Question

I have updated the birthday photos on the previous blog entry. I have also tryed many times to upload the duck video onto blogger without success. I have added it to YouTube. Does anyone know how to embed the YouTube video into my blog entry? If so, please help. In the meantime, if you would like to see the video, you may view it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmxpUUbfuRY .

Time to catch up...

I have been having issues with downloading the duck video, we will see if it works today. I also have been so busy that I have not posted in awhile about all the activity in my life. First, I spent an afternoon with dad and we went and saw some artwork in a nearby town. We also came across a beautiful yard and the lady gave me permission to take pictures of her flowers.

This piece was created by my middle school science teacher...

I spent independence day with one of my very good friends and her family. She is in town for a short while before going back to the state she lives in. We had a dinner and then went to the fireworks in a nearby town. The firework show was one of the best that I have ever seen! We had front row seats...well sort of...we were so close to where they were being shot off that we literally had to lay flat on our backs in order to see them! My friend's sister was babysitting for four little girls and we went back to their house and played Apples to Apples jr with them before they went to bed and while my friend and I waited for the firework traffic to lighten. The next morning her mom made us a really nice brunch. When her dad got home from his morning meeting, she told him that it was my half birthday. Being the corny personality that he can be he sang me his "half-birthday" song. (He really thinks that half-birthdays are great.)

July 10th, was the birthday party for my niece. We had a nice time playing games, eating (a cook-out!), and opening presents...ok we had fun watching as she had a blast opening them. She made out like a bandit thanks to a special cousin in her life. It was great to see her beam when she opened up her present from me...her very own REAL camera! Okay, so I knew she loves to take pictures but I was worried that maybe she wouldn't go for it since it was my old one. She loved it though. I did make sure to have new batteries and some film for her.

My niece asked me to curl her hair...I spent over an hour curling it and it only stayed curled for about a half hour! (Yes, I did use hairspray; her hair just does not hold curls :I )

The next day, I picked my niece up to watch her while her parents went to work. We went to Chick-fil-A for lunch. Since we made cow masks, we were able to get a free entree that day.Then we went to my house and made home-made thank you cards to send to everyone. Of course, what is a trip to my house without playing games!?! We made an afternoon of it playing Clue, UNO, Skip-bo, Rumicube, etc.

This week, another friend of mine and I met at the local park and had a picnic lunch and enjoyed the nice weather and flowers. I forgot to take my camera with me, so naturally I took a walk the next day and snapped a few pictures.

I am still looking for a full-time job. I have lost count of how many applications I have sent out. Please continue to pray that I will find one soon. Thanks.

Ireland will have to wait...

I received a letter from the Irish Studies program director this weekend. He said that they received more qualified applicants than expected and that they are making an offer to someone else. He also said that he would like to keep my application on file for another year since I have an excellent application and am highly qualified. (All this without an interview!) I do have to say that I am disappointed...not just because I really need a job, but also because I REALLY wanted this job! However, this means God must have something even better out there for me. In my finitness and selfishness I want to know now! Obviously His timing is sooo different than mine. I like to plan ahead. Maybe this is just one more way He is trying to teach me to trust Him and not try to take the controls away from Him. As God's created being...is it really advisable to try to take control...NO...but I tend to try anyway.

Thank you to all who have been praying. You don't know how much I appreciate you and your prayers! Please continue to pray for me as I look for a full-time job. I have only been getting an average of 4 hours a week at my part-time job. I have so many applications out right now, I have lost count. I need to organize things into a chart or something in order to keep track of where I applied when now that the list is getting larger. If you know or hear of any openings, please feel free to let me know. I have worked as an Admissions Counselor for the past 8 years and have a B.A. in Psychology. I enjoy working with people, especially high school and college students.

Lessons I learned from ducks

(I will try again later to add the video, the library is closing now and it was not finished downloading.)

John 10:27: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."

When I went out to my car after working at my part-time job last Saturday, I heard a duck quack. I looked around and noticed a mother duck and several baby ducklings. She was noticably being protective of them. She gave me several warnings to stay away. Instead I sat in my car observing them. After awhile, mama duck didn't see me anymore (since I was now in my car), so she decided it was now safe to leave the protection of the bush. I let them go a distance and then I got out and took the footage above. I observed a few lessons from this footage. 1) The mama duck continually called out to her little ones letting them know where she was and encouraging them to follow. 2) Baby ducklings communicated back to her and continually followed. 3) Baby ducklings continued to follow even when they faced obstacles and took (some many) some falls. They just got back up and followed. 4) Mama duckling continued to call and encourage while allowing her babies to trust her and persevere through trials (obstacles & falls). 5) Mama duck was looking out for her babies and providing protection from potential danger (Me...though I was not going to hurt them, I just wanted to take their picture.)

I did try to take their picture when I first discovered them, but didn't get quite the pictures I wanted since mama duck quickly escorted the ducklings into a bush so I couldn't see them.

It gave me a picture of what John 10:27 portrays; only instead of mama duck and her ducklings, it is Jesus and his followers. Do I really know Jesus' voice and follow it wherever He goes? Do I communicate in a two-way conversation with my Savior? Am I really putting my full trust in His plan and protection for my life even when I may be facing trials and obstacles that are in my way?