they just keep on rollin'
I just got back from Naperville last night and can I just say that I wish my parents still lived there? I had so much fun. I stayed at my sister, Liz's house on Wednesday. On thursday I met Ashley Dudich for lunch and then hung out with John. He had me listen to some stuff he's written and recorded and it was all breath-taking. This kid has amazing talent. Before I left he told me he wanted me to come to church Sunday because he was going to be leading worship at WSUMC like old times. I wasn't planning on staying because I had a wedding sunday night. Then I went to Meg's and we just hung out and rented movies which is always good. A New World...awful. Never rent it! Waste of time. Friday we met up with friends and saw X-Men III: the last stand. It was really good! Then we went out after that. Saturday I went out to Liz's again and I was planning on leaving to come back to Marion from there, but I decided to stay so I went back to Meg's. How often am I going to get the chance to hear John Dudich play anymore and for whatever reason he cares what I think, so staying to hear him was important. It's a good thing I did stay because Blake called to say he was in town with Emily, Laura and Tripp called and were in town, and Lindsey happened to be in town too, so all of us plus Carley hung out for a while Saturday night. Sunday I went to church and got to see everyone again for a bit. They had all gone to earlier service so I found some other peeps to sit with. After the service I got to talk to John for while before I left to come back for the wedding.
I then drove straight to Ft. Wayne where I met my roommate who had my dress and shoes. We got ready in a Wendys... real classy, I know. Then we went to the wedding (Dark Almond (Josh) and Allison Yankey's). It was a beautiful service and a very cute reception. It was great to see IWU people who I probably won't see again or hadn't seen in a while. I left the reception fairly early because I was beat from getting up for church and then driving for 3.5 hours.
All in all, good times have been had for the past two weeks. I wish I could see more of everyone from youth group and back in the day. I can't even tell you how amazing the times we had were.
Anywho... this week is officially 'get a job' week. Money supply is diminishing rapidly and there are lots of fun times ahead. I got my ticket for Creation Fest yesterday and I'm very excited about it! Nervous because it's out of my comfort zone to spend 4 nights with people I don't know, but it'll be good I'm sure. PLUS I'll get to see Third Day for the second time in 6 months!
Even through all of the craziness the past few weeks, God has made his presence known in a few big ways to me. I love that. Who doesn't? I'm not gonna lie, that's been a lacking area in my life for a while, but I'm working on it. I was encouraged by some amazing people and reminded of the sovereignty of the Lord. It's good, real good. I know this post is getting kinda long, but I really want to stress something real quick...
It is sooo important to be in the body of Christ and involved in some way. this is a very "duh" statement, but it's just a reminder, I guess. If you're not involved in a church, how are you being fed? I've heard a lot of people talking about how they used to be when they went to youth group. Do you know why you were so on fire? Everyone around you was either on fire or just encouraging you. There probably wasn't a time when you went to church and there wasn't somebody excited about something God was doing. God works through others so much and by not being involved in the body, you're not allowing Him to work. It's part of having expectations of God. How can you expect anything when you're not willing to work?
Again I know this isn't something new or some great revelation, but its just really important and something people seem to look past as they start getting older.
Enjoy Memorial day, eat some good BBQ and rest in the Lord. Peace!
Just an update
Laura's wedding was beautiful. She was gorgeous, the church was amazing, the reception was classy, and the company was the best! I can't even begin to express how much I love the people I got to hang out with this past weekend. It's such a bummer that I don't get to see most of them, but once or twice a year. I've decided that there has to be at least one wedding a year so we can all get together. And I'm totally looking forward to my wedding because there are some people who aren't invited to some of the weddings, but at mine... I'm having everyone. All of my friends. It's gonna be great.
I got to see Michelle, my best friend and blushing bride. (june 24th baby!!) I can't wait for her wedding! We're going to have so much fun. Hanging with her is always a laughfest like none other. Carley came down too and we got to spend some time all three together. I got down on Thursday with the bridal party and did all of the stuff with them and stayed at the hotel, but then when Michelle came we stayed at Blake's house. Blake is great and Emily, his lovely girlfriend is a blast too. I'm so glad I got to spend time with them.
It had been a week shy of a year since I'd seen John and Ashley Dudich, so it was really special to see them. They've been married for a year! Crazy! I'm super excited because I think I'm going up to Naperville this week to have lunch with Ashley and Becky, just like old bible study times. I love those two! Seeing John is always an experience because you never know how things are going to be. Someone has to be really special to win the repsect and love of John Dudich and I'm so glad that I'm one of those people. He's a great friend... in a weird never see or talk to him way. I wish I could see him more. The kid's got amazing talent... he's going places. All because God is providing awesome opportunites for him and Ashley. Hopefully we're going to stay in a little bit better contact so I can stay up to date on his composing and recording.
Anyway... enough about that. Laura is married! She's getting ready to move to Taiwan(sp?) with Tripp and they will start their new lifel
Sorry, really... enough about that. ;) I'm still trying to find a job... it's incredibly annoying and boring. There are so many jobs that seem exciting, but they're either too far away or end up being a sales job. Boo to that! I just want to work in Marion and save some money so I can move on with my life... hopefully that means going to Italy. Maybe it would have been smart to move back home, but you live and learn. I made this choice for a reason... we'll see if infact it paid off.
Marion is lame right now. No one is around and if they are, they're working. Trent is gone for the summer to the Gulf Coast to work for Youth Works, so i won't get to see him... and maybe not even talk to him if the cell towers are still down. Sad! This summer is kinda looking down for me. BUT I know that as soon as I find a job things will get better. I still have some fun stuff to look forward to!!
Nothing deep or thought-provoking. Just a little update. Maybe I'll write something interesting later this week. I'm out!
Busy days
My life has been a whirlwind for the past couple of weeks. Trent came to visit AND we went geocaching (it was my first time and it was so much fun!) Trent is good at finding the most random, fun things to do... so that was a blast. Good to see him. I graduated!! My family was here and then we went up to Naperville to see other friends and family. I've moved into a bigger apartment... that I love. I'm trying real hard to find a decent job to hold me over until Italy. I could give you all the details of all of the above, but why waste time? You get the idea. Graduating and spending time with my family was awesome. Moving was killer, but it's good now. Job searching sucks, but it has to be done.
This past weekend I went up to my sister's place. I had an awesome time! We hung out with my cousins and some other folks. Sunday morning we were treated to breakfast by Mom and Rich (the parents of one of my sister's old friends who passed away a few years ago of an overdose). Their other two sons came, Nathan and Gene. I've known Nate for a while because he's closer to my age and he's always around. I hadn't met Gene until this weekend because he lives up in Wisconsin now. He's a really great guy and lots of fun. He's Terry's age so he's a few years older, but really cool.
Life isn't going to slow down anytime soon for me... I leave Thursday to go down to Nashville for Laura Dudich's wedding and events surrounding that. I'll get back here Sunday. Then next weekend I have another wedding of two friends from IWU. The weekend after that I'm supposed to go up to Chicago to hang out. Then up to Michigan to have my dress for Michelle's wedding altered. Two weeks after that it's up to Naperville for Michelle's wedding and all of the activities that go along with being a bridesmaid. I'll be up there from Tuesday through Sunday night. That Sunday is also Laura's Naperville reception. I'll come home from that and then on that tuesday or wednesday I'll be driving out to PA for Creation Fest with my friend Aaron. I'll be there until Saturday or Sunday... which is the first of July.
Busy days ahead for me. But it's all gonna be fun times! I love fun stuff on the weekends. Sometime in there I have to find a job though... boo. Anyway, that's it for me. I'd love to hear how things are going for whoever the heck actually reads this! I'm out!
