2005 A Year in Review

Well after seeing everyone blogging about the past year I decided it would be a good idea for me to jump on the bandwagon. It has been quite the year for me....Although up until now I have been trying to press on and not think about the past. Last New Years Eve was spent with a few friends and some tequila. After becoming slightly intoxicated I decided it would be a good idea to call an ex boyfriend and wish him a happy new year. This simple drunk dial started a series of events....we started to talking...stuff happened...etc. After new years up until about May life got a little crazy. My father got engaged and was then married in April. I also had heavy load between school and work. Then came the month of May....I was shopping at Inspire Me to pick up a couple Juicy Couture sweatsuits before the Women's Retreat(Juicy is the best when you want to be comfy but chic!!) and I received a job offer. I had the weekend to make a decision. And what a weekend it was! The Women's Retreat is something that I look forward to every year. This year a lot of great relationships came out of it. I had come in contact with all of the girls before... but after the weekend was done I had made some really great friendships (Jeanna it all started at the campfire). I came back to reality on that Monday and made the decision to take the job at Inspire Me and leave the my four year adventure at the Buckle. Summer came with some major changes. I had several close friends leave, my step family moved in, started a small group with the girls from the retreat, and there was the famous BLOWUP with my ex. Although lots of stuff went on some awesome memories were made...Jeanna's Bday, Party at Laura's, Haci dancing, the beach, speedos, off roading....Just to name a few! Then school started back up and my life got a little hectic...my small group fell apart (despite efforts to keep it up)...my family life got a little rough...my relationship with God and friends got put on the back burner(between school and work there is no time). The semester was just kind of one big blur for me. Then I was on another shopping spree and received another job offer (as school was coming to a close). So I decided to leave my short experience at Inspire Me and go back to Buckle. Which leads me to where I am today. This year has been full of changes.... and challenges....gained relationships.....lost relationships....finding myself...finding my place...great parties...fabulous trips...weddings...great conversation...and lessons learned....we will see what 2006 brings............... <3 Moi ;)

A Little Sunday Night Humor

A BLONDE GUY GETS HOME EARLY FROM WORK AND HEARS STRANGE NOISESCOMING FROM THE BEDROOM. HE RUSHES UPSTAIRS TO FIND HIS WIFE NAKEDON THE BED, SWEATING AND PANTING."WHAT'S UP?" HE SAYS."I'M HAVING A HEART ATTACK," CRIES THE WOMAN.HE RUSHES DOWNSTAIRS TO GRAB THE PHONE, BUT JUST AS HE'S DIALING,HIS 4-YEAR-OLD SON COMES UP AND SAYS "DADDY! DADDY! UNCLE TED'S HIDINGIN YOUR CLOSET AND HE'S GOT NO CLOTHES ON!"THE GUY SLAMS THE PHONE DOWN, STORMS UPSTAIRS INTO THE BEDROOM, PASTHIS SCREAMING WIFE, AND RIPS OPEN THE WARDROBE DOOR. SURE ENOUGH, THERE ISHIS BROTHER, TOTALLY NAKED, COWERING ON THE CLOSET FLOOR."YOU ROTTEN S.O.B.," SAYS THE HUSBAND, "MY WIFE'S HAVING A HEARTATTACK AND YOU'RE RUNNING AROUND NAKED SCARING THE KIDS!" I got this from one of my coworkers I though it was friggen halrious and decided that others might feel the need to have a little laugh as well ...hehe

Wheeeww! Finals are over!

I would just like to say thanks to all of u who were praying for me during finals....very much apperciated. I made it through them alive and thats all that matters. I def learned that a little bit of sleep and alot of coffee and praying gets u through hardcore finals. God was def on my side through them. Ne ways Im so excited that it is Christmas break. I get to work and hang out with friends yay!

Hell on earth ?

This week could possibly be one of the most challenging weeks I have been through...possibly? It is a combination of things that brought me to my state of mind I am in today. I work fifty six hours this week...Yep I said it 56. I know some of you say Linds thats nothing. I also have finals. One of my finals determines whether or not I take all my next semester classes. Only one person may understand my next rant...but while I am throwing my self this pitty party I might as well include it......There is a game...Im not very good at this game. I have lost it several times. Im competitive so I hate to lose. Ne ways it is just a combination of things that are going on. I could possibly have a nervous breakdown. Therefore if you read this please pray for me if you get the chance...it would be very much apperciated. Thanks

May the good lord be with you Down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness Surround you when you’re far from home And may you grow to be proud Dignified and true And do unto others As you’d have done to you Be courageous and be brave And in my heart you’ll always stay Forever young, forever youngForever young, forever young May good fortune be with you May your guiding light be strong Build a stairway to heaven With a prince or a vagabond And may you never love in vain And in my heart you will remain Forever young, forever young Forever young, forever young Forever young Forever young And when you finally fly away I’ll be hoping that I served you well For all the wisdom of a lifetimeNo one can ever tell But whatever road you choose I’m right behind you, win or lose Forever young, forever young Forever young ,forever young Forever young, forever young For, forever young, forever young

What is the deal with People?

SO I had to write one last paper in my religion and culture class. We had the whole semester to write this one because we had to attend three different church denominations other than our own. I went to a Catholic serivce, Mars Hill, and Nappanee Missionary. All were very different from each other, but each served its members well. I realized through all this that people need different churches. I love GCC it's the place for me! BUT its not for everyone. Just as these churches really didnt fit my personality but they worked for their congration. Now today was the day we turned in these papers and got to talk about our experiences. I was really excited to talk about what I had learned and all the cool things that happened and also so some stuff that I thought didnt work. After class I was totally sad and frustrated. People in my class totally just bashed other churches. Especially GCC and a couple other larger churches were targeted. They say that GCC is commercialized, its a big marketing scam, they disrespect God's house by having coffee and such....etc. One lady even said "I heard that they dont use the Bible, I mean no one ever brings the Bible to church" Most of my class time was spent trying to explain that we do have Bibles , we use them, we love Jesus, We love people, and thats why we do what we do. It totally was a negative experience. I really broke my heart that people just bash each others churches. Why do we do this? People have different needs. Jesus understood this. This has just been coming up so much lately. I will never comprehend why people focus so much on what others are doing. I mean I care about people that are close to me dont misundertand this. I just think that the Devil is putting this idea in people's heads that everyone should believe excatly the same thing. Now while some things are black and white....there is alot of gray area. And the gray area is up to that person and God. No need to judge one persons gray area becuase it is not the same as yours. Love each other! Each one of my friends is different and unique we all believe slightly different things on certain issues and that is why I love them and find them so interesting. Ok Im going to get off the soap box now. Everyone have a great day!!!

Count your Blessings

Wow what a roller coaster ride these last few months have been.....I have had so many changes going on. During all these changes and trials I really started to get bitter, sad, angry.....etc. A few days ago I recieved a forward(usually I hate forwards and refuse to read them but this time I did and Im really glad) and at the beginning a good friend of mine talked about becoming judgemental and negative. After reading it I took a step back and took a look in the mirror. I realized that I had somehow taken some steps in the wrong direction. I was judging people and being negative because of all these thing that were happening around me. I was unhappy and I was going to take everyone else down with me. NE ways so after taking this "look in the mirror" I decided that I needed to point my feet in the right direction and take a different path (the I was on was obiviously not productive). So they have this cute little blessings jar at Inspire Me (my old place of employment) and I bought it. I decided that I would put in a blessing everyday to help me on my road to being more focused and positive. Ne ways the first night was rough. I refuse to do something if I dont believe it in my heart. I sat there that first night and was so bitter I didnt want to write ne thing down as a blessing because I really was starting to think that God screwed me over. (Now if u know me at all u know that I am a drama queen and will make somethings out to be a life and death matter..If Jeanna is reading this she is laughing and totally agreeing because I have told her many times that I think I am severely damaged from my upbring lol). Ne ways God finally just broke my heart because I really did want to write something I was just being stubborn. So the past few days I have wrote down blessings! It has been fabulous! People if you havent tried this I highly recommend you do. It helps to write it down and visually see it. I have been doing so much better. It helps me to be postive and focus on God. He has really been changing my heart. On another note I started back to the Buckle. I was seriously sick to my stomach about going back. I worked there for four years before I took a little 5 mo. break. I was worried I might have lost my skills. Friday was my first day back it went really well the team was asking me questions about presentations and product. I had some fabulous presentations myself. I think God is def doing some work in my professional life right now. Im excited to be back in my leadership postion and teaching people about fashion and sales...I have a good feeling about everything. I guess what I have learned from all this is that God is FAITHFUL. He doesnt give you anything you cant handle and He is a good God.