood from dogs & cats. I learned to draw blood from the paw. I should mention that I successfully drew blood on the 1st try from the cephalic vein (front leg) of a cat. That's the same vein that I took forever to place an IV catheter in the other day.I was pleased w/that. I saw some really cool ways to restrain cats. We get graded on specific things that add up to our participation points for the day. I got discouraged earlier when I saw that I didn't do as well as I thought I did in class. This is the 4th lab, I think, & on most of the labs, I didn't do as well as I wanted. Today, God reminded me of something He told me a few days ago. I was overwhelmed w/everything there was to do at home w/dad working a different shift and school. God told me to just do my best & be content w/it. I've been having to remind myself of this the past couple days. My challenge in urinalysis today was learning what glitter cells look like. They're a white blood cell, in which the granules move in such a way that they look like they glitter. I also learned more of differentiating similar looking white blood cells from red blood cells. Of course, Carolyn Parmelee (my tech friend) was right. rbcs are a little smaller than wbcs.

I've been taking the COTA bus to campus some days this qtr. I finally have it figured out!

Things I've learned about God in the past couple weeks

Sermon from church 9/26 Pastor Chris Martin
Mark 12:13-17

• It's the 3rd day of Passion Week (the wk of the crucifixion). In a few days, Jesus will die. The day before Jesus cleared out the temple (Mark 11:12-19).
• If the pharisees could get the Romans mad at Jesus, they'd get rid of Him. This way, the Romans wouldn't be mad at the pharisees. The nationalists, a political party, refused to pay taxes because only God was their King.
• A Revolutionary Question: The pharisees asked Jesus if it was right to pay taxes. They expected Him to say no. If He did, He'd be trapped.
• A Remarkable Answer: Jesus answer reflected the political tension.
  
• Political Simplicity: verse 14 Don't vote by political party, alone. Don't get so wrapped up in political parties that you let go of your political values.
• Political Complacency: Give Caesar some of what he wants, but not all of it.
  
• Political Primacy: People, in general, voted for Obama because he promised that the government would do so much (more than it's suppose to). Regardless of political party, we need to vote for a limited government.
  
• verse 15 a denarius was the day's pay for a blue-collar job. Jesus didn't even have that! He didn't own anything! Would you rather a poor man or a rich man rule?
• Luke 6:20-26 Jesus promotes what the world doesn't want & condemns what the world wants. Luke 6:27 We have so much love from God, that we're able to do this. That's not of the world.

Something I learned from a friend: My friend Sheri, wrote a note on facebook about something she'd learned while reading the Bible. I'm going to summarize it here. To read the note, I posted a link on my facebook profile page. This is from Genesis 3. Before Adam & Eve sinned, they had perfect fellowship w/God. When they sinned, God was so disappointed because He knew that He would no longer have that perfect fellowship with them. He clothed them in leather before sending them out into the world. They had no idea what the world was like. They only knew the perfect world that they'd lived in. God knew what they were going to experience. He didn't want to send them out. It's kind of like when parents send their kids off to school for the 1st time. God would've been very sad that He'd lost that perfect fellowship w/Adam & Eve. How far would He go to get them back? Read John 3:16 for the answer.

Notes from church 10/3 Pastor Mike Faler

• Mark 3:7-19
• Jesus prayed before every major decision. He spent all night praying before appointing the apostles.
• (tangent) John 10:17-18 Jesus willingly died.
• Jesus chose the 12 out of others who followed Him because they sacrificed everything for Him. Those are the ones He gave His authorities to. Matt 10:1
• When we sacrifice for God, we get it back 100x. They may not be in the same way or on earth. Mark 10:30
• Mark 1:35-37, Luke 5:15-16 Jesus was very busy & in demand. Huge crowds w/diseases waited for Him. Most of us don't have dying people waiting for us to heal them. Why do we find it so hard to find time to spend w/God when we're so busy?
  
• My dad has a new job that he works 4 nights/wk. It's really different & hard on all of us. I value my time w/him more now. I'm sacrificing small things to spend time w/him. Why isn't my attitude the same w/God? I pray it will be.
  
• We sang "Arms Open Wide." Some of the lyrics are I am yours. You are mine. It reminds me of how some of us are our daddy's or momma's girl/boy. We're also God's girl/boy.
  

Beth Moore Simulcast

• Prov 31 was originally written in Hebrew as an acrostic poem.
• Prov 31:26 This woman lives by the "Torah (law) of Kindness."
• The Torah is God's instructions in different languages.
• EXHIBIT A- WE LIVE IN A MEAN WORLD & IT'S GOING TO GET MEANER.
• 2 Tim 3 talks about environmental disasters during the "last days," which began at Pentecost. That was the last spiritual thing that happened.
• EXHIBIT B- SHE OPENETH HER MOUTH.
• Women speak more than men.
• After being raised from the dead, Jesus went to women 1st.
• Most women are published, which can be texting, email, etc (anything that can be forwarded to anyone). We need the Holy Spirit to be our editor. "Look before publishing."
• Luke 6:45 Even if you're quiet, you WILL speak. Words are a reflection of our hearts, even for something we don't know is on our hearts.
• POINT 1- KINDNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS. It's strength that takes divine power.
• Luke 6:35 "Then you will be sons of Most High" (NIV). It shows who we belong to.
• If we can't think of someone who's not kind, we're not getting out enough.
• Nice is from Latin. The original meaning is 'ignorant.' You're nice because you don't know.
• Psalm 141:5 Kindness can speak strongly. "Nice is fine, but kind is divine."
• POINT 2- KINDNESS IS NOT AN ACTION. IT'S A DISPOSITION.
• The Old Testament was written in Hebrew & the New Testament was written in Greek.
• The Greek meaning of the word, kind, is profitable, good for any use, (for people) good-natured.
• Being a kind person is to be available to be of any use by God.
• Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. Grace permeates the whole person.
• Because kindness is a disposition from grace, it can't be faked. It must come from the Holy Spirit.
• POINT 3- KINDNESS WEARS DOWN WHEN WE DO.
• Daniel 7:25 NASB or ESV.
• Matt 11:28-30 The word, easy, is Greek for the word, kind. We're not kind because we're worn down. The only yolk we're meant to carry is God's.
• Things that wear us down: 2 Tim 2:24 resentment, Gen 37:4 hatred. Anyone we're capable of hating, we've probably loved.
• When we're worn down, we need to be built up.
• Eph 4:12, 16, 29
• POINT 4- KINDNESS LOOKS PAIN IN THE FACE.
  
• Job 6:28
• POINT 5- KINDNESS IS A SAVIOR.
  
• Titus 3:3-8 In verse 4, the Greek word for the word, appeared, means epiphany.
• Eph 2:4-10 It's a sin to try to be someone's savior. It wears us out because we're not suppose to be the savior.
• POINT 6- KINDNESS HAS GOOD MEMORY.
• Hosea 11:4
• POINT 7- KINDNESS CRAVES AN OUTLET.
• 2 Samuel 9:1
• "I don't want women to take men's places. I want them to take their own."- Beth Moore
• POINT 8- KINDNESS LEAVES A LEGACY.
• 83% of people on the island of Malta give to charity (from a newspaper that Beth shared). Acts 28:1-2 In chapter 27, Paul, along with other prisoners sailed to Italy. They were sailing in the Mediterranean Sean when a Nor'easter storm came. The ship was going to sink so they all got out of the ship & landed on the island of Malta.
  

I finished the quarter w/A's in both of my classes, 1 being hematology! Praise God!

Oro was neutered a week or so ago. He's recovered & doing well. For a couple days, we had him roaming the house (not the basement) during the day & separated at night. We had the bedroom doors closed, too, so none of the cats could run in a room to escape. For part of last night, Pumpkin & Oro were in my parents' room last night. Oro & Maggie have been sleeping on opposite ends of my bed for maybe an hr now. I think we're going to let him roam the house tonight, keeping the basement door closed. He did go down there once without anyone knowing. lol

The Church that Built Me

Linworth Road Church, where I go, just sent a new church plant to the Short North, an are of Columbus, Ohio. A church plant is a new church. For some reason, it made me think about how the church has helped me grow, spiritually. I just think this is so cool! Here are some ways that the church has invested in me. I'm sure there are many more that I can't think of & many more people who've done something I can't think of. I'm not going to even try to think of all the ways that my parents have taught me things. That would probably be a never-ending list! It's cool how, throughout my life, my parents & the church worked together to raise me to be a godly woman.

I remember, as a kid, crawling under the pews, waiting for mom in choir practice.

I had my 1st (unofficial) mentor in middle school, Joanna Bryden (Ribbens). I remember going into an empty sunday school room & praying with her.

I was anointed for the 1st time in high school. I'd never experienced anything like it before, so it kind of scared me, in a way. My mom was using Pastor Chris Old's computer in his office, so I ran to her.

I remember 1 time, my mom & I were at the edge (hs youth group) for a parent thing for the high school students (my bro was there). It was in the old youth room. That's the 1st time I remember mom explaining to me why people raise their hands in worship.

Dad was in charge of the lighting. A few times, I helped with the manual spotlight before we got ones that hang from the ceiling.

I was at the ground-breaking of the new wing of the church.

I was in a co-op there, Linworth Road Academy, when I was homeschooled.

My parents baptized me there when I was 12.

Chris Old has a gift of mercy and helped me through a lot of hard times in high school. He helped me start to develop my gift of mercy.

Not knowing it, Melody Marshall (Bryden), encouraged me to be more expressive in worship by raising my hands. She did that ALL the time! I remember I thought she was cool and wanted to do that. I prayed and started doing it.

The worship band (Kimball, Christine, Chris Homan, Micah Powers) that taught me to worship expressively, lead me in worship through high school, till now, when they just left on the church plant.

Krista bryden encouraged me with hard things that I went through in high school.

Lance Foulis, Krista Bryden, & Chris O. encouraged me by complimenting me on my poetry a lot.

In high school, I met Annie Scott, who I'm still friends w/.

Lance was like a bro to me when I was in high school.

Lindz Hearon & Bonnie Buckeye were my good friends in high school. Lindz & I use to "dance" to "How Great Thou Art."

In early high school, I was in a small group led by Kelly Faler & Sandy Benton. One of them encouraged us girls to write down at least 3 things every day that we're thankful for. The leader got the idea from Roz Short, I think. I had a hard time keeping up w/that for years. Now, I do it pretty consistently.

Casey Clemente was just an encouraging woman of God.

By setting examples, Tom Short & my mom taught me to be bold in ministering to people.

At LT, a conference, I learned & practiced confrontational evangelism & heard God speak to me for the 1st time. That was my 1st time away from home for a week at a time. It was also my 1st time seeing the ocean, which inspired a poem about it.

One time at the edge, Kimball encouraged the high school students to evangelize after he did a sermon on it. The following day, I led a friend, Ting, to Christ. I'd been witnessing to her for a while. A couple years later, I baptized her. We served together in the children's ministry for a yr.

Dale reinforced a couple of manners in me while I was in high school. The leaders of Linworth have always encouraged attendees to have regular quiet times w/God. I think I was in middle school when Dale encouraged us to do so. For some reason, that convinced me to do that. Since, I try to have regular quiet times w/God. I try to do it daily, but I'm not perfect.

One day, I was going through something. I went to the edge, tried to hide my emotions, but Julz Whittenburg (Spain) saw past my attempted mask & we talked for a while.

In high school, we met a few times a yr w/the youth groups of our sister churches in & around cbus to worship together. That was always very encouraging.

I got to know my former mentor, Amy Buchan, at the edge.

Chris Old helped me to lead Britt to Christ. I'd been witnessing to her off & on for about 10 yrs. He encouraged me in my ability to witness.

Nate Clemente encouraged me in my ability to speak Spanish in college.

In college, I was in Becca & Romy's huge small group. It was the best I'd been in. Becca confronted me 1 time about talking too much & not letting others talk (someone had to! lol). That taught me leadership skills.

I went on an encouraging camping trip with Alive.

Through talking to Chris Old & having my 1st boyfriend, who I met there, and making mistakes in our short dating relationship, I believe in a much healthier method of dating. Chris helped me a lot through the break up.

I grew a lot spiritually & in my prayer life when I changed from Alive, the college group, to Becoming, the young adult group. Alive was going through leadership transition & I was ready for a change. I experienced even more community in the new small group. I learned the hard way to be even more transparent with my small group than usual. I got to know Faith, who's the best mentor I've had. I've built a good friendship with Sherrie, who I met there.

In middle school, I assisted in sunday school. I now teach the pre-school sunday school.

At the Good Friday service in '10, I called God, Daddy, for the 1st time without thinking about it.

I have friendships with some older (not that old, just older than me) women: Kay Sales, Susan Stetz, Erin Hendricks, Jan Price, Cathy Klouda, Janet Homan, Sue Clemente, Marcie Old, Lucy Shade, & Dotty Young. Many young women my age don't have that.

David Root was a leader in the middle school group when I was in it. Now, we're in the same small group.

Mike Alm use to help in the edge in my early yrs in high school. I now teach his daughter, Mykenna.

I was in the Honz Bronson (musical) choir as a kid. I've been in the annual Christmas choir for a couple years.

A few of my peers are now missionaries in America & Khazakstan.

I'm very close to the Donahues & Stifflers. Dad was roomies with Uncle Tim & Uncle Dave in college. Our families have been family ever since. They're closer to me than my biological family.

I feel so blessed to have grown up at Linworth & now be able to give back to it by serving.

Teaching Sunday School

I taught preschool sunday school at Quest Community Church & loved it. I was really able to call that class my own. I remember being encouraged by the kids' growth & learning things I taught them. When I got in the children's ministry at Linworth, I wasn't sure I'd have time to teach & that position was filled. I waited for about a yr for an opening, while helping in the 1s/2s. I didn't particularly love it, but it was ok. God is so good. This position didn't open until my school decreased from full time to part time so that I have time. I'm a little rusty, but I look forward to improving & being able to call it my own class, watch the kids grow, learn, & learn with them.

Before teaching, I'd helped so I could see how the class was run & how to teach it. When preparing for my 1st time teaching today, I spent a little over an hour planning it. I only planned for the activities that I'd seen the kids do & an extra activity which involved puppetry, which the other teacher wishes she could remember to do. I looked forward to getting back into puppetry as I did that at Grace Point Community Church.

During class today, at 10:30, I saw that the parents could come anytime between then and 10:45, the latest that the service usually gets out. We were just finishing up the last activity. I thought they could play for that extra time. Well, the service ran even later, until 5 till 11, 10 extra minutes. I really didn't want the kids to play the whole time, although it wouldn't have hurt. I wanted to do something more meaningful. I also noticed it was too quiet. The kids were being kids, but there wasn't any background noise, which I need. I looked for a CD, but there wasn't 1 that only had music on it. I'll have to look for it later. That's 1 thing I used a lot at Quest. I always had the CD player on except for during the lesson & prayer. The kids are use to singing a Bible song as they pass the Bible around. The kid who has it when the song stops takes it to the teacher. I know the chorus, but not the verses. I thought my helper might know more. She didn't. We thought the kids could help. They didn't. This is a different song than is in the lesson book. It's an older 1 that another teacher taught everyone. I need to get the words to that song. During clean up time, I missed the "Everybody Clean up" song that I use to play. I played the clean up song on the only CD that I found. Neither my assistant or I knew that version. I taught the kids that when they get too noisy, I'll clap and they have to repeat it. It worked! Next, I need to implement the only-talk-when-you-have-the-ball thing. So, for next month, the next time I teach, I'm going to have to plan for some extra activities in case we have time.

I learned several days ago that just because a cat's in the room, it doesn't mean he sees all the other pets in that room. Pumpkin had been in the living room almost every time We took Oro out there. I decided to Pumpkin Oro by carrying her over to him & making her look at him. Boy, she was even more mad than Maggie! I'd also never seen Oro mad. Apparently, he hadn't seen her much. I forgot that he'd seen Maggie through the window before he came inside. I don't know how we're going to introduce him to Cuddles since she doesn't like to be picked up. Maggie goes back & forth between being ok with Oro & being mad. By ok, I mean not mad, but she doesn't like him.

I forget if I mentioned in my previous post that Oro's not neutered yet. My parents learned & taught me that if we pet Oro a lot, he'll stop his loud meowing in the middle of the night!

It's been about a month since I put the soft paws of Oro. They're starting to fall off, like they're suppose to.

I'm still getting use to how blogger works. The description for this pic is at the bottom.



Maggie is now fine w/Oro in the living room. It's only when he's in her room (my room) that she has a problem. My vet said part of Maggie's problem w/Oro might be that he's not neutered. Even though she's spayed, she might sense his hormones. My vet said she might improve when Oro's neutered. He's getting neutered Thurs. We're really looking forward to that because now, he meows very loudly at night. He was alternating rooms, but he has to stay in my parents' room at night now so that I can sleep. We think his meowing is because he needs to mate. Also, he doesn't like to be alone. When in my parents' room & their not in there, he sometimes meows even more.

We've known that he's longer than any other cat we've seen, so I measured him and compared it to Pumpkin. He's 19 inches long. She's 17 inches.

Oro on the windowsill, showing how long he is.

Maggie's progress

Yesterday, Maggie didn't hiss and her ears were erect (like they are when she's happy or in a neutral mood) when mom held Oro in the living room. She only hissed when she saw him in her room (mine). We're making progress!

Oro likes a toy

Last night, Maggie was able to be in my room. Oro was in my parents' room. Maggie was back to her normal self, not desperately wanting out of my room. She thoroughly enjoyed being able to go in & out of my room & has enjoyed it today.

She still smells him.




She smells him. Her tail's up. She's mad.

She's starting to smell him on the yarn. He played w/it 1st. I'm not sure if she's wagging her tail b/c she's playing or b/c she's mad.



As much as Maggie hates Oro, she has something in common w/him. the only toy they both like is yarn.


He stole the yarn from me.

So he prefers it to be dangled.


I don't think he knows to chase it.









He likes it!

I'm not sure why blogger rotated these. When I downloaded them, they were vertical. Last night, I introduced Oro to a new toy, the good, old fashioned yarn! The yarn in these pix is the color of the carpet, so it's hard to see. Here, he's checking it out, not sure what it is.

Middle of wk 2 of Oro being in the house

I'm writing often because if I don't, I'll forget what I want to write by the time I get to it. A couple nights ago, dad said that when Polly was in my parents' room w/Oro, Polly laid next to the side of the bed, nose facing the corner. Oro laid next to the other side of the bed, also, nose facing the same corner that Polly's nose was facing. They stayed that way for a while.

We tried having Oro in my parents room for 2 nights/days at a time. That didn't work. Pumpkin wanted in the room and got upset. We're back to every other day/night.

For the past couple of days, mom's been holding Oro in the living room while I hold Maggie so she'll face him for 5 mins. 1/2 the time when I look and call for her when I just want to give her attention, she doesn't come. I looked for her more today and found her under our chair in the living room with the skirt. I think since she doesn't know when Oro will be out, she hides from him under there!

I introduced Oro to the brush for his fur. He's not a fan.