Day 4: Beautiful Outdoor Farm Adventure and Canning Extravaganza

"Goodmorning Goodmorning Goodmorning....."

late night last night, well, this morning I guess. Stayed up late working on some school and talking with Bethany on facebook. When I went upstairs Mrs. Graham was working on pressure cooking green beans and asked if I wanted to help. By this time it was about 11:00pm (mind you this is 12:00 am in Virginia!). Carissa was out with a friend of hers making bread and when 12:00 rolled around she still wasn't home. The parents got concernered around 12:30, called her, she didn't answer, so Mr. Graham called the bread place no answer, finally decided to go find her.

I didn't end up getting to bed till 3:00--Carissa and I talked and prayed for a little while--had warm milk with lots of cinnamon (kinda poured 2 or 3 tsp by accident), vanilla, and honey. Delicious.

Set the craziest alarms ever for 6:30 but didn't get up till probably 7:15. Quickly got ready to leave for the farm that Carissa works for about twice a week . Got there around 8:15, met Kenny who let me wear his boots which fit pretty well, and Zac the overseerer/boss, along with the other intern Lauren-- such a cool person!

We headed out to the field, stopping first to fill up a container of drinking water.

We started by picking green and hot peppers.
I talked with a volunteer named Dan who makes his own dark chocolate, and wants to start
a buisness.
Next we picked corn and then tomatoes.

Carissa and I sat and ate some of the sweet corn right in the middle of that field. Ahh, it was so very nice. Got to ride the golf cart which is always fun.

Then we headed over to the U of I on our golf cart (can't remember the building--somewhere where they process/make food)where we dropped off our goods.. Then we froze to death in the freezer area where we had to shuck all the corn we picked. I was sad I hadn't brought my jacket along with me. Went back to the farm where we packed up some tomatoes, green and hot peppers to take home with us. We were home around 2:15, 2:30.

Ate a delicious lunch of sandwhiches made with Carissa's delicious hummus, fresh tomatoes, green peppers, fresh basil and spinach, toasted on soft bread.

BTW, my dear sister Carissa makes some great sourdough bread and GREEK yogurt! :D And it's really pretty simple. I'm hoping that I can make some Brioche and Bagels while I'm here from a cookbook Carissa's friend lended her.

Let's see....took a nap in the afternoon after our lunch, wanted to go to Expresso up the road to do some studying but that didn't really happen---instead we listened to the alarm clock go off probably 4 times, then Rachel talked to Carissa about last evenings events--ended up chatting with her for a little while, before we knew it--when we attempted to leave, Mrs. Graham said dinner was almost ready, so we helped get that ready.

Ah, it was GORGEOUS outside today! This morning it was a cool when we drove in the wind, but so very nice. I will hopefully get some pictures taken tomorrow.

After dinner (that included LOTS of our fresh vegetables and fruit, hummus from lunch, and a green bean casserole thing), we started the fairly long process of cleaning the kitchen--included cleaning all the dishes, clearing and washing off the table, sweeping, (everyone had to help)...

and last but not least, we boiled and cut tons of tomatoes for canning---maybe we will do espresso tomorrow night. I start work tomorrow at the Orchard---I'll probably get off around 2:30 or 3:00?

It's 9:30 and I really need to get off, start reading for my class, and hopefully get to bed a little earlier this evening. ha, not sure that is going to happen.

Day 3: Frolicking about Champaign + flowers

I'm going to have to address this alarm situation with my dear sister. The alarm went off probably 3 times this morning!!!!

Good breakfast around 8 this morning (it included bacon--two days in a row!)

Mrs. Graham and I left around 8:45 and headed to the Kohler showroom to look at stuff for the new bathroom project that will hopefully be started VERY soon (downstairs next to Carissa's room). We are thinking it'll be an Italy or Paris theme. :)

I might move up to Rachel's room after she leaves, not sure yet.

Ran errands most of the day with Mrs. Graham--went to serveral different places, found some GREAT postcards and will have to soon determine who will recieve them. Went out to eat for lunch but can't remember the name of the place, it started with an M. The menu was like Panera, atmosphere not at all.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition is here and we stopped by the place (the ministry) called Salt and Light--not sure if they are doing anything there but that's where the family that was selected ministers. It was pretty busy, lots of volunteers (they never show them on the show so i never knew they had any)

Got home around 2 in the afternoon---made about 6 flower arrangements in the shed, enjoyed a lovely apple cider slush, took me about 4 hours total--3 and 1---it POURED down rain (lots of lightning and thunder too!! SO GREAT!) so I stayed in the shed for a while continuing the project
Ate dinner, continued the project,

got to talk with my family tonight, at least most of them. :-)

It's going to start getting busy VERY soon. Hopefully I'll be able to write every single day, but work and school begin this week.

Need to peace out as I need to get ready for bed and then begin working on my school assignments! :D

Day 2: Indiana Beach

Woke up to a continum of alarms this morning, all of which were not my own. Eventually I rolled out of bed, read some Bible in bed, got ready.

"Come Home, come home, come home, I've waited so long..." One republic
Ate breakfast--eggs, bacon, panera bagels---left with the grandparents around 8:40ish
stopped to pick julie up from the doctor, she had something going on with her eye, but he said she was fine.

we then headed off to Indiana Beach i found out when i arrived that it was an amusement resort. :D

stopped in at a gas-station half way, had a delicious lunch in the car (homemade applesauce, ham sandwich, chips, cherries), got in to the park around 12:30 or 1:00

So, I'm not really a rollar coaster kinda gal, but thought that since this was the second time I'd actually been to a park, I might as well try again.
The first ride was GREAT, though it was a spinning ride which you will see was detrimental down the road.
The second ride, semi-ok, it was swings that went round and round high in the air above a large body of water, i came off the ride feeling a bit dizzy but fairly ok, kind of hot.
The third ride, (i was doing good so far!) was kind of like a boat, where it goes back and forth and up and over. Yeah, I felt really good when the ride first started, but then it picked up speed, and then the stomach dropped. I got off of this ride feeling not so great, so the girls said I should get some dramamine as they were very determined to have me continue riding the rides with them
:)
Went to the little store, ate the chewable tablets, and proceeded to the next ride
Well, ride #4 topped me over--it was called The Paratrooper and from the picture (which I will post soon) it doesn't look scary, actually the ride is fairly moderate. Swing style, round and round--but it moved up and down and side to side intermitintly. I was feeling pretty good till the very end. I told Carissa I wasn't feeling so good, actually I feel like I'm going to get sick.

Well, I got sick, and yes, the ride closed for a short time as a result of it. It was a little humilliating but I felt a WHOLE lot better after it. And the attendent was sweet about the whole thing.
The dramanine then had no effect after that point so the girls begged me to buy more so I could keep riding the rides. We ended up buying more, but I didn't take it.

I enjoyed watching them ride the next several rides. I felt pretty good the rest of the day, I was actually pretty amazed at how I felt about the whole thing. Maybe a third time around will finally break me. I'm not terribly anxious to see though. :D Spent some alone time with Carissa, went on the ski lifts, and the last story involves the ride "Double Shot".

It was the last ride of the day before they closed and the girls wanted to go. I decided to get pretty close to the ride instead of sitting near the benches......well, the attended INSISTED, and continued to INSIST that I ride the crazy thing. I didn't give in for a while, but he honestly wasn't giving in, He said he wouldn't let anyone ride unless I rode the ride. Yes, I rode the ride. And it was NOT terrible at all. My face def. showed it but it wasn't as horrible as I thought and I felt fine after it. :D

Watched Pride and Predjudice on the way home......Ate dinner at a wonderful little place called the Beef House.

Ready for bed now! I'm having to get use to the hour difference which isn't terrible, but it seems I won't be able to go to bed early, maybe, but probably not. So, its 12:15 in Virginia but it's 11:15 here. My first online class stuff is posted tomorrow will start working on that, will help Mrs. Graham with a few things, start working some this weekend (fri-sun).

OH, and Extreme Makeover is HERE, in Philo---hopefully, (I signed up tonight) they will need me as a volunteer next Monday, even if they don't, I'll go out and see what's going on. It should be great--hopefully, I'll be able to take some pictures.

Speaking of pictures, I've taken some, but maybe tomorrow I can use my friends camera to take some more---will post to facebook hopefully this week.

So long, thanks for reading the nitty gritty. : )

Day 1: The trip and chillin'

First, I woke up at 3:00 this morning. Right now, it's 9:42 in Illinois which means its 10:42 in Virginia. Bedtime calls very soon.

Anna and Mom came to the airport with me--happy times.

First flight went great--the guy that sat next to me didn't say a word, hardly looked my way (which was perfectly fine with me but you at least aknowledge the other person don't you?)

Second flight was great until, after picking up much speed and very soon approaching takeoff, we hit a flock of geese on the runway! So, the flight was delayed about 2 hours! Gave us a new plane and we were finally off...

Carissa picked me up in Indy. It was a very quiet, hot, and longish drive home. With a break for subway which really hit the spot. Oh, before the subway at 3:30 I had a bowl of Honey Nut Cherrios---by the second flight, around 7ish I had a Cinnabon (good cinnamon!) so, I was pretty hungry by 12 Illinois time, 1:00 my time.

Got in around 3:00. Chilled. Unpacked. Picked up application.

OH, i must say, it POURED. Sheets and sheets of rain. I wanted to frolic in it but I decided against it. Then it got dark.

It's been a pretty low key day.
Carissa and I made italian pizza. avacado was among the yummyness .

We are going to Indiana beach tomorrow. NEver heard of it. Should be great times with the grandparents. :)

Until tomorrow or the next day.

Short post. Lots of meat.

Intense time of intercession tonight at LHOP's Watch concerning the issue of pornography.

Give us your heart, Oh God. Break us. Reminded me again of the anguish of God video (EXCELLENT) I'll post a link soon.

Made waffles for everyone at Livingstone. I tell you, if you eat food with people, make food for people, you're family. Brothers and sisters. Unified together.

Lots of goodbyes this week. Not permanent goodbyes. I'll be back. But, the pressure is about to burst, probably tomorrow. Almost every day this week I said goodbye to someone. My little Nadia and Deema, lady and sir breland, emily and mike, the monastary and all it's wonderful people, and i've left a few out but yeah.

Leave for Illinois THIS monday.

Exciting adventures. Lots to consider.

God has given me a heart for women.

It's time for bed. The juicy details will follow in a later post, maybe not right away, but hopefully.

goodnight.

What's God doing NOW

Well, as I am usually VERY inconsistent with keeping up with updates online and in my personal journals, I have recently been thinking again about how I need to become consistant in both---or at least one. Though it might not be this blog, hopefully this year will be the year of consistancy. In every area. Spiritually, physically, And when things aren't consistant, or the way I think they should be, to not loose heart or worry about what I'm doing, but continue to press on, asking for God's grace and guidance in helping me to maintain peace and contentment (both of which are only found in HIM alone).

I desire to grow. I do not wish to be stagnant. Nor do I wish to be in a place where I look behind rather a place where I am continually pressing on--even in the dark times, weird times, places of dryness--

I'm looking forward to my new adventure in Illinois. Just the environment. Being with my dear friend and sister in the Lord. Working a consistant job. 1 job. Hopefully having time to think and maintain a lifestyle of consistancy. Growing in the Lord. Being used by God to work in the lives of others. Continuing school.

The hour is late. I hope to keep posting updates for the next two months ..

Life in Color

How happy I am for my life. Literally, the LIFE living within me---the Sustainer of my life, He who makes me to enjoy life, He who heals my body when I am sick so I can again enjoy life and feel alive : ]

Being dog sick with a fever for 5 days this past week has really made me thankful for being well. Really made me stop to think--"Thank you Lord for sustaining me when I'm keeping myself going and running like a chicken with it's head cut off." Made me to realize that I really need to slow down and be still. That I don't need to keep talking about it, making lists that say I'll do it one of these days, or have it be some distant goal, but I need to make this time of rest a LIFESTYLE. For the current pace is wearing me out!

On another note, I was thinking about the various thoughts Amy Crane would have been thinking about when she committed suicide. I was also thinking about how desperate I would have to become to actually go through with such a thing. How decieved, how strung out, how hopeless, insecure, trapped, void of all hope. I thought of her while I was sick. How many people who were affected by the way of her death really think they will find themselves in the same shoe? It baffels me. It baffels me about how twisted her thinking really was. I find myself thinking of her when I read certain scripture verses that she probably took the wrong way. I think about one of the last times with her when she was so desperately in love with the Lord. I really think she wanted to see Him NOW, rather than waiting for her appointed time to see Him. Enough said. These among many other questions will be left un-answered for the time being, and maybe for eternity. This case rests in the palm of my sweet Father's hand the author and finisher of my life--who has given me such peace, who has drawn me so close, and has given me His assurance.

On a completely different thread, I'm looking forward to making more dish clothes for friends and family. I also can't wait to hear what my friend say's when she recieves the package of Small Meadow Press notecards I ordered her. I really love this delightful little store! However, my piles of wonderful things need to be put to use very soon. It's awful. I usually like them so much I don't want to use them. Or, I'm not creative enough and can't figure out what to do with them. Which was the case with the notecards--I just had to order my friend a whole set for herself. I am looking forward to completing some new projects this year which will include lots of collage.

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

I need to continue to rest as I'm not fully well and have a long day of studying ahead. Mmm. I look forward to the day when I am not a pressured learner. :0