End of an Era

     This week, I was able to visit my very first "real" job to wish my former supervisor a happy retirement! I also was able to see some of my former coworkers/friends that still work there. I suddenly remembered all the memories I made working there. My job was at a local bank in the Imaging Department that I got about two weeks before I graduated from high school. The Imaging Department processes all the checks from all the local branches. We sorted the checks, scanned them, keyed the amounts, keyed the routing and account numbers, and finally balanced everything. I started out working part-time but soon was offered a 32 hour position. With this I was able to get paid vacation and insurance! I worked my first two years in town and was able to go to a community college. My mom encouraged me to save as much money as I could to put towards my four year college. So that is what I did! I was able to transfer my job to the Imaging Department in that city. I worked there for three years and was able to pay for my college and other living expenses with this job. God really provided for me with this job even though it was difficult at times to balance college and work. I was able to pay for my education without taking out loans until I went to graduate school. I learned the value of hard work plus I also was able to work with many fun, interesting people along the way. Anyway, it seems like the end of an era so to speak because I found out that the place I worked during my time at the university is now closed. :( It seems unreal that we processed so much work there and now with new technology and procedures it is no longer needed. It was the perfect job for a college student and I made tons of memories during my 5 years there.

Wishing Ms. Linda a happy retirement!

Because I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself....

"Real faith isn’t a hopeful wish. Real faith is making the 

decision that no matter the outcome, we’ll choose to see it as 

God’s perfect answer.

Through the good. Through the not so good. And even 

through the down right awful- we will trust God. Now this 

doesn’t mean we won’t cry and express hurt. But it does 

mean we’ve decided it’s better to have lived trying to take

leaps of faith with God, than to walk away from Him." ~ Lysa 

TerKeurst

SO TRUE!!!!!

Family Tree and "Jewells" of Names

     About a year ago, my Aunt Dianne asked me to redraw a family tree for the annual family reunion. This reunion is on my dad's mother's side of the family. I think I have been once, right after I graduated from high school. I really don't know very many of the people that attend simply because they are such distant relatives. Nevertheless, I felt I should attempt to draw this family tree. Let me just say, it is a huge family! My grandmother was one of nine children! And she alone had seven children, so you can imagine how big and complicated this tree is. There are roughly 281 names on it. Whoa! Something interesting I discovered is that my great-grandmother got married when she was 14 years old!!! She had her first child at age 15 and her last one at age 33. I could not even imagine. Here I am 29 years old and single as ever, lol! What a different life it must have been 100 years ago. My own grandmother got married at age 25, which I find interesting because I thought most people got married really young back then. I never met my biological grandfather, but have seen pictures of him. He was a handsome fella! I would have loved to hear how they met and fell in love. 

The top is the original; the bottom is my version-couldn't resist putting a swing on the tree and a bird nest in the tree! :)

     Anyone who really knows me well, knows that I have an obsession interest in names. :) I just love to discover unique or interesting names. As I was working on this project, I discovered some "Jewells" of names. Jewell was one of my dad's uncles. I like the name Jewel, but have to say I definitely picture it more on a girl this day in age. Other interesting names that caught my eye:

Shelby-the patriarch of the family

Lula-matriarch of the family

Estelle

Ruth-had to include this as it is my grandmother!

Vanessa

Millie-love this name!

Genell-yet another lovely

Royal-how cool

Delphine-loving this for some reason

Ophelia

Dorinda (Dorie)

Mariela-very pretty

Pearlie-believe it or not, this was a man!

There were lots and lots of the following as first and middle names:

Lloyd

Elzey

Shelby

Jewell

Elma

Letting Go and Letting God

Quotes from my daily email devotion this morning: 

"Throughout the pages of His Word, you're going to see the hidden hand of God...working in mysterious ways, in inexplicable ways. God is in the shadows arranging things, moving things people cannot see. That may be true in your life right now. God is working, but you cannot see Him working.We do not live by explanations. Life is not a problem to be solved; it is a mystery to be lived. Sometimes we must back off and simply see what I call the hidden hand of God. Just because today you cannot see the hand of God working doesn't mean God is not working."

~ The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalm 138:8

~ I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]! Psalm 57:2 

Jesus knows my heart and how I've tried to do what I believe He has been leading me to do. I've cried out to Him over and over and over. I pray with all my heart that He accomplishes His purposes and that He is working things out even though I can't see what He is doing. Even if He doesn't, He is good! Even though I may never fully understand His very mysterious ways, knowing Him is worth it. There is no way I could ever know Him enough!

What Are You Doing This Summer???

     Several people have asked me what I'm doing this summer. I usually respond vaguely simply because I don't really have any big, exciting plans. No trips to the beach or Disney World, lol. Although, I would totally love to be able to do those things! My plan is simply to relax and enjoy myself. Take it easy. Why, not right? Why not enjoy these single days and do whatever I want, when I want, ha! Kid-free + man-free = stress-free :) So, I think my summer will look a little like this:

Sleeping late

Laying by the pool

Going to the gym

Taking naps

Visiting family

Visiting friends

Watching movies

Reading books

Working on my quilt

Crafting

May seem kind of dull, but I plan to enjoy every bit of it! There are no rules on how to spend my days this summer and that is the best part. Hopefully I will be refreshed and renewed and ready for a great year of speech therapy in August! So, tell me, what are YOU doing this summer???

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

 Singing this hymn as a prayer this afternoon:

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!

Thou art the potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me after thy will,

while I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!

Search me and try me, Savior today!

Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now,

as in thy presence humbly I bow.

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!

Wounded and weary, help me I pray!

Power all power, surely is thine!

Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!

Hold o'er my being absolute sway.

Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see

Christ only, always, living in me!

The 10k!

     This past weekend, my friend and former roommate from college, Amber, came into town for a race. She has really gotten into running and I am still trying to run, ha! So, with some hesitation, I registered to do the 10k too. I knew there was no way I could run the entire course. I would mostly be walking with a little jogging mixed in. I was nervous that I would be the only one out there doing that. But, I wasn't! There were all types of people out there---young and old, short and tall, expert runners and novice runners. Some were strictly walking. The course went through a fun, vibrant neighborhood where many people were gathered in front of their houses cheering us on. How awesome is that?! About halfway through, my foot was extremely sore, but I kept pushing myself. My goal was to finish. And finish I did!!! My time was 1:36:21. Certainly not fast, but for me it was good. It was a great feeling! Amber was waiting on me at the finish line. She finished about 30 minutes ahead of me. We felt so accomplished! After the race, we got lunch and then crashed for a couple of hours before going to a movie. It was a fun weekend, and I'm glad Amber had the idea to do this race!

Let's do this!

6.2 miles completed!

Rested up and ready for more fun :)