Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game

Someday

2010-04-09T10:54:00.000-04:00

I believe in the rest of the story
I believe there's still ink in the pen
I have wasted my very last day
Trying to change what happened way back when

I believe it's the human condition
We all need to have answers to why
More than ever, I'm ready to say that I
Will still sleep peacefully
With answers out of reach from me until�

Someday all that's crazy
All that's unexplained
Will fall into place
And someday all that's hazy
Through a clouded glass
Will be clear at last
And sometimes we're just waiting
For someday

We are born with a lingering hunger
We are born to be unsatisfied
We are strangers who can't help but wander
And dream about the other side of�

Every puzzle's missing piece
Every unsolved mystery
More than half of every whole
Rests in the Hands that hold you for someday�.

Mexico Etc....

2010-02-04T15:12:00.002-05:00

Here is an excerpt from a recent email that'll explain my travels a little better... and maybe you can understand the pics more too......

I'm working 4 days a wk, Mon. thru thurs. I'm still totally loving
my work at the greenhouse... Its so fulfilling.... Ok you wonder,
planting flowers, fulfilling? But its so much more then that! Its the
people, the hard work, the diversity of the work, the playing in the
dirt, the watching things grow, and so much more. The money is nice,
but thats really not why i work there. Its a love for my job. I feel
so fortunate that i can say that. I've been able to form so many
positive and also fun relationships there, and that is a huge
blessing.
Otherwise, i'm busy with loads of other things... Trying to get
sewing done... now anyone who knows me well, knows that thats a huge
feat for me! Because i dislike sewing....
yea, still milking cows 4 mornings a wk and every eve. And yes, i do
enjoy it, the only time i really don't is when i have some activity
that i have to miss or be late for:(
I'm studying( or should say i had been, i haven't gotten to it since
i'm home from my trip to Mexico) to take my GED test. I'm hoping to
get that done soon.
I'm planning a trip to Maine in the end of the month, i'm planning to
meet a new niece or nephew up there!:-) PTL!!
I'm also having fun with friends and neighbors and good stimulating
phone calls and....... catching up with my family- that is also quite
a feat to be honest. It seems half the time I don't know where my
brother Ivan even is.... bout the only time i can snag him is in the
barn! Ok, the real shocker is that my extremely independent sister
Sarah started dating while i was gone in Mexico!! I really missed out
on something with that... especially since i've never really met the
guy! His name is Andrew Zehr, and he's from Ontario, Canada. He's from
the same church that my sis Emma and her husband go to up there. So
yeah, my approval is pending until i can meet the guy and form my own
opinion. Don't get me wrong, i'm totally happy for her, its just a
whole new real mind blowing concept to get used to! I know, i'm going
to have to get over any selfish attachment and feeling that she's
always gonna be here. She certainly deserves a knight in shining armor
if anyone does. So far he's only "the guy". but i've a feeling that my
opinion will change to the more romantic description, anyway if my sis
has anything to say about it.

Now, to get on with things and tell you bout my trip to Mexico. I
definately enjoyed it. in spite of the fact that it rained almost the
whole week which cut the amount of work that we could get done in like
half. But it still was a blast, and i was still very blessed, and yea
over all twas totally a positive learning experience. Truly, my brain
programmed so much... its still working on filing it! As an assistant
on the committee, i had to help my lovely friend Katrina:) take care
of monetary issues, lead out on the jobs, and try to stay out of
trouble. That was mostly accomplished i do believe, but you might want
to check that out with the other folks. I felt really weird being i
was one of the younger ones.... but everyone was very gracious to
me!:) I won't get into all the specifics of everything.... just a
glimpse... A highlight was being with the children at the orphanage,
playing twister with the girls!... blowing up balloons... I got
to know a 16 yr old girl there and we could converse pretty well so
that was a huge blessing. there's so much need there, but i'm happy
to report that the orphanage was definately improved from when i was
there 2 yrs ago. Another highlight was the real Mexican food! also,
hanging out in the cabin getting to know my new "family" and playing
rook in the dining hall( yeah i must admit... the addictive fingers of
that game have taken my attention) I also worked at the old peoples
home one day.... helped with food, and another girl and i gave
baths. That place may be the way it is, but it has a drawing affect on
me to go back and see how everyone is faring.
Then on the last day... piling everything in the vans to cross over
the border to go home; luggage on top of, beneath, beside, and almost
within, all the passengers.... what a sight! Then flying home with
my "new family" was so great, ... spending so much money on airport
food(its robbery, really!) but i let loose of my purse strings and
spent all my cash... giving the last 5 bucks to my faithful driver.;)
You know, a key thing on this trip was total refreshing laughter.
It releases the stress within.... I know that God blessed me with
that! So props to the many who brought the laughter about!
So thanks to my new friends from the OFJ trip. For putting up with me
and blessing me in myriad ways! And thanks to the many others who
supported me with prayer during it! I remain ever undeserving of your
loyalty, and am humbled by your love. Thanks!

Well thats gonna have to do it for now. You can breathe a sigh of
relief right along with me if you like(If you made it this far). Its
not that i don't enjoy sharing, but i am tired, and tomorrow is
Thursday. Do i have time for a proofread???? :O( If there's
anything inopropriate, feel free to tell me!

Blessings! Simply put~Es

Mexico...........

2010-02-03T20:05:00.010-05:00

Ok, I'll let the pictures tell the story as much as is possible.... I had a fantastic time.... lets put it that way! thanks for thinking/praying for me while i was gone! G'night~Es

for the life of me...

2010-01-10T16:41:00.003-05:00

yea.... some things are just unfigureoutable. ????? If you don't get that, well its ok, cuz i'm sure i don't!:)Thinking, planning, doing, sleeping, eating, talking, working. (life) That is hard to figure out. PRAY, now that is simple. Its a direct connection to God. Simple, yes, but at the same time, its such a unique, intricate relationship. And its between GOD and ME!! And if i share all my unfigureoutable things with Him, they become definable, or they seem so sensless that i wonder why i even worried about it in the first place so i step over my confusion and move on. Wow. Praise GOD!

I'm not going to get into many details of my recent life, cuz that would take way to long, and my time is limited as usual.... so yea just get on with it Es!! This past wk tho my friend Terri n i went to the huge carousel mall in Syracuse with some of my other friends...then on Sat i went skiing.... A first time for both of those things! skiing was great....(thank you Jo!!:) i'd love to go again because now i'd feel more confident...but its hard for me to spend the money!:(
Then on Fri this wk Ivan is taking me to Lanc. Pa, then we are going to hang out with cousins and friends that night and play vbal at a cool gym!! Then on Sat i fly out to San Diego,CA and continue on to Tijuana, Mexico for the Orphans For Jesus missions trip. I'll be gone about 10 days. Please pray for me as I'm an assistant on the committee this yr... i feel like i'm not sure what i'm getting myself into.... but we'll have to see how it goes... I am looking forward to it tho!

Well, gotta run, work is calling... wait i think its the cows that are mooing...oops actually its probably Ivan growling at me!;-D So long and so forth.... as always~the girl who is Taking God's hand and stepping over the unfigureoutables (at least for today, tomorrow shall have its own story)

The cutest li'l family!!!!

2009-12-15T13:33:00.002-05:00

I've been up to so much lately.... i won't even try to explain! Family, friends, cousins and more cousins, travel,hunting(not me tho;), work and more would put it in a nutshell. My amish cousin's wedding was a highlight! I've come to realize how invaluable family and relatives are to me.....they are such a Blessing... and they are the people that understand you, and who you can be yourself around at all times...You can...let your hair hang down, let everything out, laugh uncontrollably, cry, share or not share and know they understand, and not easily offend. Props to the bestest cousins...and the bestest family.... Wow. I'm honored to be a part of it all.

My sis Emma, Teresa, and Brian

2009-11-26T16:40:00.002-05:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so Blessed!!! GOD IS SOOOOOOOOO AWESOME!!!!!! Thanks to all of my amazing friends who are so good to me even when i don't deserve it.

I had a great time last weekend.....the concert was great!! And the best part was...we had some Awesome vball games afterward!!! The guys played fantasticly! So much fun!! Anyways.......I remain Blessed........... As Always~Es

Breakthrough Concert

2009-11-15T16:17:00.005-05:00

Hey !! I hope all my friends are doing great! I just want to let anybody who might be interested know that the Breakthrough country gospel group will be playing here in Greene this next Sat night at 7:00pm. They are from Lancaster, Pa and they are pretty well known down there. My cousin Jr Fisher is part of it....He plays the electric guitar and is a lead singer. They're all ex-amish or mennonite! Now we all think they're really good....but you're welcome to come and form your own opinions! Its a free thing just for some fun..... So if anyone has any questions just call or contact us anytime. Here's a picture of the flyer... I might try to upload one of their songs....maybe if i get it done;)

2009-10-22T12:14:00.002-04:00

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

2009-10-13T19:13:00.009-04:00

The Twenty-First Time

Nowhere to live
Nowhere to fall
He used to have money
But he’s wasted it all
His face is a photograph burned in mind
But I pretend not to see him for the twenty-first time

He sleeps under stars, it’s all he can afford
His blanket’s an old coat he’s had since the war
He stands on the corner of Carter and Vine
But I pretend not to see him for the twenty-first time

He may be a drifter who’s grown old and gray
But what if it’s Jesus and I walk away
I say I’m the body and drink of the wine
But I pretend not to see him for the twenty-first time

She’s 29 but she feels 48
She can’t raise three kids on minimum wage
She’s crying in back of the welfare line
But I pretend not to see her for the twenty-first time

She may be a stranger trying to get through the day
But what if it’s Jesus and I walk away
I say I’m the body and drink of the wine
But I pretend not to see her for the twenty-first time

This is a call for a change in my heart
I realize that I’ve not been doing my part
When I needed a Savior, I found it in Him
He gave to me, now I’ll give back to them

Drifter or stranger, daughter or son
I’ll look for Jesus in everyone
‘Cause I am the body and drink of the wine
And I’m thankful there’s more than the twenty-first time
Monks & Neagle

This song speaks to me in a passionate way. It touches my heart.... and calls me beyond myself and into the realities i need to face. To the Souls that need saving.... To the simple little helpful things of everyday life.... To the miracles i need to be sharing..... It puts me to shame , and my heart refocuses.

So here's to friends i admire greatly... who give of themselves, and bless others with their lives! I'm proud to have friends like this..... (Ok, yea, these are old pics.....but oh well!)

Esther, sigh, i miss you and i'll miss you even more. You are such an inspiration!

;)

Two girls, who are giving of themselves....

Ahh...I shall miss you so much too!!!:( I admire you immensely! You go thru so much but you always have a smile to share!

Jo..... You're beautiful, courageous, and a blessing! You also play fantasticly!

And to all the rest........well they're all simply great each in their own unique way!

Friends

2009-08-22T12:00:00.005-04:00

Friends...

They are an Amazing gift from God!!!

Rubies Girls Camp 2009

2009-08-17T20:49:00.002-04:00

Wow! What an awesome time i had as a counselor at camp!!!!My girls were the best!! I'd recommend this as a great thing for any girl to do! If you're interested about next year.... let me know!:) Its an extremely tiring but TOTALLY worthwhile week!! Extra tiring for me as i was gone both weekends as well..... but a reunion was well worth it... and hanging out with Twila was totally cool!!;) Thanks for being the bestest girl!

Here's my girl's and i during extreme party time on thurs. nite.... we had blast!!!!! mega pillow fight, popping balloons that contain candy WITHOUT using anything sharp, .... were some things that kept us up late that night!! oh i can't forget practicing our chorus songs at the top of our lungs........
Talent show night....... We worked with cabin A-7 to do our skit called "Beth's Lost Bug". they did an awesome job!

Some of my girls being silly!...Janita, Vanessa, Tamara, n Dana...

Us counselors, assistants, directors, lifeguard, all staff, etc.... bein' goofy!

Us Ny counselors... and Faith the lifeguard! Props to you gals!!!

Teresa Anne!!!!!!!

2009-07-13T20:11:00.002-04:00

My new niece was born on June the 28th!! Teresa Anne Gerber 7lb 6oz, 201/2 in. long....... She's the cutest baby alive!!!! I got to spend almost a wk up in Ontaria with my sis and bro. in-law...... Twas awesome to help Emma out with housework and to hold Teresa lots n lots!!! I even got night duty time.... and i loved it!!...of course i knew i didn't have to keep doing it!:) She's got a head full of dark almost black hair....So adorable!!!!

Proud grandpa, mother, and auntie!!!

Vball tournament!!

2009-07-07T20:05:00.003-04:00

A few wks ago Ivan n i went to western Pa and played in a vbal tournament! Our friend Leslie invited us, and it gave us a good excuse to hang out with our friends out there.... We had an awesome time!!! Competitive games.... i mean REALLY competitive games!! Especially once it came to the playoffs... Our team didn't make it into the winning bracket of the playoffs but we had tons of fun anywayz!! We did beat one of the best teams there tho.. so that helped us!:) Well ya'll know how much i love vball so i'll jus stop blabbing about it..... ;)

Leslie is delivering the spikes in this clip of us playing a team who ended up beating us...

Here are Ivan and my cousin David intentionally trying to crush Ivan's old van with a HUGE tree.... but..... they missed!!;-)

2009-06-12T22:26:00.007-04:00

2009-06-12T20:31:00.005-04:00

Yea.... I'm still in existence..... i think anyways??!;-) Sometimes i feel like i'm just too busy..... I guess i can say that God has mightily blessed me... Its my responsibility to use my time wisely tho......

Life has been wonderfully good!! I'm posting a few random pics of campweek in Va..... and of our new equipment shed building, when cousins were up and friends around. Since tho, I've been at Shippensburg Bible school, a friends wedding in pa, and i just came home from Maine.... where i had an awesome time with my oldest brother and fam, also hung out with some fabulous friends up there!!!:) but...my pics of all these recent activities are still on my camerea which is at my sisters house... so those will have to wait.

Playing human foosball in Va... yea that is the coolest, most fun game!!

I played defense...

Us girls ready to work... we were set on all kinds of cleaning jobs throughout the week.

we did get the closet clean.... eventually!:0)

Our new shed.... in the works

Ivan n Al workin...... (if you're wondering... i dID go out and help too.... I've left my trademark on it with a few crookedly cut boards!;)

My l'il cousin

Cousins workin....

Sam Byler's at work......

... yea.... thats Leroy way up there!

Well, take care ya'll..... As ever~Es

2009-04-26T19:13:00.003-04:00

Hi!! This is merely an UPDATE!! I'm still fully-functioning... at least in most entirety!! I was in the BEAUTIFUL state of VA since Saturday a week ago- till yesterday..... Had a grand time at FMH( Faith Mission Home)....I will post pics soon and fill in a little more...... As Always~Es

New Orleans Reunion!!!

2009-03-28T14:28:00.005-04:00

Ok.... finally an update about my last wkend for you who have been bugging me!;) Just to let you know it was a completely, totally awesome time!! There's just nothing like cousins and friends who you can be entirely cool and relaxed with! So props to the New Orleans crew and all the rest who made everything fabulous! .......Well we had been expecting them around 7 Friday night, but................. due to Al's overload of work and putting the rest off 3 times they didn't leave till 7 , and didn't get here till bout 11 for a very late supper..... but of course no one was ready to settle down that early...so we all headed to sarah's basement and played pool n ping-pong n looked @pics just hung out till about 1:30 A.m! Saturday was broomsock in the barn:) and vball in Whitney Point where we finally managed to find a gym.... then McDonalds, then singing and listening to my cousin play keyboard at home till after midnight.... all in all it was a great weekend and i'm still recovering from sleep loss!! So here's a few pics...
My cousin Hoyt.....(The coolest guy around!)

Me....

The crew.... playing broomsock in the haymow (for all you non-culture folks, thats an Amish version of paintball!!;) That was such a party!!

Making our weapons with the trusty baler twine...

The guys admiring Ivan's Scout .... one of his projects!!(He does plan to get it on the road!)

Paul and Joe fighting..............

Vball.... *sigh* we had such awesome games!!

Jamie up for the serve...

Al and Paul up...

The guys cleaning up the Filthy floor.... Al with his "little" broom!

Twila n I.... i miss you girl!!!

The cousins with my mom.....

Joe reading to the young 'uns on Sunday

Kenley(a girl Sarah babysits) in her Sunday dress..... she is one of the cutest li'l girls out there!! Well i gotta run...... Love to all and God Bless Us Everyone, Always~Es

"To be or not to be- that is the question."

2009-03-17T16:36:00.001-04:00

so...... anyone????? You have any idear who that is??:) Come on........ well let me tell you... its Shakespeare.... Hamlet...... and just to clue you in, i read it in a devotional..... trust me-i'm not that educated!!! In poor melancholy Hamlet's situation, he was contemplating committing suicide. No, i'm not where he was(Thankfully!)... but i really do like that phrase- Its plain down black and white... It applies to every bump in the road. ....Will i be thankful on this problematic day?? .....will i be responsible enough?? will i cooperate when things don't go my way?? will i remember to take everything to God in Prayer?? Will i talk when i should SHUT UP?? ........ well you get the picture! The last week has been very interesting for me.... a learning experience. Sometimes i just cant do everything that i had planned.... i had to choose what is more important..... and i know i failed in at least one area. Its been good for me!! Well right now i need to choose to either please Ivan by getting to chores on time.... or procrastinating longer!!:) well me thinks i'm gonna run!! ;-) As Aways~Me

Life

2009-02-13T15:07:00.002-05:00

Well this is just a quick update to say that i'm still living:) My life has consisted of work and more work the last 3 wks....I'm working 4 days a wk now, so that keeps me hopping....and precious sparetime consists of trying to catch up on sleep and clean house and fix my life and other things i'm not telling you............
And now i'm packing up to go to Ontario to hang out at my sis's till Tuesday. so that'll be great!!
Life is good~God is Awesome~ I remain Blessed~
Always-Es

Eventually, Finally, Totally..........

2009-01-30T14:29:00.010-05:00

Wow this is gonna be looong!! Please bear with me folks cuz its been awhile n i don't know where to stop with pictures!! I HAD AN AMAZINGLY AWESOME trip to the sunny southernland!!!!!;) Definately one of the best wks of my life so far! God was sooo good to us.... and everything was a success.... n we had a total knockout of a blast. Since there were only a few of us, everyone was comfortable..... and those that didn't know each other became acquainted pretty quickly. Ivan n i came home from Pa sun nite around 8:30.....

Ok... i will try to run an informative timeline along with these pics....
This is our group that drove down.... from left to right...: my bro Ivan, Joe Stoltzfus, Vernon King, Amos Smucker,Marvin King, Alvin Stotzfus, Glen Stoltzfus, Ivan (Hoyt) Huyard, Twila Weaver, Me, n Paul King These are the best peoples!;)

Us cousins... Ivan, Hoyt, me n Amos

Ok this was crazy n interesting...we hit ice going down in Tenesee at 2:00 am!! Only God's hand saved us from having an accident.... The road was like a literal skating rink! dead serious!! Trucks had blocked off the road and traffic was a a standstill with cars in the ditch all over the place. So we all climbed out and skidded around.... guys falling on their behinds!:) then joe decides that we don't just wanna sit there till morn... so he climbs in n try to back up the van w/ 8 ft trailer so we can drive down the median.........

well as you can see, the guys tried to help by pushing.....

......but they only slid backwards like 10 ft!! They guys could literally slide the trailer from side to side, thats how bad it was!! well finally they got it off to the side and we drove halfways on the median n halfways on the rumble strip for like 10 miles till we came out of it! Amos was freaking out sittting by the door claiming he was gonna hop out as we passed by bridges! You know, i had hoped something weird would happen that would make memories.... and i got my wish to full and overflowing!!

We played many a game of rook to pass the time..... and with many stories, jokes, hassles, pit stops, snores, deep conversations, lotsa vee bicht duh(joe's name for coffee), food, our own church service, and endless laughter..... there was never a dull moment on the 20 hr drive! Twila n i got so entertained!! we certainly heard about and witnessed guys perspective! (oh yeah, btw..... guys have there own style of giggling!!;)

So we got to the base... Sun afternoon... this is the Church and gym CAM uses down there.... its right across from a lake where we could climb up on the levee....

how many guys does it take to change a flat tire??;)

Me... up on the levee

gorgeous sunset on the lake

Oh, yea.... palm trees!!!

This is the guys carrying on in the moring b4 we leave for work.... we had breakfast at 6:30! and you were'nt supposed to be late!

Al n Joe racing across the road and up the levee b4 headin off to work

Me with the lunch n drink cooler for our crew

Twila n i cavorting!! That day it was soooo warm i got sunburnt!! 75 degrees!! I did not want to come home to cold!!

ever the artist...... not.

;-)

that was Twila's doing!

joe flooring a room that we had painted.

Me on stilts... that was soooooooooo cool!!

twila busy painting. yeah we did actually get some work done!!:) Twila n i painted almost the whole wk.... i almost feel like a professional!

Me n my friend the lizard!! (yo twila!!;)

Luke in the middle!
Ok.... this was the most hilarious eve in the lounge ever!!! the guys decided to be the best pyramid.... with 15 guys...... it took them prolly like 6 trys!

Wow!! They held it for a split second!! I have never geard guys grunt n grown like i did then.... twas hysterical!!

Sweet victory!!

Ivan, Daniel, n Al doing something weird!!

Amos
They got lotsa entertainment outa one broom handle till they broke it!!

Hoyt n Glen ;)

Hoyt..... he was the best!! props to my cuz!!

Paul....

yoww.... oops, ouch!! :)

Phil (base coordinator) n Raymond (the chaplain)

A typical house down there...
This was thurs afternoon we went to pass out cd's and Bibles....

Al n Vernon

Twila n i on the bank of the Mississippi

Joe bein weird with 2 name tags!

Luke laughing his head off with Joe n Al

My awesome cuz Hoyt

Hoyt n i

Katelyn, Chantel n i ( children at the base)

Chantel, Ivan n Brendon

We had seafood nite!! That was delicious!! Whole crayfish!! And a bunch of us dared each other to eat eyeballs!!

Paul going up for the spike...

Al n Marlin after it....

Ivan n Al pulling Hoyt's ears cuz he turned 22 on the trip!

Well....... i must run.... i hope i've given you a little peek at my experience.... cuz trust me, thats all thats possible!! ;) thanks for your prayers as we traveled, n thanks for being my friends!!
Always~Me

hi ya'll...

2009-01-06T12:56:00.002-05:00

Well i don't have much to say about the last week of my life other then it has been at times exceedingly enjoyable...and at times painfully frustrating.... So i just say Thank You Awesome God for loving me, humbling me, and carrying me!! And thank you totally cool friends- for your kindly love and support!!
Oh, on the 17th My bro Ivan n I leave for New Orleans with a van load of cousins and friends from Pa, to work with Christian Aid....So i'll be gone for 2 wkends. Please pray for us as you think about it, as it is an 18-20 hr drive. I'm totally looking 4ward to this(yay twila!:) and i will post with lotsa pics when i get back! ladidadida......(; As always~Me

How did you die?

2008-12-22T20:58:00.005-05:00

Did you tackle that trouble that came you way,

With a resolute heart and cheerful?

Or hide your face from the light of day,

With a craven soul and fearful?

A trouble's a ton or a trouble's an ounce,

Or a trouble is what you make it

And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,

But only how did you take it?

You are beaten to earth; well, well what's that?

Come up with a smiling face

Its nothing against you to fall down flat,

But to lie there; thats disgrace!

The harder you're thrown, why the higher you'll bounce,

Be proud of your blackened eye

It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts,

But how did you fight, and why?

And if you be done to the death, what then?

If you battled the best you could

You played your part in the world of men,

Why the critic would call it good

Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,

And whether He's slow or spry

It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,

But only how did you die?

-Edmund Vance Cooke

You may say this is a non-christian poem, and a carnal outlook

on life.... but its an awesome inspiration to me.... to try my bestest

in every situation, every day. And i know there's a blessing in

fighting for what i believe in...... How can i not fight for God,

after all he's given me?

I fight for Truth! I fight to always be positive! I wanna go down kickin'!;-)

k, so those were my tho'ts of the day!:) Hope all my sweetest friends are

doin' splendidly! Always~Me

"Christmas Shoes" !!!!;-)

2008-12-15T15:39:00.006-05:00

And here they are......

No... certainly not!! where are the heels??!!:) Actually, these belong to....

.....this weird guy!!!:-P Who is generally, NORmally, known as, George!:) ...Barb impulsively decided to take a pic of them...so i copycatted.. Anywayz...I had a perfectly delightful wkend! Saturday in pa with cousins was great fun!! Ivan and i got home around 11 that night and had the house to ourselves. Then church on sun and lunch w/ friends. Then scurried home and did chores in time to leave to meet Barb, Terri, Maryrose, n George to go to a "Christmas Shoes" dramatized musical. it was fantasticly done!! i was moved to tears... Well then after that came Starbucks!!! oh yeah! so we got our coffee n hung out there till the idea of eating food kept getting mentioned in our conversation!! so we headed to burger king.... and stayed late to be sure!! twas the best night i've had in a loooong time!! So Props to best friends!!:)
Cutest Tt!!

Ivan n the weird guy again...

Burger King..here we are...

fries!!!

much laughter!!

Maryrose n George..... you're so cute girlfriend!!

Tt n bobbi... love this one!

Yeah.... Ivan!

Barb...refusing to pose!! 1 minute, eh?

more laughter!!:)

Thanks again Friends!! I salute YOU!!

guys making pretzels!!;-)

2008-12-12T15:00:00.002-05:00

my 18th Bday.... what a wkend!

2008-12-12T12:43:00.007-05:00

Well, finally i'm gettin around to updating... Wow! I'm truly sooo blessed!! I've got such an Awe-inspiring, omnipotent, huge God!!! But He still cares about having an intimate relationship w/ me?? It boggles my mind!! I can only say THANK YOU!! ....U know...... i love life! living, loving... what more of an oppurtunity could i ask for? ...Well i wasn't gonna have a preachin service...so i'll tell you a little belatedly about my wkend. well i got to sleep in on sat(my Bday) for starters. so that was cool! then by lunch two of Sarahn i's friends(Beth n Faith Heagy) came down from the north. We went skating n played hockey in the afternoon... so cool!! Then on Sun. at lunchtime, neighbors n friends partied with me! Then in the afternoon us youth went to Sarah's.... and i had a bunch of friends over..... we played some hockey in the freeeezing wind! But it was so totally worth it! then came pool, rouny-towny ping pong, and watching the guys hilariously roll out pretzels for supper!! They were actually really good...and of course they wanted the credit!! Anywayz....i had a blast... so props to all who came... and thanks for the thoughtful cards n gifts.

As for today... snow day!! so i didnt have to work, n mom n dad left for pa... so i'm lazying around!! So with all this time on my hands... i'm uploading a bunch of pics.... Tomorrow i leave for pa too.... for a family Christmas dinner, ivan n i will be home late cuz we gotta do chores on sun morn.... such is farming.... but its all good.

Well, i'll check in with ya later... Drive safe all you New Yorkers!!

me w/the gorgeous cake Tammy made
Eddie n Carol gave me 5 lbs of olives!! Thank you sir!! props to you guys!!

sis n MR murphy!;)

The other Esther.. definately the sweetest one!

becka...

Maryrose, beth , n faith (umm, maryrose...what shall i remind u of?? playin pool till 11 and what are you not good at??... eh..hemm..!!!!;-P

Ivan... ever the teacher...

Esther... lookin' good..

Ok, here are the mighty pretzel rollers!!

Leroy n Dan... Lee had the honors of sizing the dough...

ivan

Darwin..

Esther decided to help the guys out...

Tim

George- havin issues with stickyness!

Almost done...

This is me gettin ready to throw the empty pepsi jug at Lee.... who was the culprit for drinking it! You'd think he'd at least not smile about it!!

Tim making a shot

don't know what this was about, but it looks interesting enough!

Me.. gettin ready...

What happened??!! I hope it went in!!;)

George... obsessed w/ his hat! i thot it actually did work for him...

This is Mon morning.. sarah, me, and beth.... with sarah's 3 babysittin kids.. they're the cutest!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!:)

2008-11-27T16:35:00.003-05:00

I'm thankful for so much today!!!

I've been busy lately......to put it lightly! So here are a few pics for some visual explanations.....

Tt n i..... i had such a blast hangin out with her... root beer floats, awesome talks;), time flying, shoppin, coffee!!
I love it!! ;)

my nieces, Anna and Katelyn.....twas awesome having my brother n fam down...

Andrew, Anna, katy

Andrew n Sis

katy

Ollie n Denise ...they had a beautiful wedding!!

Dance..

Gr8 food at the silo restuarant!

Here goes...

2008-11-11T20:57:00.006-05:00

Terri n the kids, i had a blast helping her out the other wk.
George, Ivan, and Terri at cabelas

My boss George(one awesome guy!)

Ivan and Mark Schultz

Sarah and Kenley

Jr n Murphy

Nicole, Douglas, Hannah

this was in Maine in July

Hannah n I

Irene n I

Mexico reunion up here, this is the group.

Playing Ping-pong at the reunion

foosball......

Alex n Cindy

Sarah!:)

For her bday, Mom got a motrocyle ride!

Twila n I

Oops... this was supposed to be in the beginning!! oh well...

Life has been interesting, to say the least...! busy, and so on and so forth..... I spent the weekend in Pa..... A total knockout... in lots of ways!!:o) Ivan, George, Terri, and I left roun 8 on sat morn and went to Cabelas. My first time there, and that place is totally cool! Now of course, if i was actually a hunter it would really click! but then i would've gone way b4 this too... anywayz i'm bunnytrailing and that irritates me. So, Terri n i looked n searched for a relatively "cheap" white hoodie with a cabelas logo that actually fit.... we utterly failed at that. so we settled 4 a non logo-non hoodie- n STILL not cheap one(lol tt!).... Then we had lunch there...Ivan had elk, George-ostrich, me buffalo (yeah,bravo!!)... poor tt settled 4 soup cuz of her sore throat.... still feel bad about that. The "wild" meat was actually really good. totally edible! Well, after we tired of wandering and laser target practice... we headed 4 Ephrata. Got to Ed's, unloaded, headed to church n met w/ Barb, hence testimonies, hence going BACK to ed's and playing uno n drinking coffee!! Then the best part.... vball- with Ivan n I's Friend Al's youth. Then late nite supper at wendy's afterwards. On sun was morn service, a good message, relaxing, talking with so many friends i rarely see, talking a few walks:), then heading 4 home around 8:30... trying to keep ivan awake while nodding off meself, then at like 12:05.... - one mile from home- lights, i mean FLASHING lights...the twirly kind... sound familiar anyone??!! (Ivan is not gonna kill me 4 this... i can hold up my end!!) Nevertheless, Ivan had not used his turn signal.... i've 4ever bugged him about that very thing... and henceforth thankfully he only got a warning! I told him what a wonderful way 2 start a brand new day!! yeah... then Mon i was working at home... and today i was at work, i'm busy planting bulbs for Easter.. hard to comprehend i know!

So that was my last few days.... i know... i can really get into it...:)

Here are a few random pix in tribute to family n friends. Later, ya'll.

An eve of pretzels an pool!

2008-10-26T21:19:00.003-04:00

Sorry Bobbi, you're just so cute!:)

You get the 8 ball in, Maryrose?

Love u Tt!

I REAlly sucked last nite......

You go George!

The ever-helpful bro of mine!:)

You rock, sis!

We had a gr8 time rolling pretzels and just hangin out..... with a few competitive pool games AND a few pathetic ones:) Either way, it was fun! A rather late night to be sure..... and my night just kept gettin later and later as my extreme pepsi boost kicked in!(thanx bobbi n Tt!)Needless to say, i overdosed and could NOT get to sleep..... BUT, i also kept almost wide awake in church 2day! Speakin of sleep, why am i still up??