Moving out and up!

So, a few weeks ago I talked with MariJane, the woman in whose home I am staying and we mutually agreed that it was time for me to move out on my own and become independent. So, for the past few weeks I have been looking through the newspaper, online, and talking to some people about possible places to rent out. I came across a good looking ad in the newspaper, so I called, but they had already leased that duplex half, but they had an apartment in a four-plex that had just become available if I was interested. So, last Thursday (almost a week ago) I went over before work to take a look. It looks great!!! It has everything I wanted and is very close to my church and work, which makes it very appealing. I went home that night and prayed about it and talked to my parents, and decided I wanted it. So, that weekend I called the landlady that I had met with and told her that I would like to rent the apartment.
All of that is to say that Friday I am signing a lease on a two bedroom apartment in a four-plex and moving in on Saturday with the help of some of my friends from church!

Yay for growing up :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Korean Delicacies

So this past Monday I went over to a woman from my church's house. She is from Korea, and decided she wanted to teach me how to make some food. So, she taught me how to make crab meat cheese, pork dumplings, and sushi. It was so much fun, and so delicious! I think I will have to try my hand at it again. YUM!

Brrrr!

Today it snowed in Midland for the first time, at least that was undeniably snow. After church there were tiny little flakes, and just a little while ago we had our first big fluffy flakes. So pretty, but so cold.

My First Trip to an Apple Orchard

So, Sunday afternoon Nas and the girls took me on my virgin apple orchard experience. We had a great time, pretending to be little children again. Nas' mom and one of her friends met us there, and stayed for a while. We rode the little lawn mower pulled train, went through an alphabet maze, picked some apples, and of course ate apple goodies including an apple cider slush and donut. Yumm! It was one of the last days to be outside and not cold I think, so I loved it. The only thing missing was a corn maze, I guess I will just have to go again.
It was great to be able to spend good quality time with three ladies who are like family to me.

So, Catch-up after 2 and a half months -SORRY!

Well, Lets see what I've done. I'll just tell you a little snippet of each major thing, and hope I don't miss anything.

July 18-20 I went camping with my dad's side of the family. It was fun to see cousins I haven't seen for a while, and have so many of them together for Saturday dinner. I also slept in a tent Sat night with Dave and Cherith, so that was fun. I hadn't tented it in quite awhile.

July 23-28 The whole immediate fam got together in Houston. I hadn't seen Emily since March, so it was great to see her. It was really just amazing to have all 5 of us plus Cherith together for the first time since my high school graduation. I miss my family when there is that long a space in between whole family visits. We had a great time together, went to see alligators at Brazos Bend State Park and some garden/zoo thing downtown, that I can't remember the name of.

Aug. 7 I spent part of the day with Emily in Grand Rapids as she was there for a friend's wedding, and also got to meet her boyfriend Ryder for the first and only time.
Aug. 8 On the way home from GR I stopped at Cran-Hill Ranch to see many of my friends from WI who were there to help at a youth group's retreat.

Aug. 10-16 Mission Trip to NYC! My cousin Kendra went with me to NYC on my church's mission trip. We went with the Center for Student Missions. It was a great time of experiencing different cultures, lifestyles, and missions organizations. I think my favorite part was getting to know the people in our group better, some for the first time, and really getting to know my cousin on a whole different level. It was a great time of experiencing God.

Aug 19 I started working full time at Sleepy Hollow Bookshop in Midland. I work 38-40 hours a week selling books more or less.

Aug 30-Sept 1 I spent Labor Day Weekend up at Vanderwende's condo with a bunch of old people, but had a good time relaxing, enjoying the outdoors especially the water!

Sept 16 The one year anniversary of going to DTS.

Sept 16 The first night of the young singles Bible study - Emerge- that I started. It has been going wonderfully. There are about 7 of us with potential for more. We all are really bonding and have a hard time ending. Everyone really desires more of God and want a genuine community of love and honesty. It has been a great blessing already.

I think that is all that I have done. And now, Happy October!

Week on the lake

So, on the way home from Wisconsin / visiting Grafs I stopped for a week or so at VanderWende's condo on Lake Charlevoix. It was a great weekend of being on the water, relaxing and hanging out. I got to surf behind the boat again, and play a lot with V's new, six week old grandson who was there for the week with his parents. It was great! Also got to sail a few times, so much fun. Now I am back in Midland for a while, enjoying seeing friends again.