Thanks to my amazing parents, I spent the day at Disney’s California Adventure, with my friend Cindy, her mother-in-law Donna, and her sister-in-law, Paula. It was such a great time!

Below are pictures of the bluegrass band, Cindy and I, and Cindy, Paula and I…

Great day!

…until I start my new job!! 🙂

It’s going to be a great weekend! Especially weather wise…

Today I’m having lunch with my mentor, as it has been awhile since we’ve talked. Tonight I’ll be hanging out with Sara, which is always a joy. 🙂

Since my roommate will be gone this weekend, I think I should throw a wild party…LOL, Whatever. ‘Cause I even know what a wild party would be like?! No, it will be a quiet weekend, not sure what else will be involved…

In other news, to aid my “get out of debt” effort, I cut my credit cards today. Now, all I can do is pay them online…let’s hope this helps!

Have a great Friday, everyone!

Today is Groundhog Day–which is also a great movie.

When I was in Pennsylvania my second summer, one of the places that I got to visit was Pittsburgh. We made a day of it, and on the way we stopped in Punxsutawney. The night before our trip, we watched “Groundhog Day”, hoping to see the same scenery and places as the movie–because it just “had to be” filmed on location! 🙂

Nope, not the case. They didn’t film any of it there, at least that we saw. Cheyenne (my “sister”)and I were disappointed, but it was a great trip, nonetheless! Cute little town, strange celebration each year. We saw Punxsutawney Phil and his wife at their home in the public library (yes, that’s really where they live!), as well as “Gobbler’s Knob”–which is not in the middle of town, as the movie will make you believe. 🙂

We were able to see Central PA at its finest, ending with many hours in Pittsburgh. Our first stop was the Heinz Museum, as that was my true reason for traveling there in the first place (the Factory doesn’t offer tours, sad!).

Anyway, below are some pictures from Punxsutawney. This was almost three years ago!

Please pray for Heatherly’s sweet baby, Talia…

It occurred to me this afternoon, as I was refreshing my knowledge of the Arabic alphabet (LOL, I know the first two letters really well, and 9 others semi-well…it’s coming along!), that the next few months are going to be very difficult.

I’ve been bored beyond belief for the past couple of weeks, but now I realize that I need to truly treasure these times.

Starting next Monday, I will have a “real job” in the “real world.” This job will be challenging, will demand quite a bit of overtime each week (which I don’t mind pay-wise!), and will be a completely new experience for me.

In about a month, I will begin studying Arabic, and I am not anticipating that it will be a walk in the park by any means.

It’s going to be tough, tackling both of these things at the same time…but I am ready to be stimulated and challenged.

I realized that this Thursday is the first Thursday of the month, meaning that the Huntington Library and Gardens have free admission. I think I’m going to take my camera and my journal and go enjoy the beauty. It will give me something to do, and will be one of my last days of “freedom” for a long time.

I am up for the challenges that lie ahead, and I am so thankful that the Lord has given me this time to prepare to face them! 🙂

This is scary! Make sure that you’re prepared!

This weekend was really good–even though not much happened! Last night, I had a bunch of friends over for homemade ice cream (two kinds), brownies, and fellowship. It was really fun! Saturday was mainly spent with Mindi, grocery shopping, etc. It’s always great to spend time with her!

Had some “drama” with my rabbit this weekend. I forgot that with rabbits you have to slowly incorporate any new food in with what they are used to. Casey’s food ran out, so I went and got much BETTER stuff than I had been feeding him–like, gourmet food for rabbits, totally awesome stuff. Well, he didn’t eat for over two days. And it really worried me! I think he’s over it now, because he’s been eating a little bit, but I was really frustrated with him. If there’s food, he should eat! 🙂

This morning I registered and paid for my Arabic class…which starts in about a month. Yikes! 🙂 I’m pretty sure that it’s going to be the hardest class I’ve ever taken, but that will be good for me.

I start my job in one week! 🙂 I am really looking forward to it, and I hope that I don’t go nuts this week while I’m doing nothing…

Anyway, life is going incredibly well. I’ve been to the bottom of the spiritual valley that I’ve been walking through for nearly two years, and I’m slowly climbing up to the foothills. It is seriously incredible to watch the Lord work!

Have a great day!

Yes, I blog a lot still, but I don’t do it like I used to.

I was just re-reading some posts from February of 2004, and I was amazed at how much I had to say back then! I loved blogging, sharing my thoughts with my friends, family, and essentially the world–as anyone can read my blog if they stumble across it…

But, the past few months I have been so empty, so dry, so in need of renewal…and it shows not only on my blog, but in my journal. I can always tell when I’ve been going through tough times because there are gaps in my journal. I used to LOVE journaling, and it used to be something that I was known for. However, in the past year I have gone through only one journal, as compared to one every 6 weeks like it used to be…

Life is getting better–amazingly so! So, I am really hoping to blog like I used to. When I read blogs like Melissa’s, or Heather’s, or so many others, I realize that I want to be like that again. I want to be open and honest with everyone, because I have nothing to hide.

It’s going to be a great year. Tonight, I officially began (in my mind) to reconcile a friendship that has been severed for almost two years now…and it feels great. My heart is finally ready to heal, to forgive, and to be forgiven. The Lord has brought to mind a few other names of friends with whom I need to speak, but that will come in time. I have a job and I am so excited to begin this opportunity! I have so wanted to work in a secular environment, as I live in a “Christian Bubble” and have little to no contact with non-Christians. I am also excited about non-work related possibilities that exist at ADP. 😉 I can’t wait to start Arabic classes–though I am not unrealistic about the difficulty of the subject. I’m mentally prepared to be kicked in the butt each and every class session! I cannot wait to see all that the Lord does, now that I am once again completely surrendered to Him…

Just some thoughts…I think I am going to journal now…