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foreversunshine97
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Name: Karen
Interests: God. people. reading. summer. family. Canada. talking. coffee. sunshine. Relient K. friends. running in the rain. traveling. Italian food. the beach. swimming. deep discussions. laughing. chocolate. hanging out at Tim Hortons. inside jokes. driving with the windows down. running. sleeping. Starbucks. late night talks. surfer movies. Italy. art shows. picture taking. soccer. cities. surfers. Bolivia. volleyball. making people smile. flowers. spending time with my cousins. California. dreaming. thinking. writing. reading for hours.
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Member Since:
8/30/2007
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| Well I guess I better update this again :)
My grandmother did pass away... she passed away on Thursday, October 30. I had seen her about an hour before she died but I had left because there were soooo many people in her room and they were all speaking dutch. I believe I have learned enough to actually understand the general idea of the conversation (see there's my positive outlook) so I can kinda follow. I ended up at my cousins and their crazy phone rang 3 times during dnner. Every time it rang, my heart sunk. Well. That 3rd phone call was the one. I did get back to my aunts' in time to say goodbye before they took her away.
Anyway, her viewing and funeral were last week... oh what a crazy two days. I did have a highlight the night before though... some NYP staff were around for a wedding so we played volleyball. Well, I watched. But still, it was good to catch up with them. So Sunday I was at my aunts' house for a loong time and I met way too many people bu6t somehow I missed a lot of my cousins. Oh well. The next day we had the family service at my aunts' house (it's an Old Order Mennonite tradition to have a service at the home for the immedate family) first. It was CROWDED in there... sad thing is not nearly all my cousins were present. Then we all got into our carriages and car and drove to the church. It had to be rather humorous to onlookers... a loong line of carriages and then a black Prius, followed by another carriage. Anyway, we got to Martindale Mennonite (the Old Order one) and as tradition goes, everyone viewed the body again. The grandchildren went next, and then the children all stood around the casket for awhile. Her burial was next... I almost had to laugh - the height difference in my cousins, aka the pallbearers, was quite humorous. Nevin is probably 6'5 and Clair is probably 5'5. And the Lavern isn't much shorter than Nevin, and Lawrence isn't much taller than Clair. Martins are definitely taller than the Zimmermans. Next was the actual service... It was supposed to be in English... welll... yeah, it really wasn't. More dutch lessons!
So that was that. We had a big family dinner afterwards... sorta. It was cafeteria style cause there were at least 115 people there. And then some of us cousins went and explored my Grandpa's business... I'm sure we all looked ridiculous alll dressed up, and in black. But oh well.
And thats my life. Not quite. but mostly.
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| Well, I guess I'm long over due an update on my life. I'm home now. I've been home for almost a month. My time up in International Falls was a very good thing. When I had come home the first time, I was pretty Canadasick and really missed everyone in Canada/I Falls. I don't know why it was so bad, but it was. But I guess it was good to feel that. I had an awesome time at Ladies Retreat... it was such a good one. Loved seeing everyone one last time. I spent a lot of time with my Grandparents and cousins/aunts/uncles... I still miss them a lot. I think I made the best of my time with them. I did get to Dryden for a few days. That was just strange. Not gonna lie... it was just weird. It's amazing. My life in Dryden ended, but their's kept on going... without me. I still think about it occasionally, and I miss them at times but life here is good.
My life has been pretty crazy lately... with job hunting, hanging out with friends, Young Adult Bible study, teaching Sunday School, catching up on Criminal Minds, and I even managed to squeeze in a John McCain/Sarah Palin Rally! No hits on the job search yet, but I did just apply to the Etown Public Library. Working in a library, surrounded by books. What could be better!? I discovered I do like teaching Sunday School... at least to the class I have. I think we'll have a fun year. And even though I'm not huge on politics, you can't deny a chance to hear one speak... in your favorite town of Hershey!
I guess something else that's going on is that my grandmother isn't doing well... at all. The Doctor said it's a matter of days, even hours. So the Martin family is all getting ready for this. My mom's brother, sister and heir families are coming down sometime this week and well. I guess we're just getting ready to have a funeral. One upside to this (I try to look for something positive in anything. Like the positive in not having a job yet is that I can make plans and no worry about a work schedule.) is that I'll get to see all of my family in one place at once. This rarely happens. Probably the last time we were all together was at my grandfather's funeral 12 years ago.
Anyway. That's my life.
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| Well... I'm home. Don't ask how I like it, or what I think about it, or if I miss Canada cause I really don't know. And it doesn't make it any easier knowing I'll be back up in that area in about a week. I mean, it does in a way, but yet... it doesn't.
So my last week in Dryden was interesting.... I think I had more heart attacks than I ever have had... they were almost over-doing it just a bit... and the dreams that were results... oh the horror! Staff Fellowship was pretty good... good chance to see everyone before I left. And then my farewell... well... I made it through without crying... to be honest, I really haven't cried yet. I think it's because I really haven't had time to think everything through yet. I'll probably lose it on the way home with Bessie, Jesse, and Laurie. Oh well.
But... being home is so good too. I like having my family back. And having my own car to jump into and GO where I want/need to without having 7 plus people accompany me everywhere. Freedom to some extent is nice. Oh, and REAL coffee shops are a true plus. Speaking of cars, I like mine alot. Its fun... its not my Acura, but its pretty close... and has a CD player which is nice. Now Switchfoot can go with me.
So since being home I've tried to catch up with some friends... the very night I got home, I went out for coffee with Julie and Beth... so good. I was able to de-stress a bit with them. And then I was in Harrisburg with dear Becky... we have too much fun together. um... then on Wednesday I went to see my Grandmother and aunts... and then met up with Kara at b&n... went to Park City and got attacked by a lady spraying Christina Aguliera perfume... interesting experience. Friday was Janelle's wedding so Amanda and I drove up. It was a pretty wedding and a good time hanging out with NYP people. Wengerd of course showed up, as well as dear Monica and Fish. Our table was pretty hilarious. We had fun staring at Bessie at the wedding table. After the wedding there was volleyball and I for once knew quite a few people there. Some Grassy people were there and it was so fun catching up. I stayed at Bessie's house that night and then her, Mo, her sister Amy, and I went shopping the next day. I finally found a NEW purse AND wallet. I was happy. It was so good to hang out with Bessie and Mo again... it felt normal... even if it was weird being together away from Canada. And I was also happy because I had a nice drive home...and my cousins were here to visit! We have plans to scout* Clair and Laverne on Sunday night.... hahahaha I can't wait.
So yeah. That was last week. This week has been good thus far. Laura and I went out to TJ Rockwell's for lunch. It was so nice to catch up with her and hear about wedding plans! I'm so excited for her and Matt. And then... then I met up with Danita and Carolyn at b&n... I've been home for a week and a half and still hadn't see Carolyn.. that was so good. I missed her way too much. And Danita too. The rest of the week looks promising. My mom and I are picking out paint tomorrow for my room. It's getting painted while I'm in the Falls next week. Hanging out with Carolyn on Thursday, and then Kara on Friday-Saturday. What fun.
Um. No pics yet. There are some on Facebook but it's LATE and I really need to work on this thing called sleep. I've slacked since moving home. I have the pics on the iMac here now so I can do it easier... maybe tomorrow?
*Scouting is an Old Order Mennonite tradition in which friends(or in my case, cousins) go and visit a dating couple. The results are quite funny, I'm told. I can't wait for it. We're making it a Martin event... so we'll see how this goes. I'm excited.
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| I, thanks to my wonderful Mom and Dad, now have a '99 Nissan Sentra. That right there was a major answer to prayer! Now my Mom and I won't have to keep trying to work out who gets her car when. I'm having mixed feelings about leaving... which is officially August 28th... exactly one week from today. I'm ready, in a way, but yet I wish I was staying. Although, if things work out like Janel and I are hoping, I might be in Indiana for a few days with her, Bessie, and Mo. But that's not yet planned or anything. Just an idea...but hopefully an idea that ends up being reality! Winnipeg was a lot of fun... the workshop was pretty heavy stuff, but being back in a city was a good thing for me. I definitley would love to live in a city for a few years, but not for my whole life. So yeah... we had fun... I think I got to know the guys and Kendra a bit better... I did learn one thing on the drive home... never cry wolf in the office. I was really tired of Nevin and Elliot talking about economics/politics/government so I asked them to tell me a story so I could fall asleep. Well... Nevin told me the story "The day Karen cried wolf in the office." Pretty much the same as The Boy Who Cried Wolf, but with a few name changes. Gotta love it. So. There's a bit of my life. Care to know more? Call me and we'll talk. Next time I update this thing, I will be at HOME!! | | |
| Hey so it's August which means it's time for my monthly post! Wow, July flew by so quickly. I think I blinked, and it was gone. But it was a good month... totally exciting at times and then at other times... not so exciting. Sometimes things were so exciting here that it made the normal days look boring. But even in those not so exciting days, it was good to relax. I guess I needed it cause August is gonna be sooo crazy. My dear cousin Katrina was here twice in July. Once for only a few hours... and then just last week for a few days. It was wonderful to have her here with me. We are more alike than both of us realize, I'm afraid. So.. yeah. I'm getting ready to pack up and leave... for real. No joking this time. I really am leaving. My replacement is coming next Sunday. We'll have about 3 weeks together and then I'm officially done with my term at NYP and then I'm driving home very end of August with Dena and her parents. But... I fly back to I Falls on September 16 to do Ladies Retreat and such things like spending time with the Grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends that live there. Bessie, Jess, and I already have a weekend planned to hang out. And then in October, Bessie and I will make the long journey home, complete with a stop in IN to see our dearest Janel. But before all that I have to: 1.) Get through Family Camp. It's going on right now as I... type. I need to get over there and do registration. It's a pretty big group so far! Lots of people around.. so much fun! 2.) Go to Winnipeg(okay, I don't have to, but I want to) for the Sexual Abuse Workshop with Nevin, Elliot, Abe, and Betty. I have a feeling that this trip will be quite an experience... a good one though. And a good chance to do.. shopping. Like I need to. BUT. I hope we go to the mall that Switchfoot was in while they filmed one of their podcasts. (I knew exactly where Tim and Drew were standing. We bought ice cream there!) 3.) Welcome and say goodbye to various people... again. Such is life in NYP. 4.) Train in Jen. 5.) Hopefully go to Katrina's graduation party. 6.) Staff Fellowship. 7.) Pack and organize. 8.) Say goodbye to my amazing friends here in Dryden. So yeah. That's the life/will be the life of Karen. Sorry, no pictures yet. I have them, but I'm too lazy to put them on. Maybe once I'm home and can use my laptop with our wireless internet. Yay for high speed at home! So I was listening to Nothing Is Sound by Switchfoot last night and there's this amazing song called "The Shadow Proves The Sunshine" Here's an excerpt: The shadow proves the sunshine
Two scared little runaways
Hold fast to the break of day light were
The shadow proves the sunshine
Oh Lord, why did you forsake me?
Oh Lord, don't be far away away
Storm clouds gathering beside me
Please Lord, don't look the other way
Crooked souls trying to stay up straight
Dry eyes in the pouring rain
The shadow proves the sunshine
The shadow proves the sunshine I just love it. Don't ask why. But I do. It's the most calming song ever.
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