Christmas Day and a brand new baby!

Merry Christmas! Last post for this year!

One of my best friends had her baby on December 22nd. I got to hold him soon after he was born and also got to hold him on Christmas day! He's the most precious thing ever! I also got to talk to my best sister friend Rachel who is currently in Lesotho, Africa on Skype for close to an hour. It was a nice Christmas gift. I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas! I'll talk you again next year :)

Baby Nathan on Christmas Day cuddled in the blanket I made him!

Baby Nathan three hours old. What a privilege to get to hold him! Congratulations Anna and Nathaniel!

Just a small glimpse of Heaven. Joseph, Mary, and the Babe.Front view! So precious!

Christmas Program No.1 down!

Well, last night is over. Sorry that I don't have any pictures to post yet! Hopefully I'll be able to have someone send me some later. I know that there were several taken, I could see the flashes from backstage. Despite some minor (major to me) difficulties, the program went without much trouble! There was just a few different sections... I was backstage and the drama had started when I realized that the icicle lights edging the platform were still on, nothing like shedding a little light on the sets when the people come out... oh and the lantern didn't get turned on.... or when the narrator didn't realize we weren't doing a song, so there was all this dead space. He was waiting on the lights to go off and the song to start, and we were backstage waiting for his words to cue the actors in... or when "Mary" forgot a line and "Joseph" had no clue when to go onstage... or when a choir member shows up backstage halfway through to replace the batteries in one of the mikes...yeah little things like that :) Baby Jesus was absolutely adorable! He moved some when we had him backstage, but when he got out front, he didn't move hardly at all. I think we are going to remove the paci tonight! I want a little action from the baby! He's so adorable that he looks like a doll, but.... He's not! Anyway, it was great fun, except that the nerves didn't hit me until around 7:30. I was standing in the back waiting for the intermission so that I could go and switch the platform around, and I started stuffing food! Two pumpkin roll slices and four cookies in just a matter of a few minutes. That's when I knew I was nervous :) I wanted pizza, but I'm glad I talked myself out of that one! I won't be able to give an update or pictures until probably Monday. I might be able to send some pics tonight via my phone. I'm not making any promises! Well, I hope you have a wonderful day! And hopefully this post isn't boring! See Ya!

Christmas Program

The annual Christmas Program is tonight. This year I didn't get all of the drama stuff started as soon as I usually do, therefore... I should be extremely stressed. But for whatever reason, God decided to allow me to get sick. So while I am concerned about tonight, at the same time, I kinda don't care. It's horrible, but at the same time I know that I don't have the physical ability to be extremely stressed concerning the program this year. I'm really excited this year tho! It's going to be great! My actors are amazing and wonderful! If you can't make it to campus, we are live-streaming. It goes on the net at close to 7:00 pm tonight at www.holinessonline.com. There is a link for the live-streaming :) . I hope that you can go and view it and enjoy it! Even if you can't, please remember us in your prayers! Anyway, I hope to be able to post some pictures later! Have a wonderful day!

Psalm 106:1 Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever! Have a Wonderful Happy Thanks

October is Past....

Sam and I on a houseboat in Burnside KY.

Mill Springs. An Mill that was used in Civil War times. So neat!

A waterfall near the mill. Part of the water from the spring that ran the mill.

Sam and I near the mill wheel. It is huge!

Cumberland Falls near Corbin Ky. Absolutely Beautiful!

Sam and I in a Hollow Tree!

The weekend before last we went to Sam's Parents house for the weekend. We had soo much fun! I have so many pictures. 158 to be exact, but I posted a few on here for your enjoyment! I'll type more later :) Ta Ta for now!

A Little Datin Time........

Sam and I went to a concert in a park in Sheridan. This was back before school started and it was the Zionsville Concert Band. It was really really good!

Sam sitting inside a hunting blind at a hunting store on one of our other 'lil' dates.

Sam went to this park with his cousin and really wanted to take me. We went and had a wonderful time!

At the Park!

I attempted to climb and ended up falling off.  Sam ended up falling off as well. We laughed and laughed!

This is just a little sample of a few of our dates. Samuel and I are not the big elaborate type. We take little dates anywhere from 1/2 hour to 4 hours. Fun little things. Lunch and Walmart..... :) But such little times are the times that we can learn to cherish the most. So I thought I'd share a bit of our "little" times with you! Have a blessed day!

October!

Well.. Old Fashioned is thru. Somehow this year it just wasn't a lot of fun. Maybe I'm getting burnt out on OFD. After all it's been close to twenty years. Anyway. We are starting October. My classroom is freshly decorated, (last week) and we have learned 13 letters and sounds so far. We are halfway there! Yay! I am surviving, how I'm not sure, but I am. Well... Have a wonderful week, month...... etc!

Fall!!!

One of my Piano students gave me some apples, and that same weekend I baked an apple pie! Yummy!!!! It's getting to that time of year! I love it! Fall... Time for apples, pumpkins, hayrides and hoodies!

The absolutely beautiful sky tonight. God is a master painter!And the picture does not do it justice...

Pictures from Camp!!!!

Evie and I teaching.

This is one of the first times that I have had a chance to go online and post pictures and things from CYM camp. These kids were angels! So much fun! I really truly enjoyed it! Evie and I had a blast!

Sooner!!!

Evie and Mr. Turtle

They mentioned a bat..... Gross....

Question and answers...

The boy's side of the cabin.

The girls side of the cabin.

View from the front.

The Light of the World is Jesus!

This is a video of the guy who did the puppet for my kid's services. Even though I wrote the script, I never knew what he was going to say. In this particular video, he cracked me up so hard it was difficult to play the piano.
Now my next thing is starting Kindergarten... we start in just a few days. Wow. How time does fly. I'll have to post pictures later of my classroom... but until then :) Have fun!

Gearing UP!!!

Well, I'm gearing up for another camp. I'm getting clothes ready, mentally writing puppet skits, thinking of how and what to pack.... YAY! I'm excited to add a puppet this time, Now I just have to figure out his place in the service. What fun! I'm hoping to find out soon what I'm going to be doing at school this year. So far, that knowledge has eluded me. So. I'm working more hours this week and trying to get all of these mental gymnastics done. Plus making time for a date this weekend "wink ;)" I'm excited tho. Teaching kids is one of my favorite best things to do! Definately more fun than working.... Anyway. I probably won't have a bunch of time to get on here, not that I've been doing that good this year anyway! But I hope that if you think of it you will remember me in prayer. Teaching young ones is a great responsibility, and I can only hope and pray that something I say or do will help them along their spiritual path. I'll try to post some pictures when I return!!! Have a wonderful week!

Hot! and Content?

Hot... Hot...Hot! What a grumpy hot day! To tell you all the truth, I'm quite ready for this summer to end. I'm ready for fall... for crisp red apples, really ripe tomatoes, for cooler temperatures, hoodies and hot chocolate! I'm ready for some of my friends to return, to get back into a routine, to start living a normal life again. Why is it that we as humans tend to always want something else? When it's winter we eagerly anticipate spring, and then when it starts getting hotter we long for the snow again. We long to be with friends, but after being with them for so long... we long to be alone again. Wow when you look at life that way, it seems like Paul had a reason to joyfully say that he had learned to be content in whatsoever state he was in. Looking over my life, I know that I definately need hep in that area. Help me Lord.. to learn true contentment. Contement in my place in life with you, yet ever striving forward.

Return from Vacation!

Cody under the "Original Sign"

Info about the Colonel

Me and the Colonel

My Current Family... and Hopeful Family????

Well, THIS time I actually had a vacation. Well... Sorta :) We got to travel down to Sam's for a few days. Such fun! We were there over my birthday which was fun. I got to see some of my family, whom I haven't seen in over a year. We ate at the "original" KFC... don't try it. It wasn't worth it. I got to go on a birthday morning date with Sam, and we ladies... Mom, Mary, Mom Nelson and I... had a fun day of shopping. Mom Nelson had made me a new skirt, and Mom bought me one.. so Two new skirts for my birthday.. not bad :) We came home on the fourth, and had some fun watching the various fireworks displays as we traveled the roads. All in all not a bad vacation!

Camp #1 is over!

What a week! Last week I had the privilege of teaching the children's services at Pilgrim Camp. Although I had little notice, I had fun... well sorta! Teaching the children was fun, but all of the stuff that went along with it! Goodness. The devil really really fought last week. I was sick all week and we had car trouble the later part of the week. But God is faithful! I made it through with the help of some friends.. Thank you Janella and Evie... and had the program yesterday morning. I'm sorry that I don't have any pictures. It's kinda hard to take pictures of yourself while you're teaching! Now that that is over... I'm officially on vacation as of 8pm tonight! Yay!!! And... after vacation.. I hope to be adding a new addition to my family! :) Mom has finally agreed... almost... that I can get another bird. I was kinda holding out for a puppy.. but I don't think I'll have the time. :( But another bird will be grand. Sunny died several years ago, and our house has been petless for far to long. I know that after I'm married a bird will not be Sam's choice of a pet, so I'll probably get my puppy then. But until then... I'll sing along with my feathered friends... or squawk along anyway... but my break is over :( so until later!! Ta Ta!

My "Vacation"?

Wow, IHC week this year was certainly a different time. It was one of those weeks where everything that should only take a little portion of time, took soo much longer! Sam and I had planned that we would leave fairly early on Wednesday morning to get to IHC for most of the day. So.... on Tuesday, we had to clean out his car! When we finally got started, it took us around an hour and 45 minutes. So much for getting my other stuff done that day. I went to work, and then had to pack that night, load the car when he got off around 10:30ish, and head to bed. I do believe we left around 7:30, and then ate on the way. After arriving at Dayton, we were able to get into two services, ate lunch there, and then got ready for our choir to sing that night. When I finally left with my friends to go to our motel, it was late.... we needed food, so we headed to a Steak n Shake... Big mistake, it took so long to get our food. We waited, while they had empty, dirty tables for close to 30 mins before we were seated... Finally with some food we headed to Walmart to get something then on to the motel. Needless to say, it was close to 12:30, 1:00 before I got to sleep. Thursday was one big rush! It was really neat to be able to sing at Dayton Square this year. It was not only an experience, but it was very interesting for me because I hadn't really sang the songs. I played the flute on them, but Director Glick said that I could sing if I wanted, and I wanted :) We finished that, rushed back for lunch and then started our practices for Mass Choir and Orchestra that night! In the middle of practice, I was able to make the arrangements and purchase the filing system for my Betty Lukens set, and a background and overlay that I was missing! I was on cloud nine! or higher :) Poor Sam, we had to squeeze all of that into his Camero along with all of our stuff :) Good thing he loves me... Anyway. The service was very good, but once again the orchestra sat on the platform all service. The only problem with the orchestra sitting on the platform is when the speaker speaks there is no monitor for the people behind him to hear him. So we sat and listened to the speaker who sounded like he was talking in a barrel under water. I didn't get anything out of that message.. sorry Travis Johnson.... I'm sure it was good! We finally headed home after the service and had around a 4 hour trip there. We arrived around 1ish. After going inside, we collapsed in our beds and died. Friday was just a fun day with Sam's family! On Saturday everything we did took far longer than it was supposed to! Sam's car alignment took 2 hrs. The belt shredded on the mower.... um.... Mom Nelson and I cut out a skirt for me to sew, and didn't sew it. And then to top it all off, I fell asleep during family devotions. The next morning in Sunday School, Dad Nelson wanted me to help with the lesson, and I told him I didn't know how much help I could give because I had slept through the discussion the night before! He did a really good job, and I helped as much as I could! That night, just as Sam and I were getting ready to head back up here, my Mom called and said that when she was driving the axle broke on the car! Thankfully a mechanic was close by, and they were able to get it towed to the shop. We got the car back on Monday night, but it was a crazy weekend. So much for a vacation..... Now I'm looking forward to summer. I only have two and a half week lefts of school! I have a test on Tuesday, and I'm done with the class I'm taking... now I only have to go over the class I'm teaching! Well... So much is life.... Just wanted to let ya'll know about my little vacation!!!!

Some more pictures from Dayton Square....

Our choir got to sing with the IHC mass choir at the Dayton Square this year! What fun!

Hey... Long time no talk to! It has been a long couple of weeks since I've written in here! Well, we've had a lot of things happening as well. Preview Days, Choir and Orchestra services, preparation for IHC. Lots of things. I wish that I had something profound to write, or some deep insight to give, but I am afraid my brain is overloaded and fried. Maybe after this weekend and next week I will be able to pour my soul out on paper, but as for now.... I hope to see all of you at IHC. Twill be a wonderful time this year. I'm very excited about Mass Choir and Orchestra. I just found out yesterday that I will be playing! Yay! Made my day! Anyway, I'm rambling.... I'll talk to you all later.....

My favorite man in the world!!!!!

Heading Out Soon!!!

Well, we are heading out this weekend for choir tour. Wow, I can't believe that it's this time of year already! For those of you who have been on tour, you know the frenzied pace that is about to ensue! To top it all off, when we return we are preparing for recording! AHHHH!!!! I'm going to need the patience of Job, and the fortitude of Daniel to be able to withstand the next few weeks! But, thankfully, the large test that has been looming over my head is now finished. Why did I ever think that it would be extremely easy to go back and start taking college classes again? I still have a paper to write.... :) I like writing papers though, so it might be fun! Anyway, enough rambling.... since I won't be taking my computer on tour, all posts will be via cell-phone, but... I'll be able to post more pictures that way! :) So Yay!!! Well, I need to get off of here and get a few things done... Ha!!! Talk to ya later!!!

Fun Times

Here's my little lady girl!

Here she is with Sam!

We had a wonderful fun weekend last weekend :) Although I was feeling ill almost the entire trip, we still managed to get many a laughs! Remember the puppy? Well, when I walked in the door, she went crazy! Jumping, barking, the whole bit, she was so excited to see me! We finally got her calmed down. Wow, she is getting so big! On Saturday we went shopping, which was such fun :) yet tiring.... On Sunday, Sam and I had the privilege of singing in the morning service, thanks to Dad's conniving :) and then we also got to sing as a part of my friend Rachel's missions service that night. In the morning service, God came in a very special way. It was just wonderful to sit and soak it in. I love attending that church. I also got to reconnect with an old friend from when I was a junior in high school. We got to play our flutes together again, and talk! Well, Monday wasn't quite the same.... we had noticed when we headed to Kentucky, that my friend's car, which Sam was driving, had been having some trouble shifting gears. When we started home, it started bucking horrible! To make a looonnng story short, we ended up leaving Kentucky around 2 hours later than we wanted, and didn't get home till around 6. To make matters worse, when we left Kentucky, it was beautiful weather, just a lil tad nippy if you didn't have on a jacket, when we arrived in Indiana? Well, it was around 32, and freezing! Such is life! But all in all it was a good, fun, trip! I can't wait till I can go again!

A really pretty bridge with a train!!!

Lady.....

Lady and I at Thanksgiving!

 

 

Funny story! When Sam and I went down to KY at Thanksgiving, we took a small puppy with us to give to Sam's parents. Lady is their dog, but somehow she thinks she's mine :) Mom Nelson says that when I call and they put me on speakerphone, Lady is looking all around trying to find me. She also told me that the other day, she was playing a video clip that I had posted which I was talking on, and Lady went running through the house trying to find me. Such fun! I'm so glad I get to see her this weekend, but not only see her, but see Mom and Dad Nelson and David too! Not to mention going shopping at some of my favorite flea-markets! I'm so excited! I'll try to post more pictures of 'my' growing puppy next week! Oh, and next week is Spirit Week here at school, so stay posted for some crazy pictures!! 

The Storm "Revisited"

This is just a little something I wrote back in 2005, and revised in 2006. Since we just had another Ice Storm, I thought I'd pull it out and share with you all.


It is amazing how God can take an inanimate object and turn it into a thing of beauty. In January 2005 we had an ice storm. The trees were coated with ice. What was once a dead and lifeless looking tree, now glowed and sparkled with light. Where just a few hours before a dark forest stood, with grasping arms reaching toward the sky, an enchanted woods now stands. Tall sentinels stand, encased in glittering splendor. Tiny shrubs are turned into a blaze of shimmering light. With one touch of the Master’s hand, something that once looked ugly -- a tree devoid of leaves -- turns into a thing of beauty that not even the finest painter on earth can recreate. If God does such beautiful work on trees, how much more beautiful and like Him can He mold us? Those trees did not look up to Him and ask “Why did you encase us in ice? It is cold and wet, and it is making some of our branches crack. This is not fair, why do I have to endure the pain?” We would think that asking God such questions would be silly, but we see the bigger picture. Yes the ice is cold, and yes the branches crack, but oh the beauty when the sunlight falls on the ice encased trees. The light and beauty make up for the cold feeling they had before. Just as the sun lit up the trees and turned their sorrow into beauty, the Son of God wants to shine upon us and turn our sorrows, our pain, our loneliness, our disappointment, and our confusion into a wonderful display of God’s amazing Grace. Just as the tree is made into a thing of beauty by suffering through the storm, the storms we face in this life have a purpose. Trust Him, He knows the beauty that will follow the storm.
1/2005 Revised 6/3/2006 JRH

Memories

The pictures that I posted earlier were pictures of my most recent cookie baking experience. Later that evening after all the baking and taste-testing was done, I was inundated with memories of my Daddy. I was taught how to bake cookies by my Daddy. As I was baking I could almost hear his voice in my head telling me how to mix the dough in my hands and how to roll it out and how thick the dough should be. I can hardly believe that this May will be 10 years since my Daddy went to be with Jesus.  Sometimes this sadness can overwhelm me..., but I know that my Daddy is with Jesus and I know that I will see him again. So baking cookies is a trip down memory lane for me.... but I will have to say that it's a yummy trip!

A pan... The dough.... In the oven.... Add the chocolate.... Yummmm!!!!! ;)

Saddened.

My heart is saddened last night to hear of the passing of a warrior of Christ. Sis. Nancy Davis was an amazing woman. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to spend much time with her, but the memory of the conversations says in my mind. Her songs, her testimony, they will last. May God help and comfort her family during this time of loss.

Wow!

That's the only word that I can say. We had a wonderful service on Campus this morning. We are in revival with David Fulton, and God is coming and meeting with us. Today, reminded me of the days of old... I sound old when I say that.. LOL... Today, God met with the High School in a special way. They were having their own revival which lasted through two of their class periods, and continued into the college revival service. God came and met with us there and it was wonderful! God is so amazing!!! I am only praying that God will continue to bless, help, and send us His amazing presence!!

Miss George and Captain Patrick O'Blenis

 

I thought I'd add a quick picture to my blog at this time! This picture is a picture from our Christmas Program here at school! We had a lot of fun posing for tons of pictures! It is such fun to work with such talented young people! God has blessed our school! We are embarking on a new school year. Yesterday was our first full day of classes in the college. A new semester has begun! Now it's time to focus on the important things.... Panera... Hot Chocolate... Donuts... Cookies... Umm..... :) Really! I'm excited this year to be taking a church history class. It seems that because I'm older, or maybe because I teach college myself, I am taking this class seriously. I have almost half of my collateral already done, and... I've even picked out my term paper topic and I am already gathering information on it. I can't believe it! Today was my first day in the class and I'm already far ahead! I'm crazy! :) Well, I need to do a few things for the class I need to teach tomorrow! So I'll talk to you later!

Listen

So many different thoughts are swirling around in my mind right now. I was reading a book called Listen last night, and this book is talking about a town that suddenly has a website that is reporting some of the private conversations in the town. These conversations start a wave of hurt and pain that sweeps the whole town. People start hearing what other people think about them. The book is fiction, but I guess that it kinda made me stop and realize the power of words. It's not that I didn't understand that before, the Scripture speaks clearly of this in James, but I guess the book made me think. How much of what I say has the potential to hurt people? Do I ever think about it? I know that words hurt, I've had them hurt me, but sometimes it's easy to say things and not think about them. In these days of Facebook and Blogging, it's so easy to say something and maybe not really mean it, but you can hurt someone forever. Sometimes we say something and then tell the person you are joking, and they say that it's ok, but in reality they are hurt inside. How many times have I done that? Lord, please help me to be careful with my words, help me to watch what I say. Help me to only use uplifting words to pull others up with me, so that we may reach our heavenly goal!

Back in the Grind.

Well... I didn't post for awhile, because I didn't really have much Internet access. Christmas Vacation is officially over for me. I started back in the school library today. Not Fun :) Actually I simply need to remember that routine is good! As vacations go... it wasn't the best. I was sick a lot during this vacation. I've tried to feel better but... alas it didn't work. I did get to have a wonderful shopping trip yesterday and get some more books.... just what I need :) lol. I'll try to maybe post some pictures later! Talk to you soon!