"See ya Tomorrow"

Hey friends and family!

This is the beginning of an 8 day stretch that I am to be going NON stop. haha, so I thought i'd sneak in a blog to tie you over in case I don't get a chance to blog until next week!!

This weekend has been really awesome so far.

Last night I drove down to Palmyra (that's right, I've got NEW WHEELS. pictured at right...lol.) and went to see Harry Potter with Bethany. It was SO fun. lol. It took my an hour to get there!! There was traffic because of a concert going on Hershey Park, I literally traveled 20 miles an hour almost the whole way there. lol. It was great, and raining, but I was having a good time anyway. :0) Even though it took me HOUR to get there, I was there half hour early and so Beth and I went to get dinner at this completely rockin' place called "Sheetz" it's a gas station, but also a pretty good distributor of glorious food. I got Three-Cheese Macaroni, as did Beth, and an OJ which we ate and drank in her car. It was 6:30 (our movie was supposed to start at 8) by the time we finished, and on a whim decided to go the theatre and get our tickets early..to beat the rush ya know? First friday in theatres and all....

We get there.....hardly anyone there....and there was a showing at 6:45. It was 6:37. SCORE. We got to go to the film EARLY and it wasn't even that packed. It was beautiful.

The movie itself, was the BOMB. Bethany and i were equally as impressed. I enjoy going to movies with Beth cause we are both jumpy and giggly. At one point I looked over at her, and both her and I are sitting there with our knees up to our chests, hands over mouth, and eyes wide. (it was a scary part.) Oh man, I giggled. We also would jump at the same time at a startling part and then laugh at ourselves....realize we were the only ones laughing...stop...and then silently giggle. It was really fun. We went home after the movie and watched the first Harry Potter movie cause she had it at the Baker's house. It was really cool to watch the beginning of such a great saga.

I drove home this morning after a fantastic breakfast of blueberry pancakes and an education on Sinkholes.

This afternoon was Doris Frysinger's memorial at our church. I had the honor of meeting this fantastic person but once before her passing. She was an enchanting lady as was demonstrated by her full and love-filled life. She praised Jesus even until the end. It was a very moving service. What got me the most was a devotional that Roy (her husband) shared with her a few days before she went home.

"It seems that 'good-bye' is a word all too prevalent in the Christian's vocabulary. Missionaries know it well. Those who sen them know it, too. The Doctor who leaves the city to work in the jungle hospital said it. Those who feed the hungry, those who teach the lost, all know the word 'good-bye'.

Airports. Luggage. Embraces. Taillights. "Wave to Grandma." Tears. Bus Terminals. Ship Docks. "Good-bye, Daddy." Tight throats. Ticket counters. Misty eyes. "Write me!"

Question: What kind of God would give you families and then ask you to leave them? What kind of God would give you friends and then ask you to say good bye?

Answer: A God who knows that we are only pilgrims and that eternity is so close that any "Good Bye" is in reality a "See you Tomorrow."

*sigh*

It was beautiful and SO true. I was reminded of all the times I've had to say good bye for good, and hated it. Wondering if these people I'm leaving will remember me in a few years, If i'll remember them, if we'll write, if i'll ever see them again. I was reminded of all the people I've known who have gone home to Jesus leaving me behind.

I cried even though I didn't know her. Hearing her sons and husband talk about her, made me want to live for what she lived for. And then I giggled to myself cause I already do. She lived for Jesus, and I'm living for Jesus.

Beautiful....Simply, Peacefully, Beautiful.

Next week started VBS, followed by a sleepover for the young kids, a pool party, and then youth group. All in 8 days. phewie. It's gonna be rough, and I'm going to be TIRED. so I ask your prayers for stamina. I'm gonna need it. :0)
Only Three weeks left and then I get home!!!! :0) Yippeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! It's SO funny, I'm already making plans to hang out with friends back home and spend every waking moment with my boyfriend. ( I REAAAALLLY miss him, if you didn't gather that already....hahahaha). it's so weird to make plans to go to the Pacific Ocean when I'm in Pennsylvania. ;0)

I love you all, and I can't wait to see you!!!!

Love

~ME

VBS: Only the Beginning...

Hello friends and family!!!!!

6 weeks down and 4 to go!! It's gone by SO fast, crazy huh? I hope the next four go by just as fast, and also not as fast. lol. I just know that when I get to the end of my time here I won't be able to wait to get home, but I'm going to be SO sad to leave at the same time. I've made some awesome friends here, and have created from awesome relationships that I want to keep beyond the summer. One part of me can't visualize myself living, and the other part of me never left home. Hmmmmm, well God will sort me out thankfully. haha.

Today was a pretty fun day. I spent all my time working on VBS stuff. I made a surf board!!!! I painted it, and cut it out! I almost died doing it... lol. That knife thinger is pretty dangerous. but don't worry I dominated it. Bwahahahaha.

A friend came to help us out today in terms of painting and she is a WIZARD with paint and art and things. She painted a back ground scene for out stage that was ultimately the best thing ever. lol. Apparently this church hasn't done much in terms of VBS in the past years. Like NOTHING. No decorations or costumes or anything. So what we are doing for next week is going to be like Disneyland for these kids. I am so excited to be a part of it... and to have contributed a SURF BOARD....made of cardboard...but made with SO much love.... teehee. I'm really happy that these kids are going to get a taste of how much they are loved for the week.

I'm overall in charge of the dramas. Which means I have a team of three actors, hahaha, including myself and we get to open the VBS night and then do the story-telling and then close the night with a skit. It should be really fun... I'm meeting with my team on Thursday night and kind of planning everything out and running through things. I'm excited to see it fall together. It may be kind of low budget, but it's going to be the BEST ever. :0D

This Sunday, I am also leading worship for the 9am service. And I just got the order of worship down today at the request of Pastor Belita. I'm a little nervous about leading worship cause I haven't done it since before Jr. High. But see that's what life is about, jumping in head first and being unafraid to make mistakes. So here I go, a-mistake making. Wish me luck! lol.

I almost forgot! Highlight of the past week was getting to hang out with my East Coast family! Aunt Sandy came and picked me up last Saturday and we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house to have lunch (which was fantastic!!! Grandma fed us veggies and potatoes from her own garden!). Uncle Ed, Jason, the Grandparents, Aunt Sandy and I were all there. It was really cool to see everyone. I've missed them lots. Then Aunt Sandy, Uncle Ed, and I went to see Transformers. Holy crow that movie was LOUD. I went in with super low expectations and so was not disappointed as others have been. As far as a Micheal Bay big movie, full of explosions, and one liners....it was pretty good. I had fun. Ed and Sandy seemed to enjoy it too, so that made me happy. lol. Ed drove me home and we had a good conversation. I realized some where in the course of the afternoon that I had never hung out with my family without my parents around. It made me miss home, but I really enjoyed getting to see my family with out the eyes of my Parents. :0)

Well I'm fixin' to watch 'The Princess Bride". It's going to be on the ABC family channel. LOL. I haven't had cable in so long, i feel so spoiled. teehee.

I hope you all have a wonderful week, and I'll try to blog again before the week is up. The rest of the week has me out rather late each night and then occupied on Saturday and tied up Sunday...so maybe Monday?

I'll talk to you then.

Love you all so much!!!

Love

~ME