Lots and Lots..

So a lot has happened since the last time that I have blogged. For those of you who don't know I am now home and back in Fond du Lac. I saw a doctor out in Colorado because of some upset stomach and pain on my right side and she told me that I needed to have an ultrasound and see a surgeon. So after talking with my mom about this she wanted me to come home and have this done.

I came home on July 5 and I am now working back at school as a work study for our Director of First Year Experience. I am also going to be a student mentor this fall for the first year students (one of the student mentors). I moved back to Fond du lac yesterday and I am glad to be back at school to get a start on some things for the school year as far as Sorority and Panhellenic stuff.

Elsie had her puppies while I was gone, she had 4 and Lillian had 4 (but Elsie decided to eat 2 of them.. my dog is a cannibal I know, it creeped me out for awhile but luckily I was not at home when all of this happened).

Far Left: Elsie and Otis and Hermonie

Left: Grace

Also I became an aunt on Thursday July 16 to a little boy Keeghan Bruce Stafford. He weighed 4lbs 13 oz and was 17.5" long. He is so cute and I can't wait to spend time with him. I am kind of bummed about going back to school because I won't get to see him often and before I know it he's going to be big and probably couple of months old. I will get to see him at the baby shower this weekend and I can't wait, he is my little monkey boy!

God's amazing works..

So I have some time to finally sit and blog.. but here's an update on what's going on in my life and the wonders that God has worked with me..

I have been out here for 10 days and I have loved every single day of it. I haven't had a chance to do a whole lot because of work and still getting used to the altitude. I arrived last Monday (June 1) and started work the following day and worked everyday last week 8-4:30 except for Wednesday I woke up really not feeling well because of the altitude and the massive weather changes that we get out in the mountains. I had my first day off on Monday and just kind of bummed around the YMCA property and just relaxed. I have been doing a lot of walking out here, it's been quite a challenge because everything is either uphill or downhill (no flat ground).

I have 2 other roommates, one from Zimbabwe and one from Florida. Some of the other people I have meet are from all over not only the United States but the world. I have made friends with 2 girls from Jamaica and 2 from Uganda. We all spend a lot of time together.

I am working in housekeeping and I get to help make sure that the cabins and/or lodges are cleaned and ready to go for new guests. The Y out here just opened up a new lodge called Longs Peak and it's three stories, the 1st floor beig underground and the ground level being 2nd floor. But for a couple of days we were in there getting beds made and making sure everything was dusted and ready to go for people to stay out there this past weekend. But right now the Y is kind of slow which they said is really unusual for this time right now but hopefully things will pick up. I did hear that they didn't hire as many seasonal employees as they normally do in the summer which is okay because I am hoping for some overtime. This week has been kind of slow but we get the option of staying till 4:30 helping in laundry or something (which I did yesterday). The people I work with are all very friendly and very nice and understanding.

Today was my second day off for the week and I actually got to go hiking for the first time. I went with 3 other people over the Rocky Mountain National Park and we hiked Bear Lake up the Alberta Falls and about a mile past that. So 2 miles up and 2 miles down, I was really proud of myself, we got some really gorgeous views.

Since I have been out here I have felt much closer to God and I have been doing a lot of deep thinking and a lot of praying. Something that I find absolutely amazing out here is that most of the people out here are Christians and it has just amazed me how supportive all of them have been since I have arrived. There is a group of people out here for the summer with a program called "Leaders in Training" and every Tuesdsay/Thursday night they have worship services where anyone can go and they since songs and have a speaker come and talk with them. I went last night and they talked about how God will always take us back and he talked about Hosea and Gomer. It was just amazing to be surrounded by all of those people especially my age and just be able to worship with them.

But I have been making plans to hopefully go white water rafting and horseback riding. It's nice because a lot of the places around us and even on the Y property we get discounts for being employees. So yeah that about sums what I have been up to so far. I am hoping to get pictures up soon ( I am working on buying a camera this summer) but I hope everyone is well and I miss everyone!!

God Bless!

Summer

So mom and I got back from Ireland this past Wednesday and I will post more with pictures very soon. But here's a little bit about what we did..

Wednesday we left for Dublin and it was a very long day because we had an overnight flight so those always make for a very long day. Thursday we arrived in Dublin had a 3 hour wait till our flight to Shannon, arrived in Shannon and had a performance the same night. Throughout the rest of week we visited many different places such as Bunratty Castle, Blarney Castle, Guinness Factory, many Cathedral, Cobh (Cove), Cork, Dublin, Galway.. and many more places

So I am now off the Colorado for the whole summer I leave tomorrow (Monday) morning from Milwaukee at 11:10 am.. I am really excited, anxious, nervous all at the same time.. I will update more of my experience out there as the summer goes on I will have my computer and cell phone with me so please write and keep in contact!!

God Bless!

Starball 2009 / Big Band

I forgot to update on what's going on with school. It's finals week and I am taking a much needed break, I have two more finals to go tomorrow; one being my very last music theory exam and I have a presentation on small group process.

So 1 more day left and then it's finishing packing up my house and my room and getting it home. Back in April we had our Starball (our sorority formal) and it was a lot of fun. We had to use one mini van from the school because our 12 passenger van that the school owns broke down the night before.. total bummer it took us about 2 hours to get everyone to the hotel that we were having it at. But it was still a good time and getting people home and to the bars took just as long afterward but again it still was a really good time, everyone had a lot of fun!

So as soon as I can I will get some pictures up..

I also had a very exciting week about 2 weeks ago. I was on the committee for Marian's Big Band event and this year I was the Hospitality Chair (making sure they had food, water, etc.) and this year it was the Drew Davis Band and Josh Gracin. I got to meet Josh Gracin and the Drew Davis Band, I was on cloud 9 the entire time.. it was so amazing even though I didn't get to enjoy most of the concert, because I was making sure the bands had everything that they needed. But it was absolutely amazing! I would really recommend their music.

I hope everyone enjoys the nice weather when we do get it even though we needed the rain! Have a great summer vacation!

Update....

Hello..

It's been quite awhile since I last updated. I thought the saying was "April Showers bring May Flowers".. well it's May we shouldn't be getting April showers now!

So.. 7 days till Mom and I leave for Ireland I am really excited but nervous. The itenarary is packed full of all kinds of fun things that we are doing.

Wednesday (20th)
--> We fly from Chicago to Dublin (overnight flight) and Dublin to Shannon

Thursday (21st)
--> Arrive Ireland / Performance at Galway Cathedral

Friday (22nd)
--> Cliffs of Moher / Bunratty Folk Park / Killarney

Saturday (23rd)
--> Ring of Kerry Tour / Performance in Killarney

Sunday (24th)
--> Blarney Castle / Performance in Blarney / Cobh / Cork

Monday (25th)
--> Waterford Crystal / Glendalough / Dublin

Tuesday (26th)
--> Performance in Dublin / Books of Kells / Guiness Factory

Wednesday (27th)
--> Return to USA

So that is what we are going to doing in Ireland!
I can't wait like I said earlier I am very excited, anxious and nervous all at the same time!