Sorry....it's been a few months...

Not having internet at home has limited my ability to post on a more frequent basis.
1 - I like to post pictures, and I just don't have them on my work computer.
2 - Fall enrollments are finally coming (have come) to a close, which means I can breathe again between calls at work! And it's not just a breath, it's almost enough for a nap, but I can't complain.
3 - I have a hard time putting things into words anyway, so though I have several things I could have blogged about, I've just kept putting them off!

Well, no more! I'm back, I'll try to be more consistent, and we'll see what happens.


For starters - I went to Niagara Falls w/ Jess the weekend before Thanksgiving and we had a blast - pics to come once I can load them onto my computer - I'm short on disc space so I have to coordinate it w/ my internet access.....Panera, we'll have a date in the near future (I LOVE their chicken noodle soup!!)

I've been at work 7 1/2 hours and talked to 26 people, average talk time 4:19, you do the math, that's a lot of free time today :) I've played a many game of TestTwist, MahJong, and Super Collapse 3; done 2 crossword puzzles, read People's Sexiest Man Alive issue that I bought while waiting out the weather at the airport in Chicago; checked email dozens of times; read Joel for my daily Bible reading and read everyone else's blogs. Blast for want of more stimulating things to do. I'm waiting for the library to call with the next Karen Kingbury book I have on hold - Found. We were all hoping they'd shut the office down early for the "snow storm" that's been coming in. I haven't been outside today, heard roads are bad, just not enough to close down - apparently buildings downtown closed early, according to rumors circulating the floor anyway.

I opened my first Christmas gift last night :) The entire series of Friends!! Can you believe it? I certainly was in shock. Merry Christmas came a little early! Gotta love living with Kel & Marcus. They let me turn on the Christmas lights, put on Christmas music, light some candles so it smelled like "Christmas" and they let me open their gift. Thanks you guys!!

Our company decided today via a conference call to close our office on Christmas Eve!! Woo-woo for an extra holiday! They were orignally going to close at 1:00pm, now we have the whole day off!!

I've been feeling kind of blue lately.

Blue in the sense that there are so many desires and joys of my heart, but for some reason, I have burried them deep w/in me. I have somehow lost who I am. I have been reading the Word a lot lately, it's been delicious to spend time in scripture; but at the same time, I'm seeing a reflection of myself and am having a hard time loving who God made me to be. Not because I don't like it, but because I don't see it. I have somehow buried my personality under layers and layers of fear of being exposed, judged, disliked, hurt. I've received comments that broke my spirit and instead of rising above the pain, I took those pieces and buried them deep inside my heart.

I don't know who I am anymore. I waste time w/ nothing. I pass my days in loneliness. Each day I long for new relationships, new experiences, new ways to live life and meet new people. And each day I get off from work, go home to my apartment, and pass time until it's time for bed. What am I doing? Why am I afraid to venture out on my own? Why do I feel the need to cling to the comfort of another person to take any steps of faith? Why have I choosen to find my "acceptance" by the standards of man? Why am I afraid to trust God?

Lord, I know you're working an amazing thing in my heart. Keep my eyes open to your leading, to your teaching, to the stirring of my heart. Help me not be afraid of what you reveal to me in its depths. Lord, heal my past hurts, let me let you have the broken pieces to restore. God I long to trust you, but am for whatever reason afraid to do so. I keep looking for another person to comfort & protect me.
God, show me where I can find rest in you, in the depth and truth of your word, and in the expression of my heart. Lord, help me find who I am, who you created me to be. I pray for a spirit of love and truth and faith, not one of timidity. Lord help me to embrace my own heart, my fears, my longings, my needs, and let me give them into your hands. Lord, help me find you, face to face, no barriers or fear in between us. No lies to believe anymore. Jesus, I need you.

39 hours and counting....

....And I will be in San Diego with Katie!

I am excited for several reasons:

1) I haven't seen Katie since March and in that time she has gotten ENGAGED, decided to move to TENNESSEE and I am looking forward to all the DETAILS!!

2) I haven't taken a vacation for a very long time. I'm so ready to get anywhere outside of Iowa, just for a change of scenery. It will be quick, but hopefully full and refreshing.

3) We are hopefully going to visit the Museum of Natural History's exhibit on the Dead Sea Scrolls. They are something I have wanted to see, pretty much since I learned they existed (and found out what they were!). Unfortunatly I also found out they do not allow any cameras inside - I was desparately hoping for some awesome artistic shots of such an amazing piece of our history. But check out this link for general information on the scrolls: http://www.sdnhm.org/scrolls/dss_faqs.html; or http://www.sdnhm.org/scrolls/index.html for general information on the exhibit. I'm so excited!

4) Flying/Travelling by myself for the first time ever! I could hardly sleep this morning, I was already anticipating what would happen if I overslept Friday and missed my flight. I'm getting too paranoid! Just got to pray about it and leave the details w/ the Lord, I over-plan for pretty much everything I do. I have to TRUST He will care for me and that things will come together.

5) Katie Brannan hugs! I know that if you know Katie, you KNOW what I'm talking about!

6) Blessings by conversation, fellowship, laughter, sunshine, sleepiness, and catching up w/ old college roommates. So worth a tired week at work afterward.

Can't wait to see you Katie!!

I'm a WINNER!

Today was Fair Day at work. We had a celebration complete with hot dogs, snacks, casual dress day - meaning t-shirts were okay!, and we ended the day with a butter sculpting contest.

I know, I know, only in Iowa.
(I'm not a fair aficionado, so maybe it's not only in Iowa???)

Anyway, I wasn't real sure about my feelings for sculpting things in butter, but I thought, could be fun. And my break just happened to fall right in the time allowed for construction. I don't think of myself as a super creative person, yet I have my quirks. So I decided to follow a route that proved successful in the past.

I sculpted a penguin out of my stick of butter. I even made a semi-circle igloo home for my friend. (Misch and I had carved a penguin in our pumpkin at Halloween last year.)

And I won 1st prize!

I wish I had a picture of the winning sculpture, but I don't have a camera here at work. Plus, by now all of the creations may have melted. Maybe I'll figure out a way to sneak a shot w/ my camera phone.....unless they've already found their way into a trash can!

It got me thinking

I talked to a friend yesterday about past relationships and sin issues. Questions were raised as to why certain decisions were made and it really made me ponder my actions in the last year or so.

I think I have gotten fuzzy vision in my thinking about God, sin, grace, love, pride, and control. I know I struggled for a long time with these ideas and truths and I am still kind of standing in the midst of the fog. But I think the clearest and simplest truth is that I am a sinner. God loved and loves me and Jesus laid down His life for me. He has called me to lay down my life and follow Him, to be made in His likeness, and to live this life I have been given for Him. This last year I lost sight of that purpose, that calling, and lived for myself - fighting against God's word and commands. I forgot that it isn't about not doing what God tells me I should/shouldn't do - I became really rebellious against God's commands in my mind and my heart. But it is about choosing to TRUST God is who He says He is and that He really knows me and has my best in mind, even when I can't see or understand that. God is and was not trying to withhold good from me. I was trying to take what was not yet given to me. I did not trust God. Plain and simple.

So now where do I go from here? I have known the Lord for 11 years, realizing that is crazy, that even knowing someone for 11 years, you never fully REACH realization, truth, some end. It is a journey, and in the last 11 years the Lord has walked with me I've wandered in many valleys and deserts, and reached some amazing peaks with Him (sorry for cliches). But it's true, I will never FULLY know God, his purposes, his goodness, until I see Him face to face. But I can keep seeking Him, keep discovering new facets of His heart, His character, His love. That is what I want to truly know, that is what I want to do w/ my life - seek God, know God, love God, be loved by God, and live confident in Him.

I did it....

........I got a new car!!

She's a 2004 Dodge Neon SXT, lovely charcoal gray beauty.


Crazy. I'm on my own now....

Today is a popular day...

My very first call at work this morning was from a customer who was also celebrating a birthday today, she is turning 60. What an fun way to start the morning when you have to work on your birthday.

It's 11am and I have spoken to 2 customers celebrating a birthday today.

Harry Potter....don't worry, I won't give anything away

I started reading the last installment in the Harry Potter series yesterday afternoon. Thankfully I had not heard any rumors or details that give away any plot information....right until I got ready to sit down and open it up. Jess told me a rumor she had heard, that 2 of the prime characters died in the first 10 pages. WHAT?!?! Needless to say, without giving anything else away, I will safely say that rumor is just that, a rumor.

I read 2 chapters yesterday and am looking forward to reading every spare minute I have between celebrating my birthday, trying to sign loan/car papers, seeing Lindsay and Dameon get married and driving back to Ames on Monday to pick up my new car!!

Can't wait.

So much craziness....so much fun

I officially bought my first car last night. I signed the papers for a 2004 charcoal gray Dodge Neon SXT. It's a cute little car that is a major step up from my lovely 1994 Ford Escort that I've had for the last 6 1/2 years. It is sort of bittersweet in that I almost feel guilty abandoning my current car, she has treated me so well, but has definitely seen better days. And spending 2 1/2 hours talking financing and loans and insurance and warranties made my stomach turn in knots. It was a little overwhelming to make such a big purchase. It was definitely a milestone in the "big decisions" I've made. I was thinking over those things I had checked off as being "big" or "adult" and here are some of the things I remember:

*Buying a cd player for my Escort the day after my dad bought her for me from my aunt Barb.

*Paying for my first trip without my parents - going to Florida for senior year Spring Break w/ Annie, Catie, Brooke, Lindsay and Ashley.

*Getting a tattoo the summer I turned 18. (I would have mentioned the belly button ring, but that was more rebellious than responsible :) )

*Choosing to transfer to Iowa and leave my sister, my high school friends, and basically step out on my own for the first time - a huge step of faith with the Lord as well.

*Going to China, basically trusting the Lord with making a decision to go in about 3-4 days. Going overseas for the first time and experiencing a new culture and loving and serving the Lord with my friends and learning from the hearts of Chinese college students and professionals.

*Buying a new car, taking out a loan and being responsible for all aspects for the first time in my life (my dad is desperatley trying to cut my ties to him....and by him I mean his wallet :) )

So much fun stuff.....I don't know if I can stand the anxiety

Last night my sisters and I got ice cream at Hickory Park and I was joking about asking to sit at the bar.....the ice cream bar, because it looked kind of busy and all we wanted was ice cream. My sisters dared me to ask the host to sit at the bar, and I totally did it. At first he looked kind of uncertain, like he felt bad he had to tell me there was no bar, but then I threw in "....the ice cream bar." He totally cracked up, I think he thought I was funny. So then I told him my name and that when they announce our table was ready, they could just say over the loudspeaker, "Happy Birthday Lindsay," to which he continued to laugh. I love to entertain. We then proceeded to make dares for Kel & Jess - Kel came out of the bathroom with a long piece of toilet paper trailing from her flip flop. Jess got up and signed with the servers when they sang the happy birthday song - unfortunately they did the Do-ah-diddy song instead of the Happy Happy Birthday song, so she wasn't as prepared :) We enjoyed some silly pictures and a few entertaining games of Hangman on the back of the menus, just like old times. We had done Great Plains for dinner, love their take-home cups.

The night just continued to get better - Jess drove us around in her new (used) Allero, a beautiful, white, sleek car. It made me want to find my own! So we drove to the dealership and spent another 2-2 1/2 hours looking at cars and test driving a cute charcoal Dodge Neon that I really like, it's affordable, and has pretty good mileage....now I can't stop throwing numbers and loan questions and financing words around in my brain. Thankfully the Lord gave me peace and let me sleep through the night - even though it was only about 5 1/2 hours.

THEN....I got to work this morning, geared with all the information I have to research loans and insurance stuff, and Cheryl handed me a brand new copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. I can't even wait to start it! But I am refraining while on the job, because the phone interrupting me will get really annoying really fast. So it sits neatly on the corner of my desk, waiting to be taken home and devoured.

I was trying to get some time off work tonight so I can call banks, get my driver's license renewed, clean up the apartment and maybe even make it back to Ames to look at the car again. Basically to have some time to do all the hectic details to get organized for my exciting weekend. I have these 4 "bonus" hours, I don't even know what that really means, but I am trying to use them to get off early and haven't heard a response yet whether I've been approved or denied :( It's already after 11, I may be stuck here all day, I guess I'll survive...

....at least there is a lot to look forward to!

Just thought I would update with some photos....

Here is Jess and her best friend from IWCC Esther on the night of their pinning ceremony:



We ate dinner on the floor - Kelli and Marcus had a sweet upgrade to an Asian themed suite:



Probably not the most pleasant way to be awakened in the morning - poor Jess:



Fun with Kelli's Macbook:

This one seems pretty artistic, I like that it looks like it's raining:

Now this one will be the most incriminating - but this is what I'd look like if I were only a bit.....larger:

Tracy is so creative - her son Jonah's 4th birthday - Spiderman theme:

Tatum kept pulling on the string with her finger and giggling when it would bounce up:

The kids watching Jonah open his presents:

Jonah in his tool belt with his sweet weed-whacker - only the coolest toy a boy could ever get:

Hope you enjoyed!

Almost time to go home....

Why is it that the last 15 minutes of the work day seem the slowest? Especially when you're getting out early? I feel like I'm in elementary school again, it's an early out day, and I can't stop looking at the clock! Plus the phones have been VERY slow today, I've checked email, blogs, Facebook, and now I just have a handful of minutes left, so what to do.....what to do....


Have a great 4th of July!!

Thorough....

I have a tendency to talk like I think. We may all do that. But what I mean is that I am virtually incapable of speaking straight to the point. I tend to talk a lot around the main point of what I am trying to say, eventually getting closer to what I am really meaning to say. Sometimes I am not even sure what it is I'm trying to say, but the person I'm talking to has a way of stating the exact thought or feeling I'm attempting to share that just brings it clearly into the light! I use a lot of words, but it's usually so simple.

I think the reason is that when I talk or learn something, I tend to want to know the what, followed by the why, an explanation for whatever I've been told. Plus I like to be prepared and knowledgeable in case when I relay that information to another, I am ready to answer any questions asked of me. (Like what I have to do for my job, not in the sense of spreading gossip.)

The reason I bring this up is I'm noticing it is sort of a bit of a dilemma, given my job. I talk to people on the phone all day, answering their questions on life insurance policies. It's one thing to give them a correct answer, it is another to understand WHY things are the way they are and I just have a hard time articulating a clear, consise response when a customer asks WHY such and such has happened.

Oh well, I am aware, I will continue to try to work on it, I don't know if it is possible to change the way I think....but I'll try to learn to communicate more efficiently!! Sometimes I think I just need to slow down, think before I speak - I'm definitley a verbal/external processor!

I need more sunshine....

I love summer. I really do. It was such a beautiful weekend, it was sunny, there was a great cool breeze, and it was not humid!! I have such a hard time in Iowa summers, humidity just does not agree with me. But Saturday I went to the Farmer's Market and the Arts Festival downtown with my family. We just walked around enjoying the atmosphere, taste-testing some good eats, looking at some really cool artwork - especially the photography. Yesterday Kel, Jess, Marcus and I played tennis in the park near our apartment. It was again GORGEOUS out! Little humidity, warm, good breeze. We got some sun and some exercise, it felt so good to move, to use muscles I don't normally engage :) And I wasn't as horrible at it as I have been in the past! Playing with Misch last summer may have helped.

Looking forward to more days like this weekend....

I LOVE THE RAIN!!!

Friday was the greatest day of the week. Around 2:30 we were taking calls and an announcement came over the speakers to take shelter, we were under a tornado warning. We all shuffled out, I wasn't sure where we were to go, I lost sight of all my teammates so I just milled in the lobby. Eventually the guards told us we couldn't stay in the hall so I followed my trainer into the women's restroom. We stood around for half an hour until they told us it was clear.

I was so bummed, I hate missing awesome weather. My desk is in the center of the room so I could hardly see what was happening all day. But the last hour I watched across the room and around 4pm, the windows to the east still looked overcast and cloudy, but at the same time, to the west it was almost pitch black. It looked like it was 9pm or later. I went to leave at 4:30 and it was downpouring. I mean, blowing, dumping, heaving rain. People milled around the door, debating what to do. Others said umbrellas almost seemed pointless because it was blowing so hard.

I didn't want to hang out at work all night, I didn't know how long it would last......so I ran for it. Then I hydroplaned most of the way home; our street and parking lot were flooding, looked like flowing rivers going over the speedbumps.

I've never gotten so soaked....so I thought I'd share it all with you. It was awesome. I love rain.



My shoes and socks were so wet that I was squishing out water everytime I took a step on the floor in my bathroom.

BRING ON THE SUMMER STORMS!!!

I like surveys....

Who Was the Last Person Who.....
1. You hung out with? The Waltz family for Jonah's 4th birthday, Mom, Jess, the Shavers, and Cari Woolson
2. You rode in a car with? Kelli to the post office
#3 is missing
4. You went to the mall with?: Jess when she was visiting
5. You talked on the phone to?: Mom this morning
6. Made you laugh?: Jacob running away when Tracy tried to let him kiss her cheek. I love kids.
7. Last person you told and/or they told you they loved you? My mom

Would you rather...
1. Pierce your nose or tongue?: Nose
2. Be serious or be funny?: I wish you could always have the perfect mix of both
3. Drink whole or skim milk?: Skim, no question
4. Die in a fire or get shot?: Morbid....but shot
5. Spend time with your parents or enemies?: Parents

Answer truthfully...
1. Do you like anyone?: Hard to answer that one. I love someone, I love a lot of someones.
2. Sun or moon?: Sun
3. Winter or Fall?: Fall
4. left or right?: Weird....um.....left?
5. 10 acquaintances or two best friends?: 2 best friends
6. Sunny or rainy?: Rainy, absolutely rainy. No contest.

About Me
1. What time is it?: 6:45pm
2. First Name?: Lindsay
3. Where do you wanna live?: Overseas, in the mountains, somewhere it isn't so humid. (not a place that's all these, but maybe one at a time-to move around)
4. How many kids do you want?: I don't know. I'd like at least 2, or more. I'd love to adopt internationally too.....
5. Do you want to get married?: Absolutely
6. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?: Both, depends on mood. I often cut it.
7. Have you ever eaten spam?: I've probably tried it at some point.
8. Favorite ice cream?: Vanilla, or from Cold Stone or Hickory Park
9. How many kinds of cereal are in your cabinet?: 2: Cinnamon Toast Crunch & Raisin Bran (generic brands though)
10. Do you cook?: Hardly, practically no.
11. Current mood?: a little tired

In the last 48 hours have I...
1. Kissed some one?: No
2. Sang?: Yes, w/ the radio in the car
3. Been hugged?: Yep
4. Felt stupid?: Probably, or maybe embarrassed more accuratly describes it
5. Missed someone?: I've been missing ALL my college friends lately
6. Danced Crazy?: I don't dance. I love to WATCH it on tv, and I have done that in the last 48 hours
WHO DELETED #7?
8. Gotten your hair cut?: No
9. Cried?: Yes
10. Lied?: Not that I can recall

Stuff...
1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?: .....searched? I've been pulled over twice for speeding, escorted to the sheriffs' car while they called my parents for trespassing (our only punishment-no fine), and asked to take off my shoes at the airport in Chicago on the way to Beijing.
2. Do you have a Dog?: My parents have our dog Toby. I want a puggle. Badly.
3. When is the last time you've been sledding?: We rolled down the hills behind Ellis 2 winters ago.
NO #4?? :(
5. Do you believe in ghosts?: Ghosts, no. Spirits, yes.
6. Do you consider yourself creative?: Not really

Where the heck have I been???

Wow, April 23rd was a long, long time ago....my how things change :)



I have just completed my 6 weeks of training as a customer service representative for Marsh, where I will be helping those who have questions on their group universal life insurance policies.



I've moved to a new city, one I spent a lot of time in throughout high school, but never one I really discovered....I know there is lots to do, I just have to find it! I'm thankful to live in a complex that has 4 pools throughout! That's right, I've already gone swimming this spring about 4 or 5 times, completely free of charge! And my way of discovering the neighborhood is to go for runs. There are trails nearby, they really only go between major streets, but it's still running through a park-like neighborhood. Plus it gives me the exercise I so desperatly have needed! It felt so good to go for a run the day after I swam the first time, my lungs LOVED it! I still can't run for long periods of time, but it was the greatest feeling, I wasn't completely wiped out that day. The humidity has wrecked me....both my breathing, my allergies, and the fact that it can be 60 degrees, but if it's humid, I'm dripping like I just got out of the shower :) Well, it's not so much dripping, it's more like condensation......hmmm, is this too much information? Sorry......



But some exciting things to look forward to:



*finding a church to get involved with. I've attended Valley once and went to a dinner where I met 4 other 20-somethings. It was awesome to meet 4 strangers and find something in common w/ all of them: John went to China in college on the same trip as CT, who I went to school w/ and he dated my sister. Matt is leaving for China this fall for 2 years-I was really excited as I've been there myself and have wanted to live overseas for quite some time. Kalee worked at Riverside and was good friends w/ Brian, who is my brother-in-law's brother. Not to mention the fact I LIVE w/ Marcus right now. She couldn't believe it. And then I discovered randomly that Jen, who hosted this dinner for new visitors to Valley (I was the only newbie who showed), that her cousin is Darin, who is best friends and coworkers w/ Joel, who was my youth leader for 6 years and is married to Tracy who has been my mentor/friend/accountability since moving home. Plus, I even interviewed for a job with both Joel & Darin sometime in Feb/March.

*Dragon Boat Races. I get to take part in this event w/ Kelli, Marcus and other co-workers from Performance Display in August. It's an event to raise awareness and support for organ donation. I'm really excited because apparently it's going to be authentic boats, drums and all! I can't wait!

*vacation to NY this fall! I will, for the first time in my life, take a vacation all by myself. I'm going to visit my sister Jess, who will be attending school in Rochester for sign language interpreting and I am going to visit her for 4 days. I'm excited to see where she'll be living all by herself, going to school in a new state, and I am even more excited because I am going to take her to Niagara Falls and hopefully somewhere in Canada! I'm shooting for Toronto, it's the nearest large city. I just really want to go to Canada, where I've never been......plus the added bonus that it will now add another stamp to my passport!! I just love new adventures, new places, seeing beautiful creation. I can't wait to go to Niagara. Plus Jess & I haven't ever really taken any kind of fun trip together, so I'm really looking forward to just getting into her new 'world' in New York. Plus I get to fly alone for the first time in my life!!

*Jonah's 4th birthday party this weekend. Jonah is Joel & Tracy's son, whom I love like family. He's been such a joy to me over the 9 months I lived at home after graduating. I love the way youngin's word things-he makes me laugh, I love him, and I'll never forget that he would bring me tissues if I cried. He has a special place in my heart.


Alright, this is too long. Hope you enjoyed the update! I haven't had internet access since moving, but now I'm at a computer all day....things have changed!!

~Later everyone

Long Time....No Post

I know there aren't many who read my blog, but lots of changes are taking place in my life right now! I figured for those of you who do check in every now and then, I should give you the current update.

I am moving at the end of the month into an apartment with my sister and brother-in-law. We actually got the okay to move in early, because they were more than ready to move in asap. So this Saturday was our first move-in day. So much fun to see our new space coming together! It's also the first time in my life I'll have my own bathroom :) I know that might not seem like that big of a deal, but for some reason, I'm really excited about that. I shared a bathroom with 4 other girls for 2 years, and we never had any problems with that. Then I shared one again with my parents. So now I get my own!

And I'm starting a new job in a new city, my first real, professional job. With benefits :) I'm moving out, on my own. It's a scary thing, a little overwhelming. Only a few months ago, when I'd think about where I'd be at this time in my life, this isn't where I pictured myself. I was hoping to be in a different place, with different people, doing something else. But the Lord has a great way of working things out in our lives that are His best for us, even if we don't realize it ourselves. I thought I was ready for something different, but was trying to lead my own way. God needed to get my attention, and He did. Just not in the way I'd wanted. I've had to greive a broken heart, a lost relationship, and the loss of a close friend. But the Lord's opened the door for so much more. I'd sacrificed a lot of the things that were important in my life, not realizing that I was doing it.

I'm hoping this new direction, this new open door will be the first of many bold steps to come in trusting in my Savior Jesus, in getting my feet wet in the Jordan, and believing that God has already gone before me and will continue to lead me where He can use me most. It's a crazy thing, this life we've been given. But I'm so excited to see what's to come....

The new roommates:

Just an update....

I didn't go to Target yet....trying to stick to that budget!

Spring Fever

I just get excited every time the weather changes. I didn't have to wear a coat this morning on the way to work-the radio said at 7 am it was already close to 60 degrees and should get near 80 today!!

Then I get to work and see the weekend ads from Target. There are some ADORABLE skirts and springy clothes at pretty decent prices. And unfortunately, I need a new swimsuit this summmer-which is NOT easy to shop for. I would love to go on a mini shopping spree-but I am trying to live on my budget.....oh what am I to do!?!?

I'll keep you posted on my decision.....

*Sigh*

I'm so restless.....

Restless at work.....restless at home.....restless in my thoughts....restless in my heart and faith and struggles with sin.....restless for something new.....somewhat scared.....somewhat (a lot) excited....a little nervous....I've just got to put my trust in the Lord....used to be so simple and easy, somehow got hard and complicated.....but KNOW that is the only solution....Lord I pray for a humbled heart, for my walls of self-protection to crumble, for my eyes to be open to see what you are and will continue to do in my life....

It's Coming....

I'm in Ames, and my boss asked me to check the weather because the snow seems to be letting up. Ha ha ha, it's the calm before the storm!! Can't wait to see what happens, I'll be warm and cozy in my room tonight :)

Stuck at my hotel....

Because of this storm passing through our lovely state of Iowa, I stayed the night last night at my hotel-University Park Inn & Suites. With my dad in New York and the potential for icy highways and blowing winds, I didn't want to take my chances at 6:30 in the morning going into the ditch. So last night I got me some Subway, watched some tv, sat in the hot tub for about 15 minutes, took a shower, checked my email, and went to bed. And now it's been raining all morning, soon to turn into snow. So I'll most likely be here once again :)

On the agenda for this evening: Perspectives homework; reading from Exodus, Matthew, Acts and Psalms; watching Survivor and maybe Scrubs since Grey's is a rerun; possibly sitting in the hot tub if it isn't too crowded; and getting a good night's sleep before work tomorrow. Oh and of course, I'll have to throw a shower in there somewhere :)

Come visit me if you're in Ames! Love you all.

Man...I'm a sucker for the surveys

1. Your first Name: Lindsay

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus izzle.) Linizzle

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color and fav animal) Brown Puggle

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, and current street) Erin West Fifth

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, last 3 three letters of your mom's maiden name) Broliler

6. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink). Blue Water

7. YOUR IRAQI NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, any letter of your middle name, 2nd letter of your moms maiden name, 3rd letter of you dads middle name, 1st letter of a siblings first name, last letter of your moms middle name): Ioniyko

8. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (fathers middle name) Wayne

9. YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one your pets) Black Toby

I think I might be getting sick....

Do you ever just feel it, you know, in your head, right before a cold comes on?? Right now I am not sick, my head, ears, and throat DON'T hurt....but I have a feeling that very soon they will. I just feel weird. Like I want to wear my hat so my ears won't be exposed anymore, thinking that maybe that will stop the cold from settling in my head. But I think it may be too late.

This sums up how I'm feeling today:

New Year's Celebration

So this is how I spent my New Year's Eve.....reuniting w/ the ladies of Ellis #9. These are 3 girls I love and admire dearly.





Kelly & Drew were so kind to let us crash their awesome apartment in Bloomington. We spent some time letting Eli give us a grammar lesson and played some Mad Libs. It's been a LONG time since I've thought about the parts of speech :)

Then we headed to Ruby Tuesday's for some dinner and ended up back home for a night of games-Friends Scene It, Hoopla, and Poker (I won $8, Eli insisted we add some real stakes....:) )



We enjoyed a drink or 2 :), had to start the night off w/ some before-dinner drinks, followed by the required shot of Pucker before we could continue our game night. Needless to say, it was great to sit and talk and catch up with everyone and sit around the living room just like we used to do every night in IC.





Ladies, Drew, Eli, thank you for a fun night, lots of laughter and Katie, thanks for letting me snuggle with you. Love you all!