Mispelled Word

So... I've been told of some of my errors on my recent post but it was pretty big one. I used the word "advents" I mean to say events. Don't ask how I got those two mixed up.

Thanks

Praying for Paul

I talked to Paul about a week ago and expect a call from him any day now. I did get a letter and an email from him this week. In the card he had mention that he is doing some of the same stuff over and over that he stopped becoming effected by it. He is seeing things and doing things that one person can't even imagine what he must be going through mentally. Please pray for him. I know he is ready to come home. Pray for him every week as he works out in the tree house for his safety and ability to perform his tasks.
I'm going to be open about this, also pray for both Paul and I to seek God's wisdom concerning our relationship. We more than anything want to do God's will. We have been seeking wisdom and advice from our parents. I am suppose to share something with all of you readers of my blog but I'm at loss of how to put this exactly but dad wanted me to share this with everyone so that everyone is aware of Paul and I's relationship. I met Paul last year in early June. I started emailing him in November of the previous year. Simply because his parents had mention his lack of Christian friends so I thought I could drop a line. When talking through emails I kept it strict. I didn't know him and he didn't know me so I was careful. I often shared Pastor's sermons with him and my devotions and other weekly advents that linked with some sort of spiritual conviction. After meeting him well... things changed. I got to know Paul on a different friendship level and we started going out for coffee. He was only home for 3 weeks so only a better friendship was developed. Over time through emails we got to know each other better and knew that we were interested. I right away got my parents involved. I wanted their wisdom in all of this. In October of '05 Paul came home again for another couple of weeks and we took things a little bit furthur. Dad finally agreed for us to have our offical first date. Still in all of this my parents, friends, me and Paul were careful but it was at this time when dad gave us permission to be a "couple". Paul came home again in Jan and things continued to grow. Paul and I have continued to be careful considering the lack of time we have spent in actual presence but through letter writing, emailing and phone calls we have continued our "relationship" and have seen it grown. Recently.... Paul wrote a letter to dad of his "intentions". In this letter it included Paul's intentions of asking my dad for my hand in marriage when he came home this Christmas. He also talked about how he wanted to join the Coast Guard as a medic once leaving the Army. I'm sure you know what dad was thinking... "You want to take my baby girl to the coast away from me? Without getting to know me or me getting to know you?" Dad (and I) have prayed about this situation a lot. Plus dad has asked many trusted christian brothers for their advice. Dad finally has a letter ready to go in the mail as a response to Paul's letter. Its a long letter but positive and I can see that my dad is a Godly man who is doing his christian duty as a father in the response he gave Paul. It boiled down to getting to know Paul better, wanting Paul to be a strong Christian man, what he expected from Paul now until he came home and what he expected of Paul during his last year in the Army. Dad did say at the end of the letter.., "I don't plan on saying no, Paul. At least I don't have a reason. However it depends on what happens between now and until you come home."

So pray for Paul as he is in Iraq and prepares to come home and pray for Paul and I to seek and listen to both God and our parent's wisdom.

*Additional comments just email them to me.
icpinkbutaflies@aol.com

Thanks!!

Twice upon a Night

My day was going pretty good. I was one my way to the Foster's home and it was a beautiful day. I wasn't more than 15 min or less away from home. I was driving a long and this guy next to me was driving really close behind me but then he passed me. I quickly glanced at him as he passed me by. As I returned to look in back front I was about to hit a guy who had stop to let someone turn in front of him. I slammed on my breaks but it was too late. I hit him from behind but he let off his breaks so the impact wouldn't be so hard. I just lost it. I started shaking before I could cry. The guy was really nice though. He tried to calm me down and told me to sit and catch my breathe. A undercover cop car saw us and pulled over and came and talked to us. We pulled into a parking lot so we were not blocking anyone. We handled all business there and I got the ticket. But I thought about how if that guy who was driving really close behind me, if he would have still been behind me he would have slammed in the back of me. God was merciful to me. In the mean time dad came out and talked with me and was happy that everyone was ok. By this time it was time for me to head to class. So I drove to class. I was ever so carefull and took my time. I pulled into the parking lot and there was a car in front of me. She pulled into a spot and I stopped, let her pulled in and then I continued on my way. Well.. as I was pulling behind her to find my own stop she backed up pretty fast into my door. I just couldn't believe it. At any moment I thought I would wake up and laugh at this unbelievable dream. Or should I say I was hoping would be but of course I knew this was reality. I will say it wasn't my fault. What made this difficult was that the girl who ran into me had this major attitude. I was already an emotional wreck and I didn't need an attitude. I called dad again and he just couldn't believe it so he came back to my side. An RVC (campus police) police came and dealt with us and got seperate stories. No one got a ticket. Thank goodness. I went to class but I REFUSED to drive home. Mom and Dad came and got me. By that time my neck, head and back hurt. God did protect me during these trials. I do feel like he was testing me in many different areas. One of them being, do I have faith in Him first when these things happen. I will admit by the second time, I got angry but I had to stop it and ask the girl to forgive me. She was a bit surprise I said sorry. She was so mad at me and blamed me for the whole thing and I just let it go. Oh well its all over with and even though I am sore. I'm glad I'm just sore and not in the hospital. I had one crazy night. I need to learn to have faith first in situations like this.

A Non-stop Flight to Fun

After visiting Granma Garard and just being around her in her company I was home for 2 days. Since I did 2 classes separately this summer at Rock Valley, my summer was just starting. Melody Geiseman and I headed to Chicago on a Wednesday morning to do our little day trip before I had to leave the next day to Florida. We were on a mission to see King Tut’s Tomb and visit a store that my dad requested us to stop by to "check out". Both of these let us down but left us either laughing or find some other adventure. Once we got off the train we started walking down to the 900 block of Michigan Ave. Might I add that we were on the other end near 800. Once we arrived at the store.... we were disappointed to find a puny little store with not much to offer. By that time it was time to go see King Tut’s Tomb. Something I had been looking forward to all day. As the bus was pulling into the museum we saw, "King Tut’s Sold Out". Now what? We walked to the Shedd Aquarium but there was a long outdoor line. Then we saw it.... "Water Taxi". We hoped on the water Taxi and headed to Navy Pier and finished our afternoon there. We stayed in a nice room at the Holiday Inn Express. The next day I was off to Florida.


My Uncle Dan arrived to pick me up from the airport. I had my aunt and uncle to myself for most of my trip because their 3 boys were visiting their grandparents in South Carolina. Aunt Teri and I went running and did some exercising while I was there. We went to church on Sunday and I enjoyed it very much. On Monday we picked up the boys and drove to Sea World in Orlando. I had a blast there and was just blown away! I loved being with my 3 adorable cousins and spending time getting to know them a little bit better too. After a long day we headed home and I told stories until we found a place to eat dinner.


After this trip I headed home for yet another 2 days before I headed out to West Virginia. I arrived in WV without my luggage. My luggage decided to hang out in Chicago for one more day and take the next flight after me. My luggage was thankfully returned to me the following day in the mid afternoon. Mrs. Calhoun, Mercy and I went shopping Saturday afternoon and had dinner at a Chinese restaurant. On the way home Mercy and I played a never ending game of 20 questions but we had our share of laughs. Sunday morning was church which once again I was blessed with a good sermon and a restful afternoons. Pretty much everyday of the week Mercy and I went swimming at the country club and played games. Several times during the week Mrs. Calhoun and I stayed up really late talking or looking through baby books of her kids. I got the opportunity to see all of these cute, funny, pitiful and adorable pictures of Paul. Ha. We even watched baby home videos of all the kids. I enjoyed watching them so much. Might I add that I did get a chance to talk to Paul shortly this week. He is doing ok but please continue to pray for him. Prayer is needed for those boys and girls over there in Iraq. We ended my trip by having dinner at the country club with a jazz band on a terrace. We had a buffet style dinner with all kinds of food. I had a lot of fun there too. Mercy and I sat on this hill on the grounds of the country club and talked for a long time about what the future may bring. I hated to leave them but I know I will see them again soon.

*Thank you to all of you for letting me visit you and making my trips so much fun. I love you all.

*In a couple of days I will have some pictures of Mel and I's trip to Chicago and some pictures from West Virginia.

Sleepless Night

Its about 10:40 pm and I can't go to sleep for the life of me. Tomorrow Melody and I are driving into Chicago for a day of adventures and then staying over night. Then the next day I fly out to Florida to visit my Aunt and Uncle. I am waaaay too excited to sleep. Yes, folks I tried counting sheeps. Believe me it don't work. I am gone the rest of this week and most of next week and all of the following week after that. I'm visiting Paul's family in West Virginia next Friday for a week. Please pray that all flights go smoothly. If I get nervous I will just pull out the deaf card. Believe me.. If you start signing at someone they freak out. Especially if you were talking one minute and then the next you're deaf. Well, I'm going to go climb back into bed and try really hard to fall asleep. I'll write in a few weeks hopefully with some fun stories to tell.

:)