We are gathered here today...
As usual, the reason I haven't written anything is because life has been crazy-hectic... in a good way! Michelle, my best friend of 14 years, is married!!

Here I am with the beautiful bride!

Here I am acting foolish/dancing with Stacy after I caught the bouquet! (I'm getting married!)
Myself, along with two of my other best friends from childhood were bridesmaids in the wedding and it was a blast. The four of us are rarely together because we all reside in different states right now so as you can imagine it was a sweet reunion for us. Stacy, Carley, and Michelle are three of my favorite people ever. They are loyal friends and amazing women of the Lord... an encouragement to me in my life. Blake and emily were up which is always good times. They're great! Peter came in all the way from North Carolina and it was awesome to see him... I miss peter... he's one of my best friends too! Laura and her new hubby, Tripp came up from Nashville and Lindsey made it up from DC. It was an all around a great time. I definitly wish that all of us could be together all the time, but life must keep moving on.
Other then that I've been spending time on the phone, online, and doing everything possible to get a decent job. I'm coming to the realization that a good job in Marion might not exsist for me. I hate retail and anything close to it, but I may end up taking a crappy job until I find a decent one. Boo to that! I do have to say that Trent was right on this one. ;)
Creation fest was cancelled due to the insane amount of rain that the northeast has been experiencing so that kinda stinks. It would have been a good time. Hopefully I'll get a refund for the ticket though.
If I can't find a job soon I think I'm just going to start working on getting a work visa for Italy and just go. I'm not saving any money (obviously since I don't have an income) and I'm just sitting around bored. I could get a job there and pay rent there... do exactly what I'm doing here, only it would be awesome because it's Italy. I just want to be doing something right now, you know?
I'm so easily bored. From the 21st until the 26th I was booked... completely busy and looking for some solice. Now that I have it... a mere 4 days later, I'm bored. BUT I need to learn to just relax and do nothing. It's so hard for me because life without lots of friends and different people gets old real fast. I'm just being whinny because I'm sick with a cold and I'm alone for one night. :) I'll deal.
I apologize for the meaninglessness of this post. Just an update, even though most of the people who I know read this already know all of this. Wow. Bring on the NyQuil!
Death, the possibilty of a new life, and missionaries
Once again life has been a whirlwind. Memorial day was good times. I bought a grill so we BBQ'd which was fun. Last week is kinda a blur though... my mom called me wednesday morning to tell me about a death in the family, so that was really hard. but then wednesday afternoon Blake called and I got to meet him and Emily down in Indy for lunch, which was nice... definitely helped take my mind off of things. Then I had to go home and pack and get ready to go back up to Naperville because my parents were coming in for the funeral. Next my brother called me to give me some interesting news, so I had to deal with that on top of the death. I'm not gonna write about it, but you can ask me about if you want. I left friday evening and met Meghan at the movies and then we went back to her house for a sleepover. The next morning I met my sister, brother, and parents in downtown Naperville for breakfast at a place we always went to when they lived there. I spent the weekend at my sister's with the whole family which was awesome. We even went to the Brookfield Zoo... something we did numerous times each summer growing up. It was hilarious to watch Kayla in the Children's Zoo. She loved the goats!

Here is Kayla with a goat!
Monday was the wake so we spent most of the day at the funeral home. It's always good to see family that we don't get to see often... too bad it had to be on such a crappy occasion. Tuesday was the funeral, but that was over fairly early, so we all just went back to my sister's and relaxed. Once again... I totally wish my parents lived in Naperville. There are so many things that we used to do as a family that I miss. I have so many memories there with them... it really sucks that we can't be there all together very often.
Anyway, I got back from Naperville on wednesday night. Thursday I got up and drove up to Michigan to have my bridesmaid dress for Michelle's wedding taken in a bit. I have to go back up next thursday for a final fitting. So much freaking driving! After July 5th I'm not driving anywhere! Mark my words!
Good news... I have an interview at this place in Marion monday and I'm really hoping it works out. I definitely need a job like now!
This is the first weekend I'm here in Marion in what seems like forever. I'm looking forward to just relaxing, but I'm already getting bored... so maybe this wasn't the best idea. I would have loved to go up to chicago again, but I just don't want to drive anymore. gas prices are too crazy! I'm hoping that my good friend and old roommate Holly will end up coming down to stay this weekend. She's great!
Only 2 weeks until Michelle's wedding and I can't wait! Stacy and Jeff will be in and staying with me at my sister's, Peter is coming in, and it's going to be one big reunion.
I'm definitely ready for life to slow down and to get into some sort of routine. It's crunch time... I HAVE to start saving money for Italy. I really want to go so bad. I'm doing a bible study on the life and ministry of Paul and I'm really excited about going because it's going to be a unique mission opportunity. Paul is one of the most... if not THE most effective missionary ever. What an example to follow! I'm looking forward to the possibilities in Italy.
Give me a call this weekend if you're bored. Later!