Celebrity Apprentice

So, did anyone watch this show? Lord knows I had better things to do, like watch the Hokies game or gouge out my eyes with toothpicks, but alas, Donald Trump's witty and marketable "You're Fired!" drew me in with a vengeance during the last 10 minutes of the show. Granted, the Hokies were losing and it was a less than desirable half-time line up, and I truly didn't want to miss the overly dramatic, unrealistic, all-new hospital show that makes it so hard for me to explain to parents why they can't come into the trauma room and hold their child's hand as we are trying to save his or her life... wow, I digress... so I chose to watch the boardroom dramatics. I felt like a kid at Christmas when I saw my old favorite drama-queen Omarosa! But it got better. Did anyone hear the Donald talk to Tiffany about Hugh Hefner? I could just see him crossing his little fingers and looking into the camera with big puppy eyes, saying, "Please be my BFF, Hugh Hefner!" Truth be told, I love watching the Donald yell at washed up, has been, "celebrities." But Donald, have some pride!

As Promised, Sean

I am the worst blogger ever. I can't believe I haven't posted in two months. I've been busy though, like really, really busy! But one event has changed my life and I needed to post about it. The event is... MJFC. That's right, MJFC. And do you know who brought this into my life? Sean Collins. Sean Collins is the coolest guy in the world (you know, after Tim). Ladies, he's taken, so don't get any ideas. His girlfriend is awesome too, but this post is about Sean. Sean is an art teacher, and like most art teachers, is very eclectic. He likes wooden cakes, flammable paint, 50 year pins, designing logos, getting volunteered by girls he's not even dating to do stuff and hanging out with 6th and 7th graders. In fact, if you looked at a profile description of Sean, I think this is exactly what it would say.

Seriously, my husband and I went to dinner with Sean and his girlfriend, Lindsey the other day. I laughed so hard, the next day my stomach ached like I had done 1000 crunches.

So if you are looking for a good time, call......

Sean, is this good enough for you? LOL!

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Sunday, we paused in silence for the troops. There are so many who have died and who continue to die in this war. I thought of Jason. I had to fight back the tears remembering his sacrifice and wishing it was one that did not have to be made.

Sunday was bittersweet for another reason; it was our last Sunday at Arbor. I start my new position as the Director of Youth Ministries on Thursday, June 1, so we had to say goodbye to everyone. Tim and I both cried, along with others at the church. It's so hard to leave a family. It's almost like going to college. You are excited to spread your wings and you know you will see those you love and call family again, but when you are all alone in your dorm, it hits you that things will never be the same, that you have turned the page on that chapter of life called childhood. I know I will see my Arbor family again and that they will always be there for me, but we have been through an awful lot together and it's hard to move on from that. One of my friends from Arbor, Laurie, told me, "God gave you wings, you have to use them." I'm very excited about what God is doing in mine and Tim's life and this new opportunity at Providence. I think it will be good for us to branch out in ministry. But, it's still hard. We learned so much at Arbor and from Arbor. We'll miss it.

This week will be interesting. Tomorrow, one of my best friends is leaving for the summer. We said our goodbyes on Friday, but I imagine I'll still be sad tomorrow. It's hard when you get so close to someone to be away from them for long times. I'll never forget when my high school best friend, Shanee, moved to Korea! That was so hard; we couldn't even call each other! I don't get very close to many people, so it's harder on me when I have to say goodbye, even if it's only a short time. We will certainly talk this summer, but I won't be able to call my friend and go get Mexican food and Rita's any day of the week just to get out of the house and spend time goofing off and laughing for hours. You can't convey sarcasm as easily over the phone or in email.

As for the rest of the week, I am meeting two friends on Wednesday and starting a job on Thursday, so that should keep me busy. I'm so excited to actually get paid on a regular basis and a normal salary instead of guessing what my paycheck will be from the hospital. It feels like life is getting back to normal from my year off work and in school full time. I just hope I'll be able to juggle both school and a job in the fall and spring and then the fall again before I graduate in May 2009.

This is a long blog, so I'll save the "future plans" post for later, but I do have them.

Praying tonight for: all my youth (Arbor past and present and the new ones at Providence), my neighbors Carolyn and Cary, (Carloyn's mother has or will soon pass), my husband, my family, my friend leaving for the summer, Hannah Beth (she lost her best friend in a car accident a month ago), Sky (Jason's wife) and all the troops and their families, and the government

Recent Events

So did anyone see The Office last night? One of the guys gave another guy a fake blog so his thoughts wouldn't be posted on the Internet. Perhaps I should be typing in Word as well...

Today I went to Arlington National Cemetery for Jason Arnette's formal military funeral. It was very well done. They gave his wife and his mother each a set of medals and the flag. It was nice they did that. Taps always makes me tear up and today was no different. The officers were all very polite and sensitive to the needs of the family. The whole thing made me think about military service myself. My mom and husband are firmly against me joining.

I'm on call tonight, so I should not blog longer, need to rest in case they call me in. Oh and I take the GRE tomorrow afternoon, so I should rest for that too. I am way overbooked this weekend.

Nothing Special

Whoa this has been a boring day. I suppose I should be motivated to get out of the house and go to the gym or something like that.

I think after the Wilderness Retreat, I have been unmotivated to get back to doing the mundane. I find some spiritual solace in doing those basic things, but feel more compelled to rest lately. I forget how fast time goes by. It feels like yesterday that I was quitting my job and starting CPE and now I'm technically done with all my required seminary classes and just have to finish the M.S. degree requirements before I can graduate. And two years is not a long time from now.

I was thinking about the summer and how quickly it has come! I'm glad because I love summer, but there is less to keep me occupied since school is out. Of course, that's a good thing, but I work better when I have more to do, under pressure. Plus, other people have all kinds of things to do, you know, real, full time jobs that consume their time. I'm not complaining about my excess time, just that I have to spend it by myself! I need to find other friends with part time jobs who are not leaving for the summer!

I suppose worse things could be happening. I'm so thankful for all the blessings in my life, I should have nothing to complain about. It's the blog's fault. Blame the blog.

Soooo, my social calendar will be completely free in about two weeks, thanks to my very good friend leaving for the summer (though I was promised phone calls). If anyone wants to hang out, let me know! I'd love to get out of the house for something fun :)

First Blog!

I totally don't know why I have started a blog, as if there were something interesting enough for me to chronicle and others to read. I suppose I will use this space as a sounding board for events in life, starting with this summer. I just got a job as a youth director and am psyched to be on staff at a church. I love my home church, and I stayed for a long time, but after I turned down the residency at VCU, I have to start making some money. It was either get a job or tour the country in my Corolla, and while it sounds like a great thing to do, I'd miss my husband and puppies. So job it is. I start June 1.

Hopefully things in my life will be interesting enough to write about. I'm sure I can think of something to say. Just don't be surprised if I suddenly post some paper I had to write for school :)