I have, as you may have noticed, been on a loooong hiatus from blogging. It isn't that I haven't had things going on to blog about...it's been that I have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off for the summer.
Here is what I have been up to:
1. Catalyst. This is my church's summer program for college students. I volunteered with this program last summer, in a very limited capacity. This summer, my involvement was ramped up a notch. Last summer I wrote and edited the devotional and just generally hung out with the students. This summer, I rewrote a part of the devotional, was also in charge of all the finances, and was the state-side communications liason for the month that the group was in Asia. All of this plus working full time, plus all of the "social" thing that happen during the week left me pretty much busy from morning til evening most days of the week. Today is the last day of the school. I love being involved with this, but it definitely is something I can only imagine doing for a couple of months at a time. I am not sure I can handle a schedule like I have had this summer all the time. I know my house, yard, other friends and everything else that got neglected in the last few months certainly can't handle it!
2. Family. Back in June, my brother, sister-in-law and two nephews moved into town for good! My brother has felt a call to church plant for a number of years and my parent's church feels called to plant churches....so it's been a great fit. There is a need and my brother desires to fill that need. So, they packed everything up and headed out here. It has been maybe the best thing ever!!! I have been spending tons of time over at my parents. Brady, my three-year-old nephew got to come to summer camp at the zoo. He and I went on a nephew/aunt date after one day at camp to McDonalds and then my house to play with my cats. I also got to babysit Kason, the one-year-old while my brother and sister-in-law took Brady out. It has been such a treasure having them here. I love them all so, so much.
3. Sickness. In the middle of August I went to the Dr. to have a abscess looked at. They initially put me on antibiotics to try to take care of it that way. When those didn't work, they lanced and drained it. They also put me on a second antibiotic. I had a severe reaction to the second antibiotic and ended up COVERED in hives from head to foot and running a 103.5 degree temperature. Needless to say I was miserable. I ended up at the doctor's office several times and even a took a trip to the Emergency Room one day. It took me out for about a week. I am all better now, but I won't be taking that antibiotic ever again!
4. Work. I ran this year's summer camp program again, just as I have the last two summers. This is summer was the best of all of the summers I have been a part of so far. The crew we had instructing was fabulous and it just went very, very well.
What is coming up?
Honestly, I am not really sure. Last year at this time I was going through one of the hardest times of the last four years. The truth that it is always darkest right before dawn proved to be true yet again. Starting in about November or December, things really turned around and have been great for the rest of the year. But, I'll be honest, there is a real part of me that is scared that this fall will be like last fall. If for no other reason than it is hard to not have a bit of a "let down" after being so busy. And truthfully, many of the same circumstances are in play this year as were there last year. I mean, in my head I know that no year is exactly like the others, but it is still a fear, however irrational it may be.
Here is what I have been up to:
1. Catalyst. This is my church's summer program for college students. I volunteered with this program last summer, in a very limited capacity. This summer, my involvement was ramped up a notch. Last summer I wrote and edited the devotional and just generally hung out with the students. This summer, I rewrote a part of the devotional, was also in charge of all the finances, and was the state-side communications liason for the month that the group was in Asia. All of this plus working full time, plus all of the "social" thing that happen during the week left me pretty much busy from morning til evening most days of the week. Today is the last day of the school. I love being involved with this, but it definitely is something I can only imagine doing for a couple of months at a time. I am not sure I can handle a schedule like I have had this summer all the time. I know my house, yard, other friends and everything else that got neglected in the last few months certainly can't handle it!
2. Family. Back in June, my brother, sister-in-law and two nephews moved into town for good! My brother has felt a call to church plant for a number of years and my parent's church feels called to plant churches....so it's been a great fit. There is a need and my brother desires to fill that need. So, they packed everything up and headed out here. It has been maybe the best thing ever!!! I have been spending tons of time over at my parents. Brady, my three-year-old nephew got to come to summer camp at the zoo. He and I went on a nephew/aunt date after one day at camp to McDonalds and then my house to play with my cats. I also got to babysit Kason, the one-year-old while my brother and sister-in-law took Brady out. It has been such a treasure having them here. I love them all so, so much.
3. Sickness. In the middle of August I went to the Dr. to have a abscess looked at. They initially put me on antibiotics to try to take care of it that way. When those didn't work, they lanced and drained it. They also put me on a second antibiotic. I had a severe reaction to the second antibiotic and ended up COVERED in hives from head to foot and running a 103.5 degree temperature. Needless to say I was miserable. I ended up at the doctor's office several times and even a took a trip to the Emergency Room one day. It took me out for about a week. I am all better now, but I won't be taking that antibiotic ever again!
4. Work. I ran this year's summer camp program again, just as I have the last two summers. This is summer was the best of all of the summers I have been a part of so far. The crew we had instructing was fabulous and it just went very, very well.
What is coming up?
Honestly, I am not really sure. Last year at this time I was going through one of the hardest times of the last four years. The truth that it is always darkest right before dawn proved to be true yet again. Starting in about November or December, things really turned around and have been great for the rest of the year. But, I'll be honest, there is a real part of me that is scared that this fall will be like last fall. If for no other reason than it is hard to not have a bit of a "let down" after being so busy. And truthfully, many of the same circumstances are in play this year as were there last year. I mean, in my head I know that no year is exactly like the others, but it is still a fear, however irrational it may be.
Here are a few tidbits of what I DO know:
Possible involvement with PLU's campus ministry called "Ignite."
Possible involvement in my church's women's ministry.
A week-long trip to LA and then Phoenix for two weddings.
Postponement of my Africa trip until February or March.
Possible foray into online dating (this involves a whole other post, but suffice to say it has become clearer and clearer that this is probably the only feasible option for meeting someone, though in my heart of hearts, I despise and loathe online dating for many reasons).
I think that's all for now!
Blessings,
Erin
I loathe online dating, too, Erin, but I can't deny that it turned out that the Lord had arranged it for me. Possibly because I was so convinced he didn't!
ReplyDeleteANDDDDDDD I am so excited that your trip to LA is for me (and my wedding, but whatever, I can't wait to see you!!!!!!)
Glad you are recovering from the summer. I look forward to hearing/reading more of your thoughts upcoming!