In the summer of 2003, I was a summer missionary in Pennsylvania again. My “Pennsylvania family” wanted to take me somewhere, and the previous summer we had already exhausted the major cities (and 11 states)…so I decided that I wanted to go to Pittsburgh (one guess why…you guessed it! Heinz Ketchup!). My “Pennsylvania Dad” and I love maps, so we sat down and mapped out our road trip.

We decided to hit Punxsutawney on the way, as it is the home of the famous “Punxsutawney Phil”. The night before our trip, we watched “Groundhog Day” in preparation for the trip. We were disappointed to find that the movie is actually not filmed there, but we got over it. 🙂

[In this album] are pictures from beautiful Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Happy Groundhog Day!

It’s been awhile since I have posted a substantive update, so here we go!

Life is really going well…not perfect, but when is it ever perfect? I have been so richly blessed by friends lately–and I know that they are helping me to grow in the Lord…

I have my third interview tomorrow for a management position (two more left, possibly!)…and I feel prepared and (mostly) confident. I have learned that it is so much better to go through life trusting in the Lord and His Will! I am not worried at all about this interview process because I know that He (and He alone) is in control, and there’s no point in worrying!

I’m still adjusting to my hair–and it’s been harder than I expected. I have resorted to wearing it up almost every day so that I don’t have to worry about doing anything with it. 🙂 In a couple of months it will be all better! LOL…

I am still pondering whether or not I should pursue an MBA…since my company will pay for my education, I know that it would be wise to pursue the degree, I just don’t know if I am ready to go back to school…we’ll see…:)

Totally tripped going down the stairs today at work–thankfully no one was around to see it! I landed on my knees, so they are pretty sore, and a little bruised. It could have been much worse!

2006 was tough year for me, especially spiritually…but now I have come to the point where the Lord is allowing me to see the fruit and the growth from all of those trials/lessons…and I love being in this place! I have learned so much in this past year, and I am still processing it all…but I know more than ever why we go through “valleys” in our spiritual walks–so that we can experience the view from the mountain top.

NASCAR season begins again on February 18th! WOO HOO! My family and I are going to a race the last weekend in February, and it is going to be awesome. I can’t wait! I LOVE NASCAR! 🙂 Casey Mears is number #25 this year, racing with one of the best teams in NASCAR. My other favorite driver, Ricky Rudd, is returning to NASCAR this year after a year off, and I am SO excited! I have been a Ricky Rudd fan since I was very young, and I am so excited that he is coming back. So fun!

Well, that’s about all that is going on in my life…I’ll keep you posted on the interviews!

Ananda and I just saw “Babel” (thanks to free movie tickets I won a few weeks ago)…it was phenomenal. I expected it to be good, but I was blown away!

It reminded me a lot of “Crash” in many ways, and I loved that movie as well. Both have really amazing lessons woven throughout, and you are left thinking about so many different things…both focus on several different cultures and their interactions…

I highly recommend seeing “Babel”… I still have much to ponder from that film…

It’s been an incredibly busy two weeks!! Quick update…

First of all, my Aunt now has a blog: http://raindropdrive.blogspot.com
You should definitely check it out!

Tomorrow is going to be a great day for two reasons:
1–my Dad’s birthday! Happy birthday, Dad! 🙂
2–Season 6 of “24” premieres tomorrow night!! Jack Bauer is back!

Things at work are progressing nicely…I had my first interview this past week for a management position…and I was “passed on” for the second interview! YAY!! That interview will most likely take place on Tuesday…and if that goes well, I will potentially have three more interviews this week, because they want the position filled by the 29th. Praise God that I have even been able to get this far–especially considering that I’ve only been at ADP for 11 months! 🙂 He is so good to us! Please pray that if this is His timing and His Will, that it would be done. Management would be SOOOO awesome! 🙂

It is currently 32 degrees here in Glendora, which means that it is going to be below freezing tonight…I’m a bit concerned about my rabbit–because he’s a SoCal bunny and hasn’t been this cold yet…but he has been growing more fur lately, so I’m sure he’ll be fine.

Other than that, life is just crazy busy…and I’m loving every minute. 🙂

As some of you know, I am pursuing a management position within my company, and there is a slight chance that this could happen as early as January. Things have been progressing well! I feel as if I am a candidate, and I have chosen a “staff” for support and guidance…I have been networking, making myself known, etc. so that when the position is open, I stand out as an ideal candidate. I know that I have the support of a vast majority of the current leaders (and have arranged meetings to gain the support of those who don’t yet know me), including my director.

However, there is always an “October Surprise”–or in this case a “November Surprise.” It’s not completely damaging, but it has happened. A rumor was spread about me…and people were saying that I had been spreading gossip about two specific leaders–which is entirely untrue…and one of the two leaders involved is very upset (even though it’s not true), and told me today that she doesn’t know if she can trust me/support me.

It always happens…someone who is honest, does the right thing, always gets something like this! Something totally untrue, something out of character…at least it seems that it is only this one leader who is holding it against me–even though I humbly brought it up and apologized this afternoon.

Life is full of surprises…but this isn’t a welcomed one. Sometimes I really dislike politics…but I trust that the Lord is in charge, and I know that if He wants me to be a member of management, it will happen, regardless of this leader’s opinion. 🙂

I just have to continue to do the right thing…

Heard this song on the radio yesterday, and LOVED the words…by a new band called DecembeRadio”. Lyrics copied directly from their site…

Drifter

I used to have a home
a place i started from
a place to call my own
bright lights and late nights
the devil took me on a midnight ride
left me out in the desert on my own

Now I feel alone
i need a hand to help me find my way back home

I’m a drifter out on a dead end road
trying to find my way back home to get to you, oh to get to you
lord i’ve been gone for far too long headed to places i don’t belong
and i’ve got to get back home to you

sometimes i think about the past
the road that i was on
the one that lead me home
i’ll walk on another day
i may wonder but i never stray
cause i found out the hard way sin don’t pay

Now I feel alone
i need a hand to help me find my way back home

I’m a drifter out on a dead end road
trying to find my way back home to get to you, oh to get to you
lord i’ve been gone for far too long headed to places i don’t belong
and i’ve got to get back home to you

and when i feel the night is closing in
and i can barely breathe the air
i just remember that i’ve got a friend
who really cares
oh who really cares

I’m a drifter out on a dead end road
trying to find my way back home to get to you, oh to get to you
lord i’ve been gone for far too long headed to places i don’t belong
and i’ve got to get back home to you

On Tuesday, it will be exactly three years since I began this blog…

When I wrote my first entry, I was finishing my semester in Washington, D.C. I can’t believe it was that long ago!

This blog has been such an outlet, and I plan to continue to utilize it for as long as possible! 🙂

Happy Blogoversary! 🙂